In a state where basketball brings in over 30 million dollars in revenue, it’s easy to overlook lesser-known sports, especially when grown adults are throwing fits because they spent their retirement fund betting on how many points Otega Oweh, UK shooting guard, would score. However, it’s even harder to notice other sports at SOHS when they’re overshadowed by basketball and football. No hate for either of those sports; they just take up so much of the school’s feed, there isn’t much room for other sports. To do these sports some justice, this will be the first edition of Overlooked and Underappreciated Sports at SOHS.
It may be debated as to whether or not Marching Band is in fact a sport, but The Dragon’s Tale is here to tell you it is most definitely a sport. The word sport, as defined by Oxford language, is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” The Marching Band involves physical exertion and skill, and competes against other teams, as well as performs for entertainment at football games. Check, check, and check!
Now it’s not totally due to football and basketball that the band is overlooked. Out of the 1376 students that go to SOHS, only 82 are in band. That’s the largest number of people in any sport at SOHS, but this number only adds up to almost 6% of SOHS students. Nevertheless, they continue to shine. Their team is small but mighty and continues to win best in their class and second overall at their first competition of the 2025-2026 school year, however.
When asked what they wished other people knew about the band, Mr. McCallister, Band director, said that his “Students are one of the hardest working groups of students in the school, and that, in addition to providing entertainment at sporting events, we also have our own competitive season.” Last year alone, the band won over 15 titles and multiple 1st place awards. This year, they hope to accomplish a whole lot more.
Students said the Marching Band is a big commitment, and marching isn’t as simple as it may appear. Lily Soeseno (9) advised, “Don’t get into it if you’re not serious. In band camp, it’s basically you wake up, go do band for hours, sleep, repeat.” Almost every student interviewed said they wished people understood how much time and effort they put into marching band, and you’d never really be able to know how hard it was until you were marching right next to them on the field. But don’t get confused – they also shared that the marching band is incredibly fun and fulfilling.
Band directors said the same thing. Mrs. Fasoldt, assistant Band Director says that she admires the “amount of work the students and staff put in. There are so many behind-the-scenes things that happen to create a 6-10 minute show that many people do not realize. Students learn great discipline from joining the marching band that helps them beyond high school.”
This year, they hope to accomplish a whole lot more. So next time the band is playing during halftime, sit down, be quiet, and listen to the music.
Go support the band at one of their competitions!
