The Pride of Tanque Verde High School Marching Band made an electrifying start to the 2025 competitive season this evening at “Rock the Den,” hosted by Mountain View High School. The Pride delivered a powerful and polished performance, earning a score of 64.7 and taking first place in the 2A division—finishing ahead of Ironwood Ridge High School and Sabino High School.
A Strong Start in a Higher Division
This year marks Tanque Verde’s first in the larger 2A division, where they now compete against schools with bigger bands and student populations. Despite that challenge, the Pride rose to the occasion, capturing first place and earning top caption awards for Music Performance, Visual Technique, General Effect, and Auxiliary (Color Guard).
Co-Director Ben Johnson noted that this is a fantastic score for the start of the season, particularly because the Pride performed their entire show—a rare feat at a first festival. Many ensembles perform only partial shows at this point in the year, but Tanque Verde is already ahead of the curve, positioning themselves to refine and perfect their production in the coming weeks.
Staff and Performers Leading the Way
Color Guard Coach Lily Shaw, in her second year at the helm of the revived TVHS guard program, guided her team to the highest auxiliary score of the entire night across all divisions—by a notable margin. Guard soloists Theseus Underwood, Audrey Jenshak, and Merry Jones stood out, with Jones drawing cheers for her exceptional rifle solo.
Other key staff include Profe Randi Royer, who brings expertise in choreography and physical wellness, and Delia Mohler, who assists brass players and fine-tunes field formations. The band also welcomed back Austin Weigel, former drum major and current volunteer visual tech, whose experience with the University of Arizona Pride of Arizona Marching Band has been an invaluable addition.
The show’s creative vision came from Co-Director Matt Harris, who served as show designer, drill writer, and music arranger—shaping every element of the performance from concept to final note.
Looking Ahead
The Pride of Tanque Verde invites the community to cheer them on at the Southern Region Championships at Ironwood Ridge High School on October 25, and at University of Arizona Band Day on November 1. Performance times will be shared as soon as they are available.
With such a strong start—topping larger and more established programs—Tanque Verde’s season is off to a remarkable beginning. The Pride continues to embody its name, representing TVHS with excellence, teamwork, and spirit both on and off the field.