Eastwood High School - Salute Yearbook (El Paso, TX)

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'N 2311 ' ia ,......Y...... ts 'N Y uperior Ratings Lead to State Practice Pays Off in Awesome Score By Lisa Urquizo Pride and determination was what kept the superior-rated band together. Weeks of practices before school, after school and on Saturday enabled the band to rank eighth in the state of Texas. Practicing and preparing for competition was real tense, said secretary Brandi LeBlanc. There was a lot of hard work put in, and everyone pushed themselves for perfection, she added. The first competition the band participated in was the district competition held at the Sun Bowl, October 10, 1986. The band received a ffl, which is superior rating. The Hanks High School band also received a superior rating. According to district officials, only one school was able to go to Odessa, Texas and represent El Paso in the regional competition on November l, 1986. Because of their unusual and outstanding performance, the Troopers were chosen. Once again practice paid off' as the band took another superior award. The band members' performance in Odessa allowed them to compete in the state finals which were held in Austin, Texas on November 11, 1986. Austin's competition was a scary but neat feeling, said junior percussionist Lori Gonzalez. 'just knowing that our band was able to compete in the state competition was exciting because state fcompetitionj was the highest level possible, she added. The drill that the band performed featured wind solos. Senior picolo player Debbie Gonzalez and saxophone players, senior joey Hedderman and junior Steve Silva performed the seduction portion of the piece Carmina Burana. At first I was nervous, but after a while I got used to it and looked forward to playing my solo, said Gonzalez. -K Drum majors, both seniors, Lisa ntense silence fills the Sun Bowl as Steve Silva and joe Hedderman perform their duet to Carmina Buranau during the marching band district competition on October l0. iPhoto by Rick Moralesj old weather calls for an adjustment. To keep warm Robert Almanzan wears ear muffs and Aaron Crouch trumpets out a warming spirit blast. fPhoto by Eric Holenj Gonzalez and Luis Martinez took a lot of credit when it came to handling competition under pressure. Being a drum major was not all fun and games. It took a lot of work and time to lead the band, said Gonzalez. I thought that being able to get a massive amount of people to have the same winning attitude was pretty wildf' said junior saxophone player Denicka Martinez. Other scheduled events were numerous. Concert season opened with the bandis annual Christmas concert which was held on December 17. The spring contest was held at Riverside High School in April. The band also performed in the World of Music Festival held in Los Angeles, California in April. During Homecoming week the band marched in the parade which was held before the burning of the UE. The band also participated in the Halloween carnival where they provided the garter toss. This enabled them to raise money for the band banquet which was held in April. The gathering was a formal occasion in which the officers for the following year were announced. Awards for outstanding achievement were issued. Individual members tried out for advanced chairs in area competition on November 15. Nine players rated area seats. They were Linda Orrantia fclarinetj, Christine Siebert fclarinetj, Karla Baucum fflutej, Philip Welker fbassoonj, joe Hedderman falto saxophonej, Mark Swanson ftenor saxophonej, William Steffen fbaritone saxophonej, Ernie Guzman ftrumpetj, and Tom Cardon ffrench hornj. Many members felt that the hard work and time the band contributed to becoming eighth in the state added to Eastwood's proud heritage. When our performance was over, and the crowd was standing up, it gave us the chills, said Debbie Gonzalez. We all felt proud to be one part of the best. nare drum players Lori Gonzalez and Brian Gray concentrate on hitting a perfect beat during an after- school sectional. fPhoto by Judee Provencioj marching band 29

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ut of synch, trumpet player Chuck Wilson, lets the cold weather blow his mind while performing the light song during the game against Austin. fPhoto by Eric Holenj ith an eye on student conductor Luis Martinez, kettle drum player Ruben Munoz waits for his cue to stop playing during an early morning practice. iPhoto by Amber Burkmanj ooking forward to her solo, picolo player Debbie Gonzalez rehearses to the seduction portion of L'Carmina Buranan at the Homecoming pep rally. iPhoto by Lori Seguraj 28 marching band

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lags Highlight Performances Participants Gain Sense of Belonging By Jennifer Stotts Lights glimmered off of the blue and gold uniforms as the flag corps joined the band in forming a giant shield. As the musicians softly play Battle Hymn of the Republic, flag corps members unfurled red, white, and blue streamers and released red, white, and blue balloons. The flag corps helped highlight another winning band performance. Whether it was performing for Friday night football games or for varsity basketball games, these girls put their all into each performance. Because we started practice at 6:30 a.m. and continued through first period, it was really rough, said senior Judee Provencio. but when I got out there on Friday nights and heard that crowd, I knew it was all worth it, she added. Tryouts for flags were held in May of 1986. Girls attended the week long clinic taught by Mr. Reuben Hall and flag captains Holly Law, Sherill Barrett, Marta Bebee, Lisa Covell, and Shelly Smith. The competition was rough! Over 80 girls tried out, said Provencio. Forty- five out of the eighty girls were chosen for flags by Hall's former students from out of state. Being a part of flags gave the girls a sense of belonging and a chance to take pride in themselves. I was on the varsity swim team for two years and I never really felt like I was a part of it, I wanted to do something that would make me feel good about myself so I joined flags, said junior Demra Fore. What I like most about flags is the way I feel about myself because now I have more confidence, added Fore. The band has a tradition of excellence, and I thought it would be neat to be a part of something that mattered and was important to the school, said junior Yvonne Salazar. According to Law, Hall is a very innovative teacher. Hall was always 30 flags looking for something new to teach the flag members. I think it's an injustice to the girls if I don't go out and seek new things to teach them, said Hall. I treat the students as young adults, not as teachers but as parents would, Hall said. I try to teach them morals, how to get along, to be individuals and to share. The flags strong point was their ability to use any prop whether it be rifles, swords, sickles, flags, balls or streamers. One new change was that the members of flags exchanged the traditional skirts for blue and gold unitards. We were used to the traditional skirts, but we kneel a lot, and it's better to wear pants for that, said junior Judy Swihart. The f1ag's main objectives were to compliment the band and enhance its music. Flag and band members went to Odessa on October 31 where they placed second in regional competition. On November 10 the group traveled to Austin for the state competition. In the first round of judging the five judges awarded them scores of 94.5, 90.5, 91, and 85. Maintaining their first division - status, they were rated eighth out of 14 state competitors. aking a McDonaldland'break in Fort Stockton, Catherine Thwaits and Missy Ballway take one last slide. CPhoto by judee Provencioj eady competitor jennifer Prather performs to the song Pieces of Dreams at the Sun Bowl. QPhoto by Ruben Hernandez, W lf Zi?-:Hal ,,.. 1 - gy- fflif 1 3 I . . .. ,,1i ' . i 1. H J 5.5, , y i .35 sf 'H 5.-Q i p - f, Ag' ,j , jsli Q N - D he ' Qh .kwirlii ' 's 1 if ' lag Corps members are FRONT ROW: Carrie Reyes, Maria Sosa, Kelly Ledlow, Ida Moreno, Anne Patrice Nelson, Lety Nunez, Kristin Craig, Melinda Delgado, Laura Chavarria, Anna Munoz, Lucilla Aguirre, Anne Harley, and Valerie Gonzalez, SECOND ROW: Carol Reyes, Mayda Gonzalez, Karen Morrison, Shelly jones, judy Swihart, Missy Ballway, Celeste Davis, Tiffany Law, Monique Hatten, Yvonne Salazar, Missy Zubiate, Terrie Cordova, and jeanine Ackermang BACK ROW: captain Lisa Covell, captain Shelley Smith, captain Marta Bebee, Debbie Amaro, Catherine Thwaits, Ruth Ann Taylor, Angie Murillo, Karen Lankford, Sofia Gonzalez, Judee Provencio, Demra Fore, Nancy Cline, Claudia Martinez, Vanessa Hernandez, Cindy Trainham, jennifer Prather, Renee Danheart, captain Sherril Barrett, and captain Holly Law. CPhoto by Rick Moralesj