West Ranch High School Wildcat Marching Band & Colorguard earned a gold in the California State Championship Competition.

The Wildcat Marching Band earned their third Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) Championship Gold Medal in program history, winning the 4A division on Saturday evening at Warren High School.

The medal is equivalent of winning a CIF title in a high school sport, said WRHS Band Director Jason Marshall.

Competing against the 12 highest scoring bands in the 4A Division, the Wildcats earned a score of 88.33, finishing 1.5 points ahead of second place South Hills High School, the previous 4A Champion. Besides winning overall gold, the band also won awards for High Music, High General Effect and High Percussion with an overall score of 95.

“The band was confident going in, but nervous at the same time,” Marshall said. “The band had not medaled in three years, so they were super excited when they won.”

Earning gold was the perfect way to end a stellar season for the Wildcats, which starts with practice in July and ends in mid-December.

The season included the inaugural Valencia HS Field Show in October, where the Wildcats took Tournament Sweepstakes, High Music, High General Effect, High Visual and both Percussion and Auxiliary (Colorguard) Awards.

That was followed by an outstanding performance in November at Hart Rampage, earning the Wildcats another Tournament Sweepstakes Award, as well as High General Effect, High Visual, and Percussion Caption Awards and Division 4A First Place for Auxiliary.

Other awards this season included second place, Division 4A, and 2nd Place Auxiliary, at the Moorpark HS Field Show. A trip to San Francisco for the Logan HS Field Show, netted the Wildcats another 2nd Place in Division 4A, as well as awards for High Music, High General Effect and High Percussion.

“It has been a wonderful year for the marching band and what a great way to finish,” said Jason Marshall, Band Director at WRHS.

Up next for the students in the marching band are a series of “sit-down” concerts and jazz performances, Marshall said. The Wildcat’s Winter Jazz Concert will take place Friday, Dec. 14 at West Ranch High School.