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Tupelo takes top honors at Northeast's 42nd annual marching band championship

Mantachie captures Classes 1A/2A/3A Sweepstakes

by Michael H. Miller

BOONEVILLE, Miss. -- (10/16/2025) — Perfect weather, precision performances, and pageantry filled the air at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, October 4, as Northeast Mississippi Community College hosted its 42nd Annual Northeast Regional Marching Band Championship.

Under sunny skies and mid-80-degree temperatures that dipped into the mid-60s by the evening awards ceremony, Tupelo High School captured the coveted nearly seven-foot-tall Grand Champion trophy with an overall score of 86.675, marking the first time since 2013 that the Golden Wave has earned the top prize at the Northeast competition.

Tupelo also claimed the Classes 4A/5A/6A/7A Sweepstakes Championship, while the Mantachie Mustang Band took home the Classes 1A/2A/3A Sweepstakes title.

Tupelo was one of just a handful of bands that performed twice during the day -- once in the Ratings portion early in the event and again during the Caption portion that evening while Mantachie chose to focus on just the Caption portion of the contest.

A Full Day of Competition

This year's event featured 32 high school marching bands from Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, performing in 41 total shows across seven classifications.

Northeast's Ratings Portion (9 a.m.-2:15 p.m.) allowed bands to earn a Superior (1), Excellent (2), or Good (3) rating, while the Caption Portion (3:15-9:30 p.m.) determined class awards and the overall champion.

While Northeast serves a five-county district -- Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo, and Union -- the contest draws band programs from across the region, including marching groups from as far away as Cherokee, Alabama, and Hardin County, Tennessee.

Northeast's own Showband from Tigerland performed twice during the day, before the Ratings awards in the afternoon and closing out the evening before the final awards ceremony.

Tupelo's Winning Performance

Tupelo's High School Band, directed by Dustin Thrasher, Christopher Knox, Kelli Wallace, Emily Hercules, Jerry Fortenberry, and Bobby Onsby, delivered a program titled "Serengeti: Sun and Sky."

With musical selections Sunrise, Afternoon Rain, and Land Eternal, and leadership from Drum Majors Cathleen Gan Lim, Carter Bell, Logan White, and Anderson Shoemaker, the Golden Wave drew points from the judges with both musical and visual precision.

Tupelo also swept several overall awards, including Best Guard, Best Percussion, and Best Drum Majors in Class 7A, along with Overall Best Guard, Overall Best Percussion, and Overall Outstanding Soloist.

Flutist Cathleen Gan Lim was named the Overall Outstanding Soloist for the entire Caption portion of the day-long event and earned a $1,915 scholarship to Northeast Mississippi Community College.

Mantachie Mustang Band Earns 1A/2A/3A Sweepstakes Title

Mantachie's Mustang Band, directed by Austin Jones and Dylan Hunsucker, earned top honors in the Classes 1A/2A/3A Sweepstakes division with its program "The Monster," composed by CJ Kemp and Ryan Jobe.

Led by Drum Major Addison Graves, Mantachie combined strong musicality and marching design to capture first place in Class 3A and additional awards for Best Drum Major and Best Guard in its class.

Northeast Mississippi Community College's Regional Marching Band Championship remains one of the longest-running and largest marching festivals in the Mid-South, drawing an estimated 30,000 visitors to Booneville each year and serving as one of the college's largest fundraisers for its Showband from Tigerland.

COMPLETE AWARDS SUMMARY

GRAND CHAMPION: Tupelo High School - 86.675

SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS

  • Classes 1A/2A/3A: Mantachie High School
  • Classes 4A/5A/6A/7A: Tupelo High School

OVERALL AWARDS

  • Outstanding Soloist: Flute Soloist Cathleen Gan Lim, Tupelo (receives $1,915 NEMCC scholarship)
  • Best Drum Major: North Pontotoc
  • Best Guard: Tupelo
  • Best Percussion: Tupelo
  • Best Majorettes: New Albany

BEST IN CLASS AWARDS

  • Drum Majors: 1A - Cherokee; 2A - East Webster; 3A - Mantachie; 4A - North Pontotoc; 5A - Pontotoc; 6A - Saltillo; 7A - Tupelo
  • Guard: 1A - Cherokee; 2A - East Webster; 3A - Mantachie; 4A - North Pontotoc; 5A - Pontotoc; 6A - Saltillo; 7A - Tupelo
  • Percussion: 1A - Cherokee; 2A - East Webster; 3A - Alcorn Central; 4A - Kosciusko; 5A - Caledonia; 6A - Saltillo; 7A - Tupelo
  • Majorettes: 4A - New Albany

CLASS CHAMPIONS

  • Class 1A: 1st - Cherokee; 2nd - Okolona
  • Class 2A: 1st - East Webster; 2nd - Baldwyn; 3rd - Strayhorn
  • Class 3A: 1st - Mantachie; 2nd - Alcorn Central; 3rd - Kossuth
  • Class 4A: 1st - Kosciusko; 2nd - North Pontotoc; 3rd - New Albany
  • Class 5A: 1st - Pontotoc; 2nd - Caledonia
  • Class 6A: 1st - Saltillo; 2nd - Hardin County (Tenn.)
  • Class 7A: 1st - Tupelo

--NEMCC--

Information about Northeast Mississippi Community College

Northeast Mississippi Community College is a leading educational institution that provides comprehensive academic, technical, and workforce training programs to empower students and promote lifelong learning. With a commitment to excellence, Northeast Mississippi Community College fosters a supportive environment that prepares individuals for success in their chosen fields.

For more information about Northeast Mississippi Community College, visit http://www.nemcc.edu.

Media Attachments

Northeast Mississippi Community College president Dr. Ricky G. Ford (center) along with members of the Showband from Tigerland Tiger Dancer kick line present the nearly seven-foot Grand Champion trophy to members of the Tupelo High School Golden Wave Marching Band at the conclusion of the 42nd Northeast Regional Marching Band Championship at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

Northeast Mississippi Community College president Dr. Ricky G. Ford (center) along with members of the Showband from Tigerland Tiger Dancer kick line present the Classes 4A/5A/6A/7A Sweepstakes award to members of the Tupelo High School Golden Wave Marching Band at the conclusion of the 42nd Northeast Regional Marching Band Championship at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

Northeast Mississippi Community College president Dr. Ricky G. Ford (center) along with members of the Showband from Tigerland Tiger Dancer kick line present the Classes 1A/2A/3A Sweepstakes award to members of the Mantachie High School Mustang Marching Band at the conclusion of the 42nd Northeast Regional Marching Band Championship at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

Members of the Tupelo High School Golden Wave Marching Band compete at the 42nd Northeast Regional Marching Band Championship at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, October 4, 2025 on the campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Tupelo captured the Grand Championship with a score of 86.675 and the Classes 4A/5A/6A/7A Sweepstakes award during the one-day competition.

Members of the Tupelo High School Golden Wave Marching Band compete at the 42nd Northeast Regional Marching Band Championship at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, October 4, 2025 on the campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Tupelo captured the Grand Championship with a score of 86.675 and the Classes 4A/5A/6A/7A Sweepstakes award during the one-day competition.

Members of the Tupelo High School Golden Wave Marching Band compete at the 42nd Northeast Regional Marching Band Championship at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, October 4, 2025 on the campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Tupelo captured the Grand Championship with a score of 86.675 and the Classes 4A/5A/6A/7A Sweepstakes award during the one-day competition.

Members of the Tupelo High School Golden Wave Marching Band compete at the 42nd Northeast Regional Marching Band Championship at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, October 4, 2025 on the campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Tupelo captured the Grand Championship with a score of 86.675 and the Classes 4A/5A/6A/7A Sweepstakes award during the one-day competition.

Members of the Mantachie High School Mustang Marching Band compete at the 42nd Northeast Regional Marching Band Championship at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, October 4, 2025 on the campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Mantachie captured the Classes 1A/2A/3A Sweepstakes award during the one-day competition.

Members of the Mantachie High School Mustang Marching Band compete at the 42nd Northeast Regional Marching Band Championship at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, October 4, 2025 on the campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Mantachie captured the Classes 1A/2A/3A Sweepstakes award during the one-day competition.

Members of the Mantachie High School Mustang Marching Band compete at the 42nd Northeast Regional Marching Band Championship at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, October 4, 2025 on the campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Mantachie captured the Classes 1A/2A/3A Sweepstakes award during the one-day competition.

Members of the Mantachie High School Mustang Marching Band compete at the 42nd Northeast Regional Marching Band Championship at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, October 4, 2025 on the campus of Northeast Mississippi Community College. Mantachie captured the Classes 1A/2A/3A Sweepstakes award during the one-day competition.

JF
Jerry
F.
CK
Christopher
Knox
  • New Albany, MS
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