Mater Dei High School - Hi Lights Yearbook (Evansville, IN)

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MARCHING MADNESS: Cindy Neale, Alan Bur- dette, and Betsy Briedenbach complete their jour- ney down Franklin street during the Fall Festival Parade. The two-mile trek was one of the shortest parades the band marched in. (Photo by Missy Burdette) COMPETITION CRAZE: During a comfortable day at Vinncennes. the Wildcat band came home with a third-place trophy. This was another chance to display its new marching routine. (Photo by Mis- sy Burdette) BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY: Senior Jerry Gran- nan adds some fun to an exhausting early morning practice at band camp. Jerry performed trumpet solos during many of the band ' s halftime perform- ances and plans to pursue a musical career. (Photo by Alan Burdette) PUCKER UP: Trumpet players Jerry Grannan. Jeff Wenzel, Lori Duncan, and Mary Ann Scheller give their lips a workout during band class. (Photo by Mary Ellert)

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Camps for champs Camps meant a lot of fun and games for most of us, but that wasn ' t the case for junior drum major Jeff Wenzel this summer. Jeff spent the second week of his summer at Western Kentucky learning the skills of a drum major. Instead of swimming, hiking and sleeping late, camp activities consisted of waking early to jumping jacks and calisthe- nics. The remainder of the day was restricted to learning and practicing the different ways to direct a band. This included bringing a band on and off the field properly and charting field, which is mapping the band ' s marching pattern on the field. You had a test on everything. You learned to make sure that you knew how to do it. If you didn ' t understand something, there was time during the day when you could talk to the teach- er in charge, said Jeff. In addition to all this, Jeff had to be able to count and direct 2 4, 3 4, and 4 4 time. When Jeff got back from the West- ern Kentucky camp, he still had another camp to attend before he could show off his new skill at the football games. Camp Crescendo, in Lebanon Junction, Kentucky, pro- vided an opportunity for Mater Dei band members to get together and ATTENTION: Junior Jeff Wenzel salutes to the crowd at the Fall Festival Parade. This year was Jeff ' s first experience as drum major with the Wildcat band. (Photo by Missy Burdette) learn a show. Jeff explained that al- though he had learned a few things up at band camp, the majority of his learning had already taken place be- fore that. Jeff started getting interested in drum majoring when there was an open position for one in the Mater Dei band. Only a few people were trying out; therefore, he thought he would give it a try. Jeff, along with several other auditioners, had to march, yell out commands, direct different pieces of music, and answer pop questions that Mr. Kurt Wambach, the band director, asked. The reason for the questions was to see which person could explain and answer without great delay or confusion — a very im- portant skill for one in charge of a band. Jeff was judged by Wambach and eight students — two from each class. The few conflicts which he had confronted for the first time made him into a first place Mater Dei drum major. — Jeanne Rivard A TOUCH OF BRASS: Dan Haller was one of the many Pep Band members who provided half-time entertainment at all the home basketball games. This was Dan ' s third year in the MD band. (Photo by Rob Zigenfus) PRACTICE MAKES PERCUSSION: Drummers Ron Schneider, Mark Seng, Mike Neale. and Greg Cul- ley keep the beat with the band while practicing for the upcoming contest at Castle High SchooT. (Photo by Mary Ellert)

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POM PON SQUAD: LEFT TO RIGHT: Cheryl Green- well, Mary Beshears, Kris Kissel, Lisa Mills, Angie Hilakos, Toni Weinzapfel, Mary Teipe, Sherri Rick- etts, Sarah Rexing, Kathy Koressel, Laura Hutch- ison, Kathy Boes, Lisa Spahn, Sally Reising, Karen Raleigh, Kelle Beshears, Carol Thornton, Missy Schmitt. NOT PICTURED: Mindy Ficker, MAJO- RETTES AND FLAG GIRLS PICTURED ON PAGE 38, (Photo by Bob Straub) . . . AND WHEN. YOU ' RE NOT, YOU ' RE NOT: During inclimate weather within the halls of Mater Dei- ville, these pom pons found the only way to beat the cold was not to bare arms. (Photo by Bethe Ledbetter) WE GOT THE BEAT : Several senior members of the pom pon squad warm up for homecoming performance at a previous assembly. (Photo by Rob Zigenfus) PRETTY MAIDENS ALL IN A ROW: Many people looked forward to halftime performance. In this game against North, pom pons line up for a kick routine, (Photo by Scott Altman) o 42 o D I— D D E c CO . U) fc c D o a D — E O o Q D In the fading summer months of ' 81, the Mater Dei band was entertaining a question of great concern. What should we do with the pom pon squad? With the band turning military, there was no great need for pom pons. In competition, they were simply over- looked by judges as good or fair. A checkmark was their grade. On the other side of the coin, the feeling had become mutual. What should we do with the band? The pom pons gave it much thought before they decided to perform on an independent basis. In late August, the pom pon squad wentto a camp separate from the band in Lebanon, Kentucky. However, many members agreed that it was a waste of time. I thought it was a lot of work and too little effort. We learned three routines — including the school song and marching — but that was about the ex- tent of it, though, stated senior co- captain Kathy Koressel. Despite the extremes pressed on them, co-captains Sarah Rexing, Kathy Koressel, and sponsor Ms. Carol Kas- bohm were determined not to give in. We scheduled all of our practices, made up our own routines, and taught them to the rest of the squad, said Kathy. The old saying practice makes per- fect proved itself true when the squad closed the season with their only com- petition at state level at Owen ' s Valley High School in Spencer, Indiana. The pom pons brought home three first divi- sion-superior ratings and two second di- vision-excellent ratings. The entire squad won a first division rating for its Big Spender routine and won a plaque, on display at school. I I could to it again, I would, said Kathy, It was a lot of fun and I gained from the experiences. — Mike Kaiser