Week 10: Maumee High School | Band of the Week
It's another football season - or for many in the area, marching band season - and we're excited to again feature a different band and halftime show each week.
School is back in session and students are hitting the books, which also means it's time to hit the field for athletes and the marching bands that hype them up.
Band members work just as hard, if not harder, than the football players on the field. Musicians from across our area bring the noise before, during and after games.
That's why WTOL 11's Band of the Week is back for a third year to take some time and recognize bands during this year's Big Board Friday.
This year, we are introducing a new element to the selection process: Voting! Now, students, parents and the school community can vote to determine what band is featured as the Band of the Week.
Here’s how it works:
- Each Friday, beginning at 5 a.m., voting will open.
- Anyone can go to wtol.com and vote once per hour until the voting closes on Tuesday at noon.
- The Band of the Week will be revealed on Wednesday during WTOL 11 News at 4 p.m.!
Then, on Friday, our WTOL 11 crews will come out to record the Band of the Week's halftime performance and bring a few goodies with them!
Each week, WTOL 11 will feature one marching band, film their halftime show and present it to you on wtol.com and on our free news app, which you can download here: https://interactive.wtol.com/appredirect/
You can also catch replays on the WTOL 11+ channel on Roku and Fire Stick.
Enjoy the shows!
Week Ten Maumee High School
Our tenth Band of the Week is Maumee High School!
FULL PERFORMANCE:
The Maumee High School Marching Band fields 80 students. But behind those students is a big network of support, which band director Eric Boswell wanted to acknowledge.
"Something I want to share is that we are blessed with an outstanding booster organization, the Maumee Band Parent Organization," Boswell said. "This group of band parents and other volunteers manages to staff the concessions at every MHS athletics event, from football to volleyball and everything else in between."
The funds raised through the boosters provide a lot of unique opportunities like professional lessons for Maumee band students, according to Boswell.
Maumee also hosted a "Maumee Music In Motion Show" sponsored by the Ohio Music Education Association that featured 17 high school bands and the University of Toledo Marching Band for an exhibition performance. Bands that earned a superior rating during the show qualified for the Marching Band State Finals.
Week Nine Fostoria High School
Our ninth Band of the Week is Fostoria High School!
FULL PERFORMANCE:
The Fostoria Redmen Marching Band consists of 50 members and is a "phenomenal group of young people" that strives to provide great music for the school and community while also representing it well, according to band director Steve Kauffman.
Kauffman added that the band started the season strong and continues to improve weekly, attributing it to the strong leadership of the seniors, who he said are having their best year and pushing the other members to their fullest potential.
They are there for each other always," Kauffman said. "They have been an absolute joy to work with and I'm very excited for everything we will accomplish this year."
While the band doesn't have any big trips planned for this year, spring 2026 does have something in store: the Smoky Mountain Music Festival in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Training camp for the band begins in July.
Week Eight Oak Harbor High School
Our eighth Band of the Week is Oak Harbor High School!
FULL PERFORMANCE:
The Oak Harbor Rockets Marching Band fields 78 musicians that represent the entire student body, according to band director Travis Magoto.
"Band is one of the only places in our school where every demographic of student comes together in a very special way," Magoto said. "We have students who are varsity athletes, and other students involved in many other activities such as FFA, Drama Club, Science Olympiad, DECA, SAFE, Choir, Hope Squad, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Academic Challenge. It is an awesome conglomeration of some of the absolute best students Oak Harbor has to offer."
The students represent Oak Harbor as well.
"We are proud to be able to represent our school and our community," Magoto said. "We take our role as 'The Pride of Oak Harbor' to heart and strive to live up to that slogan every single day."
Magoto offered high praise for more than just the students.
"I also want to recognize our assistant director, Jonathan Head," Magoto said. "We are fortunate to have a team-teaching situation in our band department in Oak Harbor, and he is an invaluable part of our success."
Week Seven Bowling Green High School
Our seventh Band of the Week is Bowling Green High School!
FULL PERFORMANCE:
There are 97 members of the Bowling Green Bobcats Marching Band.
The band drums up support for the Bobcats with the "Bobcat Band Dance" in its shows, which Bobcats band director Samantha Preisner said is a tradition and choreographed by students.
Band vice president Ash Fleming said the Bobcat Band Dance is something that sets the group apart.
"We have a new one every year and not many bands do have a band dance," Fleming said. "But I think it's what makes us truly special, being able to differentiate ourselves during halftime performances."
While the dance is something that makes them stand out, it's the bond between band members that makes them stand together.
"It's just a joy to be on the field and every time being with this band, it just, it makes me so happy and I couldn't be happier to be part of this, this band especially, and be president," band president Isabella Nardone said. "Just all these students every day, just inspired me so much."
Week Six Anthony Wayne High School
Our sixth Band of the Week is Anthony Wayne High School!
The Anthony Wayne Marching Generals field 150 students, with a "high stepping" marching style (similar to collegiate bands, like Ohio State.)
FULL PERFORMANCE:
The marching band's uniforms are a bit of a history lesson, both for the band itself and the name of the school they play for.
"Our uniforms have remained the same since the late 60's and are modeled after a Revolutionary War Military Uniform worn by General Anthony Wayne," Marching Generals band director Roy Young said.
The band participates in community events, both locally and beyond Ohio with an appearance slated for this year's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia.
Week Five Genoa High School
Our fifth Band of the Week is Genoa High School!
It was a close contest between Genoa and Northwood, with the Comets coming out on top by a margin of only 7 votes.
FULL PERFORMANCE:
The Comets Marching Band is made up of 55 playing members and two auxiliary members, making for a total of 57 participants.
The group traveled to Heidelberg University at the end of July for a week of band camp to kick off the marching band season. The ability to hold camp at Heidelberg helps forge something that band director Stephanie Brower said makes this group special.
"During this week away from home, the kids really get to know each other and have the chance to build that bond," Brower said. "During this time, we see leaders emerge and new friendships form. Our kids have each other's backs. We are like one big family."
Likewise, every football game ends with a show of unity whether it's a home game or an away game, a win or a loss. Together, the players, cheerleaders and the band perform and sing the school's alma mater by the bleachers, which Brower described as "a really cool thing to experience."
Brower is the director for grades 5 through 12, but the role is recent. The previous director retired just two years ago after 34 years with Genoa's band. It was an adjustment that Brower said would be hard for anyone to accept, especially for students so used to the previous director.
"However, they have been great about this change and willing to accept me as their new director," Brower said. "As a Genoa graduate, and a student of the previous director, I think that made an easier transition for everyone."
Week Four Clyde High School
Our fourth Band of the Week for 2024-25 is Clyde High School!
FULL PERFORMANCE:
The Clyde marching band has 71 members and began practicing in July. The school's band director, Jacob Donofrio, said what makes the high school's band special is its strong sense of community and support from the school district.
Donofrio said the district committed $20,000 last year to the band program to replace old instruments. The marching band went to Nashville during spring break last year and was able to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry, the General Jackson Showboat and more.
"The communities of Clyde and Green Springs love a good parade and the marching band is proud to be a part of them! The band program in Clyde is very active in the community and we believe that is one of the reasons the community supports us so much. It is a great mutual relationship between the band and the Clyde-Green Springs communities," the band director said.
Congrats to the Fliers, our Band of the Week!
Week Three Napoleon High School
Our third Band of the Week for 2024-25 is Napoleon High School!
With 60% of the vote, the Wildcats Marching Band earned top honors.
FULL PERFORMANCE:
"It's awesome to know that these people out here (in the stands) are actually watching us and paying attention and thinking that we're doing something great, just like the football team is doing," senior drum major Avery Badenhop said. "I'm just really proud to see these people kind of stepping up and actually take a role in what we're doing here."
Andrew Lesick is the band director for the Napoleon Wildcats. It's a role he's held for 22 years. While "marching" is always a big part of "marching band," Lesick emphasizes the weight of the sound behind the steps.
"Bands first and foremost are music and for me, we try to get them playing and in tune and right off the bat. You're coming into the school year where you've had three months off so they're not setting the world on fire right away. It's how far can we take them in this particular venue," Lesick said. "It's the music first and the motions second. I want people to leave thinking 'hey man, that's a good-sounding band. I'd like to hear them again.' That, to me, is probably the pinnacle, the highest importance for our Friday night."
Congrats, Wildcats on being week's Band of the Week!
Week Two Clay High School
Our second Band of the Week for the 2024-25 marching band season is Clay High School!
FULL PERFORMANCE:
Clay's marching band has 92 students, with many who are also athletes in sports like football, cheerleading, golf, soccer, cross-country and tennis.
The Fighting Eagle Marching Band models themselves after a show-style band with a drum major, similar to Michigan and Ohio State's marching bands, according to band director Joe Kuzdzal. They perform different music and drills at every home game.
"Our band at Clay has always been a big tradition and part of our school culture," Kuzdzal said. "We start the school year in-service for teachers and staff with the Clay Fighting Eagle Marching Band."
Kuzdzal teased ahead to the Sept. 13 home game, where the marching band will salute our veterans with a pregame fly-over using WWII training planes.
Clay captured over 40% of the popular vote for Week Two, earning the honor of being our Band of the Week.
"It feels great. I mean, it shows all of our hard work is paid off over the last month and a half. I'm proud of all the people in this band," band member Brenden Hendrickson said. "We sound really good and we look good. It's a great feeling."
Congratulations, Eagles!
Week One Whitmer High School
Our first Band of the Week for the 2024-25 marching band season is Whitmer High School!
FULL PERFORMANCE:
The Panthers field 110 players in their marching band, which marches in Toledo's annual Labor Day Parade and will be making a trip to Walt Disney World for a parade performance in spring 2026.
"The students work very hard, often with very little resources, and yet are able to provide quality performances, despite various personal circumstances. They are constantly looking to improve individually and as a group," Whitmer High School marching band director Justin Rhoades said. "They are true underdogs and the directors are very proud of their work ethic, determination, and kindness."
Rhoades described the marching band as a selfless group that works to lift each other up and help their peers, going above and beyond.
"The band is very supportive of the school by performing at various local school events, including our community anti-drug event known as the Candlelight Walk," Rhoades said.
And the community supports them right back, as the Panthers won the popular vote by a wide margin.
2023-24 Band of the Week Watch last year's shows
Looking for last year? Here's all of the action from our Bands of the Week.
WATCH NOW: Band of the Week 2023-24 season