JCHS placed third with finals canceled

Twenty-five years ago this week, the Jay County High School Marching Patriots walked away with a third-place finish at the Indiana State Fair Band Day Contest with the finals rained out.

The Aug. 10, 1995, edition of The Commercial Review noted that the Marching Patriots felt like they had one march left. But neither they nor any of the other bands that advanced to the Sweet 16 from the afternoon preliminaries got that opportunity as the evening’s finals were called off because of heavy rain and lightning.

Jay County’s preliminary score of 77.55 put it third behind champion Franklin Central (83.25) and runner-up Winchester (80.25).

“We’re disappointed we didn’t get to march again, but we’re pleased with the kids’ performance,” said JCHS band director Dave Humbert.

After a sweltering early part of the day, rain hit the Indiana State Fairgrounds shortly after the finalists were announced about 2:30 p.m. Sun would return, only to give way to a sky that was “lifeless ash gray for the rest of the evening,” wrote reporter Ed Balint.

The directors and state fair officials met about 7:30 p.m. to discuss the fate of the show, with Humbert then delivering the news to the Marching Patriots on their bus.

“We didn’t say anything,” said senior Sarah Cole. “I remember sitting on the buses and all the seniors said we weren’t leaving until we marched the show.

“I know we could have beat Winchester. We had a good chance at Franklin.

“Leaving it this way, it’s tough. It feels like we’re not finished.”