EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Earlier this month, the Fitch Marching Band won second place at MetLife Stadium in a tight competition with five other schools.  

On Oct. 12, the marching band had an early morning. At 3:30 a.m., they had a three-hour bus ride down to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to compete in the Ludwig Musser Classic. Due to scheduling issues, the marching band never got a chance to watch the other schools.

“We had to be at Fitch before 3:30 a.m. so we could leave at 4 a.m. for a three-hour drive to Met Life Stadium,” said Trystan Phillips a Tenor Drum/Quads player for the marching band. “Then we practiced for three hours and performed at 11 a.m., took group photos, got food at Wawa then we left and had another three-hour drive back to Fitch.”

The marching band scored 80.10 points, leaving them two points away from first place in the competition. 

“I am extremely proud of how our group performed,” said Casey Gilmore, a Leadership Trombone player for the marching band. “It’s no easy thing playing in an NFL Stadium, but our group gave it its all.”

For their performance, the band played the Beetlejuice soundtrack, which was well-received by the audience.