Published: October 31, 2009 11:56 pm         

STATE CHAMPS: Northview wins Class B title at ISSMA Marching Band State Finals

Knights go back-to-back for third time

Brazil — It was late on a Halloween Saturday afternoon, but class was in at Northview High School.

“This will be a year that none of us forget, and we’ll all be the better for it,” Northview band director Bob Medworth told a standing-room-only audience of fans and family inside the school’s auditorium at 4:30 p.m.

Earlier that morning the Marching Knights strode through record books with their third back-to-back state championship, one of eight for the school — nine including Brazil High School’s 1981 win also under Medworth — and the 25th time they have gone to the state finals.

Principal Tim Rayle was driving back from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis after noon as he noted the “outstanding job by our band kids and our directors.”

Rayle said he marvels at the group’s dedication. “And the whole Northview family is very proud of them.”

Rusty Bottomley, assistant band director, told the packed assembly that the winning tradition is rooted in a community distinguished in its dedication.

“We don’t just show up on Saturday and make that happen,” Bottomley said, noting the parents, band boosters, truck drivers, crews and local business sponsors who contribute. “Thanks to all the people in the community.”

The 2009 show was themed “Versus,” based on music from “Night On Bald Mountain” by Modest Mussorgsky, as the color guard split into red and yellow teams and the show revolved around the competition. The four-part show lasted seven-and-a-half minutes.

“This is a pretty unique place,” Bottomley, in his fourth year at Northview, said of the school administration’s support for the program. “People don’t always get to experience this.”

The 2009 victory marks the eighth since 1984, the same year Northview High School was formed. It’s also the 25th time they have competed for the state title. The Marching Knights won back-to-back championships in 1993 and 1994, 1998 and 1999, and now 2008 and 2009.

This year’s win held special meaning for some, as 15-year-old guard member Halie Hite died in an automobile accident earlier in October. The band competed in the Cavalcade of Champions at Center Grove later that week in her memory.

Medworth spoke to the audience about class, what it meant, and how they demonstrated it.

Bottomley drew applause as he led the audience in cheering directors Bob and Ruth Ann Medworth. “They’ve been doing this for a long time, and man, are they good at it.”

Medworth told band members he was prepared for the impending Halloween ruckus all knew would be launched upon his house later that evening, and he told them in advance that toilet papering his house was all right, but paintball guns were forbidden.

“You’re going to lose anyway,” he said to laughter.

Macy Mayle, a junior member of guard, said she felt Saturday’s show was their best of the year. “It was just an amazing feeling,” she said, noting she’d been a member of now two state championship shows. “Hope for a third,” she said. “But two will do.”



Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.