Football games at Pat-Med are more than just the game itself. It’s a combination of the players, the cheerleaders, the dancers, and the marching band. All of these factors work together to make the football games an amazing experience.
This year, the marching band had their Senior Night on October 5th at the second home football game of the season. While the football team suffered a 12-35 loss against Commack, the marching band all had a fantastic time celebrating their seniors.
“I feel like we did really good. I mean, I’ve always loved being a part of the marching band, always loved being in it. And just seeing everybody get together to celebrate our seniors and to have such a great time tonight is just really nice. I think we did really good and I’m having a good night so far just celebrating.” says junior and self-proclaimed best flute player in the marching band, Connor Hayes.
“I think the seniors have done amazing this year, they’re really going above and beyond. There’s a lot of seniors this year, twenty-one, so it’s awesome to have such a strong leadership and a solid group of people” says band director Mr. Carrol. “I know I say this a lot, but the marching band really is the best it’s ever been and I’m just super proud and you guys are leading the way so just keep doing what you’re doing.”
Having previously seen their friends being celebrated on Senior Day in the years before, the current members expressed how it feels to be in the top sport this year in the marching band.
One senior, Joshua Chacon who plays the saxophone said, “It’s great. It’s a lot of responsibility because you have to help out your fellow peers who are coming into the marching band, but overall, it’s just a great experience and you truly end up loving marching band by the end of it.”
Katie Curcio who plays the trumpet said, “It’s great being a senior in the marching band because you get to leave the legacy of the marching band with all the new freshmen all the incoming students going into the marching band. It’s just great to see the marching band grow as the years go by and I love seeing how much the marching band has changed over the past four years.”
“Overall, I think that the marching band as a whole did really well, and on top of that we are celebrating our senior year!” Exclaims senior and elected drum major Jimena Gonzalez, “It’s really enormous because we haven’t had a giant marching band until recently after COVID-19. All the marching band did really well and I’m really glad that this is how I spent my last year of marching band.”
However, it’s not only the instrument players who were celebrated. The seniors of the color guard also received recognition.
“As their captain, I am really happy with their progress ever since the first week of band camp. I’m really hoping for the Newsday Festival we get all the choreography down.” says senior and color guard captain, Jonathan Benegas. “I really enjoyed tonight my senior night was awesome because of them.”
“Being a senior in color guard as my first year in marching band has been an incredible experience and I absolutely love all the artistic things we do and all of what we add to the piece that the marching band plays.” Senior color guard member, Jenny Angamarca states, “It’s also such a fun little group that I’m a part of and something I’ve never experienced before. I get to be more involved in the school in ways I never thought I could be, and I love every single person part of the marching band. It really helped make my senior year extra special.”
While leaving the marching band behind after graduation will be tough, these musicians have a lot to look forward to. Hopefully, this night was one they’ll remember forever.
