Area marching bands amass wins, awards

Marching bands around Spokane Valley hit all the right notes this fall.

Central Valley High School took third place overall in the Pacific Northwest Marching Band Championships in Spokane. Along with that, band director Eric Parker described the pinnacle of the group’s season as winning the AA Division at the Oregon State University Marching Band Championships in Corvallis.

“We also were awarded Best Music, Best Percussion, Best Color Guard and Best General Effect at that competition,” said Parker. “The OSU Championships are one of the most competitive shows in the region with schools between Grants Pass and Spokane making the trip.”

CVHS students Skylar Belfry and Erin Headlee were named best drum majors at the Pacific Northwest championships as the competition’s best student conductors.

“University High School’s band posted wins across the region, said Mark Tietjen, director of bands and orchestra. Student leaders include U-Hi drum majors Madison Frame and Katie Glenn, as well as color guard captains Ashley Sanders and Lara Curtis.

Some U-Hi band highlights:

Oct. 7 – Cavalcade of Bands, Pasco: Sixth overall; second in Division AAA-Small; best Brass and Winds AAA-Small; best Marching AAA-Small.

Oct. 14 – Pacific Northwest Marching Band Championships, Spokane: Sixth overall; second in Division AA, best Auxiliary.

Oct. 21 – Harvest Marching Band Festival, Yakima: Third overall, first in Division AAA-Small; best Percussion Overall, best General Effect AAA-Small; best Marching AAA-Small; best Brass and Winds AAA-Small.

Oct. 28 – Puget Sound Festival of Bands, Everett: Seventh overall; fifth in Division AAA-Small.

“Another big band sound came from West Valley High School, with these wins:

Auburn competition: First, Division A – Parade Competition; first, Division A Field Show; best Music, Division A Field Show; best Drum Majors; best Pit Crew (five dads judged on efficiency and professionalism).

Pasco: Division AA, first; best Brass and Winds; best Percussion; best Color Guard Marching.

Everett: Division AA, first; best General Effect and best Color Guard.

WVHS drum majors are Krystal McCarthy and Hannah Begley, who won best Drum Majors in Auburn. The band’s director is Jim Loucks.

“East Valley High School kept the beat with favorable results under the leadership of senior drum major Kyle Hunter and junior drum major Rile Reavis.

EVHS band director Rob Lewis reported these wins:

Cavalcade of Bands in Pasco: Third overall and also best General Effect AAA Small Division and best Percussion AAA Small Division.

For the Pacific Northwest Marching Band Championships: fifth overall and AA Division Awards, including best Percussion, best General Effect, best Brass and Winds, best Marching, best Drum Majors, and a first place.

Ken Priebe named School Psychologist of the Year

The Washington State Association of School Psychologists has named Central Valley’s Kenn Priebe as School Psychologist of the Year. Central Valley’s school board also recognized Priebe this week.

The state honor was awarded during an Oct. 13 luncheon at the association’s fall conference. Priebe began his career as a school psychologist with Central Valley schools in 1973, after graduating from Eastern Washington University. He has worked with special-education students at all grade levels and is considered by peers to be highly skilled in assessment, intervention and consultation.

He provides special education services to Sunrise Elementary and the district’s alternative special-education middle and high school programs. He also oversees the district’s school psychologist group, plans and leads in-services and provides technical support to special education staff. He mentors interns as well as new school psychologists.

CV Knowledge Bowl team cleans up

Four Central Valley High School students swept up wins in a Knowledge Bowl competition at Lewis and Clark High School this week. The CV varsity team on Monday went 6-0, including a 21-15 win over perennial Knowledge Bowl power St. George’s.

Of the 26 varsity teams competing in the tournament, CV was one of only three teams to go undefeated with the other two being from Idaho schools, said Eric Akins, CV Knowledge Bowl coach. The four CVHS competitors were: Ben Brown, Suzanne Miller, Brandon Campbell and Will Bernbaum.