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PAHS students earned 19 state superior ratings, the top rating, and 16 state excellent ratings, the second highest.

"They did very well," said high school band director Nathan Long. "I'm happy with the overall results. Everybody did well, especially the younger classes."

All 67 band members participated in the contest, which is a requirement of high school band, on Tuesday, March 19, at Eden Valley-Watkins High School. Other schools competing last week were Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, Eden Valley-Watkins, and New London-Spicer.

By combining in ensembles, PAHS had 41 separate entries.

Junior Trisha Chevalier scored 39 points for her clarinet solo and earned "best of site" honors from her judge. Student performances were judged on a 40-point scale, and each of the five judges at the competition designated one act as its "best of site" for the night.

Three other PAHS entries earned scores of 38: junior Eric Miller for his trumpet solo, sophomores Melissa Andrie and Rachel Hanson for a flute duet, and Andrie for a flute solo.

Students earning state superior ratings for solos were: Andrie, flute solo; Brittany Caldwell, marimba solo; Chevalier, clarinet solo; Adam Ingalsbe, baritone solo; Dave Jones, vibraphone solo; Eric Miller, trumpet solo; Peter Schreifels, tenor saxophone solo; Ashley Spanier, flute solo; Sami Tierney, clarinet solo; and Jessie Virant, flute solo.

Ensembles earning state superior ratings for solos were: a brass sextet with Andrew Jones (trumpet), Scott Wendroth (trumpet), Nic Glenz (baritone), Freddie Stock (trombone), Adam Rafferty (tuba), and Jessica Andrie (French horn); a clarinet duet with Katie Bengtson and Amber Spanier; a clarinet quartet with Angie Wunsch, Sami Tierney, Peggy Thompson, and Amber Chevalier; a flute duet with Melissa Andrie and Rachel Hanson; a flute trio with Nicole Schlangen, Sara Ringstad, and Katie Herding; a percussion ensemble with Ann Stalboerger, Dave Jones, Tony Thielen, Rachel Koehn, Morgan Martinson, and Scott Thompson; a senior band saxophone quintet with Ryan Whitcomb, Melissa Bachman, Mandy Mayer, Jason Parks, and Laura Stoneburner; a junior band sax quintet with Jordan Haag, Amy Roberg, Jack Mueller, Chad Stang, and Peter Schreifels; and a trombone duet with Jonnie Schefers and Chris Kern.

The high school bands will now prepare for large group competition in Annandale on Tuesday, April 9.