The Spirit of Waxahachie Band is returning to San Antonio to compete in the 6A UIL State Marching Band Championships on November 5-8 for their ninth consecutive year.

“I’m excited,” junior Kade McKie said. “I want to see how we match up to the best bands in the state, and how all of our hard work pays off where it matters.”

Before the UIL championship, the band will compete in the Bands of America (BOA) contest with 88 other marching bands from around the country on Saturday.

“We all worked hard this season,” junior Ashley Castillo said. “It’s been stressful, but it’s all worth it to march in the Alamodome at state.”

Band students will spend four days in San Antonio, including two days of UIL competition for qualifying on Monday and finals on Tuesday.

“It’s my final year; I’ve pushed so hard, I can’t wait for this year,” senior Natalie Auvenshine said. “We’ve changed so much since last year; new procedures, new band.”

The band has gone to state 12 times, last year placing 17th out of 36.

“This is the 7th time I’ve been with the band at the state contest,” Justin Bell, assistant director of the band, said. “A lot of those we put our best foot forward, but last year was difficult.”

The band is striving to make finals in both the BOA and UIL competitions as top 14 with their show “Building Paris”.

“This is not a return to state, but a return to who we are,” Bell said. “This is [the] first of many years to improve.”