HUNTINGDON, Tenn. — It may have been overcast, but WBBJ meteorologist Moe Shamell gave his stamp of approval to the weather Saturday as high school marching bands from across West and Middle Tennessee took the field at Paul Ward Stadium for the Huntingdon Marching Invitational.
“You couldn’t ask for a much better night for a marching band competition,” said Shamell.
Carroll County bands made the most of it.
West Carroll High School led the way in Class A, taking first place in both band and percussion. The crowd agreed with the judges, as well. They voted West Carroll the People’s Choice Award winner as the best group of the day.
As a class champion, the band also earned an exhibition performance to open the evening finals.
Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central also had a strong day in Class A, winning first place in color guard, second place in band, and third place in percussion.
McKenzie High School finished second in both band and percussion in Class 2A and third in color guard. They were also the lone Carroll County band named among the 10 finalists.
Camden Central High School won the Class 2A band title, along with second place in color guard and third place in percussion, and advanced to finals.
In Class 3A, Westview High School took first place in band and color guard and second in percussion, earning a class champion exhibition slot. Milan High School finished second in band and color guard and third in percussion.
Henry County High School placed third in band and percussion and second in color guard in Class 6A, and also advanced to finals.
Elsewhere, Green Hill (4A), Station Camp (5A), and Munford (6A) each swept band, percussion, and color guard in their classes.
Shamell wasn’t only there for the forecast.
He was honored with presenting the first-ever Moe Shamell Award, named in recognition of his support for music education and the arts in West and Middle Tennessee.
Shamell, who regularly attends and promotes band competitions on air and on social media, chose the winner himself.
The inaugural award went to Green Hill High School.
Shamell was surprised that Huntingdon chose to recognize him in that fashion.
“It’s an honor. I wasn’t expecting that at all,” he said. “Oftentimes [Marching Band] is just overlooked and you never hear anything about it. So I just do my part to make it known.”