From left to right: Devonte’ Bellamy, Drum Major Lauren Finch, Jackie Bradley, Alexis Dowdy and Katie Glenn. They are all juniors. (Contributed photo)

If you need more proof that local bands are kicking it, the Catawba Ridge High School band won first place Saturday in class 2-A at the Wildcat Invitational in Dallas, N.C.

The band competed with 15 area bands at North Gaston High School and won awards for Best Music Performance, Best Visual Performance, Best General Effect, Best Percussion, Best Color Guard, and earned the “Grand Championship” with the highest score overall.

The win comes a week after the Catawba Ridge High School Band earned the “Grand Champion” award Oct. 6 in its first-ever competition at North Lincoln High School in Lincolnton, N.C., earning the highest score overall.

The band next takes the field at their first-ever South Carolina Upper State Championship at Gaffney High School in Gaffney, SC, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19.

Here is a video from a CRHS band performance at the beginning of the year.

YouTube video

Greg "Ricky Bobby" Rickabaugh has lived in the Fort Mill and York County community since 2006. He has covered the area while a reporter for The Charlotte Observer and a freelance writer for The Fort Mill...