Azle High School Indoor Winds came back from Dayton, Ohio taking first place in Winter Guard International competition on Sunday, April 22. WGI is a really big competition that all of the world-class groups go to compete.

It’s a great honor to compete in this competition and the drumline had a blast.

The Indoor Winds has never gotten this far in competition before.

“Percussion was competing in world class, which is the elite class and the winds ensemble was competing in the open class which is one level below the world-class,” Indoor Winds Conductor Brandon Day said. “I think this was a phenomenal year with their first year doing winds and all the members kinda bubble down and committed to doing what we were trying to do and it was a fantastic first season for us, and I look forward to doing many more.”

Indoor Drumline competed in the World Class level, and even though they ended in 22nd place and didn’t take home a trophy, Conductor Jake Baker was still very proud of them.  

“I think it went really well, I think always the goal is for the best one to be the best and so when every student thinks that is accomplished then I think your goal is made over the season,” Drumline Conductor Jack Baker said. “It was good, it was phenomenal. At the level that we are at with all of the elite groups you kinda have to do everything at the high level which I think you are able to accomplish throughout the season, so overall it is really good.”

Sophomore, Ivy Deel who plays the clarinet in the Indoor Winds was excited on playing in the first year with the group.

“Walking into the arena, it was so big,” Ivy Deel said. “There were a few mess ups that usually doesn’t happen, but besides that our performance went really well.”

Sophomore, Cameron Mauerhan plays the baritone sax and was in the Indoor Winds says how being nervous doesn’t help your performance.   

“Nothing is nervous because when you are nervous then you screw up your run and you have to think that it’s every other run. So if you have nerves you are a bad performer,” Mauerhan said. “Since November we had two practices a week each being at least four hours.”