A snowstorm of all things cut short the Montezuma Cortez High School Marching Panthers’ quest for a state title.
In the end, a snowstorm Monday in Parker, Colo. canceled the final round, and the scores from the first round were tallied to determine the winner of the coveted state title. The M-CHS marching band earned a third-place state title based off of the Class 2A first qualifying round. The final round was never played out because of blowing snow.
M-CHS band director Rodney Ritthaler said the band did the best they could with the cards they were dealt.
“We actually had a good temperature when we played. It was probably 45 degrees and hadn’t started to snow yet,” Ritthaler said.
Coming out on top was the D’Evelyn High School, with a final score of 64.35. In second place was Englewood High School with a score of 61.70 and Cortez just trailing behind with a score of 61.65.
“The weather was definitely a bum deal,” Ritthaler said. But, he added, “It is late fall.”
And other teams had to perform in blowing snow. When it gets too cold, instruments can start to freeze up, he said.
The band was already on their way to another competition Thursday in St. George, Utah. The Utah competition will be their last for the school year, Ritthaler said.
“Tomorrow we participate in the Red Rocks Marching festival,” Ritthaler said.
They are participating in the Regional Bands of America regional competition.
“I think the kids are looking forward to performing in a warmer atmosphere,” he said. The weather was expected to get close to 80 Thursday in St. George.