Menard High School Marching Band Named 1A State Champion

SAN ANTONIO, TX — For the third time in school history, Menard High School’s marching band is the UIL state champion.

The Yellow Jackets won the Class 1A state title at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Tuesday night to go along with the championships it brought home in 2023 and 2021.

Menard’s band director is Rebekah Cook, who has overseen the program since 2023.

Menard has had one of the state’s top bands in recent years. The Yellow Jackets were the state runner-up last year, third place in 2024 and fifth place in 2019.

It has been quite a fall for Menard as its football team is undefeated and ranked No. 5 in the state, while its girls cross country team was the regional runner-up, led by individual champion Danni Ruiz.

In Tuesday’s marching band finals, Menard earned the top score from two judges, the second-best score from two others and the third-best from another.

Bands are judged on music by three judges and visuals by the other two judges.

Menard’s score of nine points beat Knox City by two points. Baird was third with 15 points, while another Concho Valley school, Irion County, was fourth with 18.

Irion County, which is also a three-time state champion with titles in 2024, 2019 and 1993, was third place last year.

Claude was fifth, Whiteface was sixth and O’Donnell was seventh.

Tom Green County school Water Valley also advanced to state and finished in 11th place in the prelims Tuesday morning.

The 3A competition will be held Wednesday, while 2A, 4A and 6A will be next week.