Lake hosts 18th annual Blue Streak Marching Band Show

Saturday, Sept. 6, brought a beautiful, cool evening for the Lake High School Blue Streak Marching Band Show, the 18th annual event, at Blue Streak Stadium Alumni Field.

Six other high school bands joined Lake for the show: Alliance, Conotton Valley, Carrollton, Sandy Valley, United and West Branch.

The Lake band opened the evening with chimes, the alma mater and the national anthem. A moment of silence was observed before the anthem in remembrance of 9/11.

First to perform was the Sandy Valley Cardinals Marching Band from Magnolia. With a high school enrollment of 700, the band has 34 marching members and performs in a corps style. Directed by Craig Garnes and Laura Dotson, the band has played throughout Stark, Tuscarawas and Carroll counties, including the Pro Football Hall of Fame Grand Enshrinement Parade. Their selections were “Peter Gunn Theme,” “Goldfinger,” “James Bond Theme,” “Secret Agent Man” and “Live and Let Die.”

Next up was the Conotton Rockets Marching Band from Bowerston, directed by Robyn King, a 2014 Lake graduate, with assistant Addison Gautier. The 39-member band performed “Give My Regards to Broadway,” “Defying Gravity,” “And All That Jazz” and “The Phantom of the Opera.”

The third band was the Alliance Aviators Marching Band, directed by Dr. Charles Page and Nathan Fete. Out of a student body of 950, 58 are members of the Pride of the Sky. Their selections were “Poison,” “The Hey Song” and “Master of Puppets.”

Before intermission, the Carrollton Warriors Marching Band took the field. With 69 members from a high school of 485 students, the band is directed by David Dickerhoof and assistant Becky Dickerhoof. They performed “Carry On Wayward Son,” “Vehicle” and “Time Warp.”

After intermission, the United Golden Eagles Marching Band from Hanoverton performed. Directed by Nome Baker with assistant Sonya Minard, the 65-member band played “Party Rock Anthem,” “Holiday” and “Locked Out of Heaven.” Their high school has 300 students, and the band is scheduled to perform at Disney World on March 19, 2026.

The West Branch Warriors Marching Band from Beloit followed, with 90 members from a school of 500 students. Directed by Lake alumnus Billy Sheak with assistant Chris Brown, their 2025 show theme, “Dad Rock,” featured “Come Out and Play,” “Stacy’s Mom,” “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Don’t Stop Me Now.”

Finally, the Lake Blue Streak Marching Band took the field with 162 members led by Joshua Laux, Jared Cooey, Mark Tryon and Sidney Herrera. At Lake High School, all band students participate in the marching band during summer and fall. The noncompetitive ensemble prides itself on musical excellence, precision marching and a varied repertoire.

The Blue Streaks performed “Are You Gonna Be My Girl,” “Uprising,” “A Sky Full of Stars” and “Viva La Vida.” They closed with the rousing Script Lake, led by Kaela Hatch, as spectators stood and clapped throughout the march to spell “Lake.” For the first time, the band presented a glow Script Lake, with members wearing blue lights on their uniforms. Other bands joined in from the stands, shining phone flashlights to illuminate the scene as “Lake” was spelled out in glowing blue.

Several local businesses supported the event. The title show sponsor was Sgt. Clean Car Wash. Major show sponsors were Experience Hartville, Hartville Hardware, Kitchen, Marketplace and Shoppes at the Kitchen, and Consumers National Bank. Go Blue Show Sponsors were Pellegrino Music and Lesson Center, Starkey and Runkle Law Firm, Taylor Band and Orchestra, Orion’s Gardens, and Josh the Window Cleaner.

Brett Yeagley, Lake’s new superintendent, praised the band’s impact on the community. “The Lake High School Marching Band is a source of tremendous pride for our district and community,” he said. “Being a member of this band requires countless hours of practice, preparation and dedication. From early mornings and late evenings on the practice field to performing under the bright lights on Friday nights, our band members continually demonstrate discipline, teamwork and excellence. Their commitment represents the very best of what it means to be a Blue Streak.”