The Pride of Winona received Superior ratings at a competition at Grenada High School.
Band Director Joshua Overstreet said for him to hear that Winona had won Superior ratings meant that all the hard work the band put into their field show this season paid off.
The Pride of Winona started competition at Copiah Academy in Gallman, Miss. and moved on from there to Grenada High School.
“I feel like it validated us,” Overstreet said.
Senior and Co-Captain of the Color guard Janey Beth McRae said for her to hear that the color guard received a superior was an amazing feeling. McRae is also the
“I couldn’t fix my face then, you could see it,” she said. “It meant that all of our hard work paid off.”
Being in Grenada, also meant they receive community support.
“It meant a lot for the kids to see the support. I saw a lot of familiar faces,” Overstreet said. He said for the kids to have that support, he believes that it was a momentum booster.
“It definitely felt good,” McRae said. She said during the competition, there are shoutouts where parents and relatives of the band members can send messages.
“You can say ‘Way to go such and such, live it up,’ or something like that. It felt good to hear that my mom and dad were there,” McRae said.
Overstreet is in his fourth year at Winona High School. A graduate of Mississippi State University, Overstreet was a member of the Famous Maroon Band.
McRae has been a member of the Pride of Winona since she was in the sixth grade. “I started out playing the saxophone, then I was moved to color guard in seventh grade,” she said.
Overstreet said the Pride of Winona is now gearing up for the Christmas parade season and indoor band season.
