Waukon High School Marching Band achieves its second consecutive Division I rating at the 2026 IHSMA State Marching Band Festival ...

Saturday, October 10, the Waukon High School Marching Indians participated in the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) State Marching Band Festival. Fifteen bands from the northeast corner of the Northeast District representing schools from all four class sizes participated in the festival hosted by Western Dubuque High School in Epworth. The Marching Indians were the first band of the day to receive a Division I rating and the smallest school to receive the top rating.

All the bands were evaluated by five judges in the categories of Music General Effect, Music Execution, Marching General Effect, Marching Execution, and Percussion. Each one of the five judges was assigned responsibility for evaluating one of the five categories. Bands that perform with a color guard had an additional judge who evaluated the added category for visuals/color guard. The judges’ scores were tallied after each band’s performance. The IHSMA has a scoring breakdown that differentiates the divisional ratings.

The Waukon Marching Indians started attending marching band contests after a long hiatus in 2021. They received their first Division I rating in 2024. Due to an injury to their director, they were not able to defend that rating in 2025. This school year was their first opportunity to maintain the high standards set forth in order to achieve a Division I rating. Band Director Jo Ann Knipfer Sherman stated, “I knew going into this year that defending our Division I rating was going to be a challenge. I rely heavily on leadership from the upperclassmen to be role models for how to perform at this level. I can’t have eyes on all areas of the field to see and correct every detail  But, the juniors and seniors who have this experience, they can help lead and correct their squads as we work through the season.

Because we were not able to participate last season due to my injury, there was a gap in the process, even for the upperclassmen. The juniors and seniors who had gone to contests before had to step up and be the examples of what the judges are looking for on the field. Their experience is invaluable in preparing for an evaluation of this level.”

She continued by saying, ”I’m very proud of the work the students put in the week leading up to contests. Marching season for any school has a lot of distractions from preparing for an event like this. But in the week before the festival, the students focused and worked hard with an extra night rehearsal. We had to overcome some untimely rain days - but they pulled together. The students earned this rating - they are the ones to be congratulated.”

Pictured above are members of the 2026 Waukon High School Marching Indians. Left to right - Front row: Connor Buhl, Roland Melcher, Marcus Gebel, Drum Major Tate Ellingson, Megan Huinker, Finn Evans, Director Jo Ann Knipfer Sherman; Second row: Adelynn Connelly, Trinity Protsman, Grace Lyford, Allia Ericson, Whitney Schnitzler, Norah Palmer, Roslin Smith, Wyatt Connelly, Leah Peake, Lena Rausch; Back row: Jada Protsman, Naomi Palmer, Theo Meinholz, Samantha Troester, Kevin Troester, Gus Benjegerdes, Gabe Sellers, Thomas Wilkes, Gabriella Gourley.

The Marching Indians concluded their marching season at the final home football game Friday, October 16. Director Sherman concluded her proud reflection by saying, “Thank you to everyone who took the time to watch the band at halftime of our home games. Thank you to the band families who continue to help out through marching season. Thank you to the Allamakee Community School District and our Allamakee Music Boosters for continuing to fund our band program so we have the equipment to be able to participate and perform at this level.” Submitted photo.