EDUCATION: CENTRAL BAND TO END SUCCESSFUL SEASON

Cape Central High School's marching band and color guard will finish their season with several contest awards, including one each in first, second and fourth places and two in third place.

Band spokeswoman Amy Cain said the highlight of the season was the band's second-place award in its size division at the Greater St. Louis Area Marching Festival on Oct. 28. The event was at the Trans World Dome, and 46 bands competed. Cape Central took fourth place overall.

The Cape Central Marching Tigers, with 109 members, performed a set of four Steely Dan songs: "King of the World," "The Goodbye Look," "Monkey in Your Soul" and "Don't Take Me Alive." First place in the division went to St. Charles West High School.

Cape Central took third place in its division in last year's contest.

Cain, whose son, Justin Cain, is a trumpet player with the group, said Cape Central also was recognized both years for selling the most tickets of any school involved -- an average of six per band member.

"It's so amazing the discipline that this group has and their desire to be the best," she said. "You can just look at those kids and see that they enjoy it."

Band members spend three weeks in the August heat practicing for the season and also march at halftimes of football games.

Senior members were recognized at the band banquet on Tuesday. Along with Justin Cain, they were: David Barani, mellophone; Jay Buerck, trumpet; Julie Crank, clarinet; Ashley Crocker, percussion; Casey Dodd, alto saxophone; Janelle Engelmann, guard; Blake Ervin, tenor saxophone; Kaydee Etzold, guard; John Fischer, trombone; Travis Freeman, tenor saxophone; Jim Haskell, clarinet; Erin Haycraft, guard; Tekoa Hines, clarinet; Matt Lee, percussion; Kevin Lossing, percussion; Chad Meyr, percussion; Danielle Milam, flute; Joseph Morris, percussion; Steven Penny, alto saxophone; Andrew Rehbein, trumpet; Larry Rhodes, alto saxophone; Jill Roddy, guard; Amy Serandos, guard; Renee Shoulders, drum major; Justin Sitze, trumpet; Beth Standridge, guard; Pariss Ware, clarinet; and Rachel Wright, alto saxophone.

The band performs under head director Neil Casey, Mark Ellison, Billy Keys and color guard instructor Dina Strickert.