By comparison, only one other El Paso-area high school marching was able to qualify for the state competition, which takes place Monday, November 4, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. This is the second consecutive time that three YISD marching bands qualify for state.
In 2017 – the last time the 5A UIL state marching band competition was held – YISD made local history when these same high schools earned a ticket to compete in the state championship.
At that time, Hanks High School placed 15th in the state competition; Bel Air High School placed 19th; and Del Valle High School placed 34th.
This year, about two dozen high school marching bands from El Paso to Wylie competed at the 5A Area A competition in Odessa on October 26.
Four YISD bands were among the top 10 that advanced to the area finals – but in the end, Hanks High School won first place and was named area champion, followed by Bel Air High School in third place and Del Valle High School in fourth place.
Listed below is information on the YISD bands and their performance times (in order) at Monday’s state competition:
Bel Air High School: The Big Red Pride Marching Band is scheduled to perform its show, “Beyond The Clouds,” at 12:30 p.m. MST. They are led by Drum Majors Belanna Castillo, Kayla Priego, Alizae Nevarez, and directed by Manny Talamantes, Ben Perez, Luis Ibarra, Derek Andrade, Oscar Ortiz, Mathew Peña, Melina Bañuelos, Lucy Bañuelos, and Kimberly Favela.
Hanks High School: The Silver Knights Marching Band is scheduled to perform its show, “Sultana: City of Gold,” at 2:45 p.m. MST, led by Drum Majors Mariana Martinez, Michael Soto, and Kristel Holguin. Directors and Flag Coaches are Horacio Gomez, Doug Brown, Emily Petty, and Calvin Edwards; the Renaissance Dance Co. is directed by Krystal Nance.
Del Valle High School: The Conquistador Marching Band is scheduled to perform its show, “What We Sea,” at 5:30 p.m. MST. They are led by Drum Majors Alejandro Gonzalez, Ashley Campos, Eric Rios, Alexandrea Solis, and directed by Keith Morales, Roque Orozco, Robert Hayden, Mathew Fernandez, Brianna Ayala, Michael Slabe, Diego Calderon, Nicholas Martinez, Maria Carbajal, Albert Valles, Gabby Rivera, Carlos Briseno, Armando Torres, and Thomas Holguin.
“We’re excited to once again reach out to all of our East Side fans,” said head coach Dana Dimel.
“We’re looking forward to showing them what we’ve been working on at this special spring practice.”
The Miners, under the direction of Dimel, will conduct a practice at Del Valle High School (950 Bordeaux Drive) at 7 p.m.
Doors will open at 6 p.m., and admission is free.
The practice will conclude with an autograph session featuring select Miner football student athletes.
Complimentary UTEP football posters will be given away.
The UTEP football team is in the midst of spring drills, which will culminate in the annual spring game on April 13 at noon in the Sun Bowl. Admission for the spring game is also free.
Del Valle High School digital media students created the award-winning video for the “Power Your School” contest sponsored by Powerade.
Ranked #16 in the nationwide contest, the Del Valle athletic program will now receive $10,000.
According to YISD officials, Powerade launched the contest last summer to help student athletes by awarding a total of $1 million to high school athletic programs across the country.
The “Power Your School” video essay detailed their schools’ needs. Contest entries were judged on school need, creativity, and quality of submission.
The video was produced by Del Valle students Eileen Matamoros, Roberto Adame, and Jose Villalobos. Their video was the only winner in Ysleta ISD.
After the win was announced, the students thanked Coach Armendariz, Coach Marrufo, Coach Perales, and Coach Sanchez for their support in completing the project.
El Paso Herald-Post El Paso News & Opinion
