Lincoln high school in Sioux Falls has long been touted as a top marching band program in the the state and region. And while they’ve had successful years in the past, 2022’s fall season was different for them.
With 178 members, the Patriots traveled the upper midwest going to competitions in places like Marshall, Minnesota and Des Moines, Iowa showcasing their field show entitled ‘Unchained.” The culmination of the season, however, would take place in St. Louis, Missouri at the Bands of America Super Regional event.
Last year, Lincoln high school finished 11th at ‘BOA’ in St. Louis, but this year they finished 4th. Not only is 4th place a personal best for the school, but it’s the best finish by any South Dakota high school marching band in state history at a BOA Super Regional event.
Sioux Falls Roosevelt finished 6th at the St. Louis Super Regional in 2004, which was the previous state record, at that event, until this year’s Lincoln squad.
“The Lincoln Band has had a renowned tradition of excellence over the years, and this recognition represents a new high water mark for the band on the national stage,” said Lincoln Band Director Dan Carlson. “We are just so incredibly proud of the hard work these kids put in.”
For those unfamiliar with a Bands of America event, it is described as the best overall competition you’ll find when it comes to high school marching band in the nation. Programs from all over the country attend BOA events every year. In total, Bands of America runs 23 regional competitions throughout the marching band season, and then they host three Super Regionals, which, St. Louis is one of them, and a Grand Nationals event in Indianapolis every November.
Sixty-two schools from ten different states attended this year’s Super Regional event in St. Louis. HornRank, which is a national high school marching band ranking website, had Sioux Falls Lincoln as their 27th high school in the nation for marching band as of October 18th.
