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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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MARCHING TO THE BEAT

16 schools participate in championship at Joe Albi Stadium

Members of the University High band dance during their preliminary competition in the Pacific Northwest Marching Band Championship on Saturday at Joe Albi Stadium. The U-Hi band played theme music from the movie “King Kong.” (Photos by JESSE TINSLEY / The Spokesman-Review)
Members of the University High band dance during their preliminary competition in the Pacific Northwest Marching Band Championship on Saturday at Joe Albi Stadium. The U-Hi band played theme music from the movie “King Kong.” (Photos by JESSE TINSLEY / The Spokesman-Review)

Sixteen high school marching bands took to the field Saturday at the 2008 Pacific Northwest marching Band Championships at Joe Albi Stadium.

Cheney High School took the top prize in the “A” division, followed by Hanford and Kennewick. In the “AA” division, Pasco High School took home top honors with Mt. Spokane in second place and West Valley High School from Yakima in third.

In the open division, Mead High School won first place, followed by Century High School from Hillsboro, Ore., and Bozeman High School.

Central Valley High School took home the Sweepstakes prize.

The members of the marching bands practice for months to perform at football halftime shows and at competitions like the one on Saturday. The students are judged by how well they play their music and march. The drum lines and auxiliary groups, the color guards and drill teams, are also judged on how well they perform.

The event on Saturday was a fundraiser for the Spokane Thunder Drum and Bugle Corps.

From staff reports