Athletics and band leaders work together for students

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Neighbors | Submitted.Athletic and band leaders work together to allow Canfield High School students to participate in both activities throughout the school year. Pictured are some of the student band/athletes this year.

Members of the Canfield High School Marching Band just finished another very successful season. They performed at the Canfield July 4 parade, Austintown-Fitch Band Night, Canfield Show of Bands, Canfield Fair and 10 football games.

Band members are quite diverse but one group is unique. This is the group of students who are both athletes and band members. Fall athletes can be football, soccer, cross country, girls and boys golf and volleyball players. There are seven boys who play varsity football and one freshman football player. There are four girl and five boy soccer players. Two girls are on the volleyball team. There is one girl on the tennis and golf team each. Boys golf has two band members. The cheerleading squad has one band member and there are 11 cross country members in the band. Out of the 143 member band, 35 are fall athletes.

The band season began back on July 28 with band camp running four hours a day for four weeks. These fall athletes were also beginning their season that first week of August. The month of August is busy for the athlete/band member. Usually after band practice, that student has a sport practice to attend. This is a great lesson in time management for these young people, something they will need in their lives after high school as they prepare for college of entering the workforce. Each of these athlete/band students learn a great deal of commitment and dedication to each activity. Greg Cooper (CHS athletic director), Mike Kelly (CHS band director) and all the fall coaches work together to allow the student athlete/band member to participate in both activities.

In August during band camp, students must learn all their music and drill design for the season. Once the school year starts, the marching band does not rehearse during the week. The band usually arrives at 5 p.m. on Friday’s to review and practice that night’s show. This allows all students to be involved with other activities during the week.

The one fall sport that is different is football. These boys do both marching band and football their freshman year. When they become sophomores, they no longer march with the band as they become members of the varsity and junior varsity football team. However, these boys stay in the band program and become members of the concert or symphonic bands.

Canfield Middle School eighth-grade band has 86 members and Kelly is looking forward to recruiting a freshman class in 2015. The eighth-grade band had a great performance with the Cardinal Pride on Oct. 24 during pre-game and halftime. The eighth-graders performed “Hang On Sloopy,” the “Hey Song” and “Happy.”

In spring 2015, members of the Cardinal Pride Marching Band will travel to Disney World in Orlando, Fla. to march in the Magic Kingdom Festival of Lights parade.

If you have any questions about the CHS band program, contact Mike Kelly at mkelly@canfieldschools.net.