Chapman High School’s Pride of Inman band is a huge component to our Friday night football games and pep rallies. Chapman is blessed with an amazing band and this weekend their abilities showed.

Band director Kevin Horton says that this wasn’t a simple win; a lot of dedication was put into it.

“We started in July with band camp,” Horton said. “We practice at least six hours a week so there is a lot of time involved that go into our competitions.”

However, hard work pays off eventually. Sophomore Enajah McCluney was named drum major this year and has worked tirelessly with the band to get the entire group ready.

“Our band puts in an immaculate amount of hard work and effort,” McCluney said. “Winning showed that it was acknowledged and ultimately rewarded.”

The other band members agree with McCluney.

“I think that it shows everyone that we’re able to accomplish anything if we really work hard,” sophomore Kristopher Hyder said.

However, going into the competition not everyone was expecting to leave with a win.

“If they were to have good runs, I was hoping that through the heat they would persevere,” Horton said. “And they did.”

McCluney agrees with Horton in the expected outcome.

“Leading up to the competition, I was worried that doing our very best wouldn’t reciprocate to the judges,” McCluney said. “Playing and marching the right way doesn’t win a competition, in my opinion. It’s the passion and fire good bands have is what really impresses the crowd and ultimately the judges.”

However, despite the hardships and challenges they faced the Pride of Inman Band brought home a first place win at their competition on Saturday Sept. 23.

“In that moment I was proud of the kids,” Horton said. “(I was) extremely happy for them.”

The feelings in that moment were all over the place.

“I was relieved that we accomplished what we had set out to do,” Hyder said.

For McCluney, this win was even more impactful and special.

“As a first-year sophomore drum major, winning was very rewarding,” McCluney said. “Our band is one of the most important things I’m apart of and getting to lead such an incredible band makes me extremely grateful for the opportunity.”

Now that the band has brought home a win on the first event of the season it will now push them harder throughout the season.

“I think that it shows everyone that we’re able to accomplish anything if we really work hard,” sophomore Travis Guy said.

“Winning gave us the drive and motivation to succeed even further throughout the season,” McCluney said.