After sweeping Gregory-Portland, this South Texas powerhouse has its sights on state glory
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The beat never really stops at Alice High School and lately, it’s been hitting all the right notes.
Over the weekend, the Alice Coyote Marching Band swept the Gregory-Portland Tournament of Bands, taking home three first-place trophies for Colorguard, Drum Majors, and overall 5A division.
Director of Bands Emerico Perez says the students are continuing a proud legacy of excellence.
“We’re trying to make sure we uphold all that excellence before us and do it today at a very high level,” Perez said.
Inside the Alice band hall, the walls are covered in trophies from years past a glittering reminder that winning is part of the school’s DNA. But the Coyotes aren’t done collecting hardware just yet.
Daily rehearsals fine-tune every note, every step, and every toss of a flag.
Colorguard member Lena Garza said confidence is key to keeping their momentum.
“I think I am confident in our Colorguard abilities,” Garza said. “They’re very good. As long as they keep going the way they are, they’ll be great.”
And leading the charge from the podium the drum majors, keeping tempo, tone, and team spirit in perfect time.
Drum Major Emilia Valdez said her inspiration came from watching her older peers command the field.
“They just looked like born leaders,” Valdez said. “When I came in as a freshman, I saw that and wanted to be like them. I tried out, and I got that position.”
Now, with the UIL competition around the corner, the Coyotes are marching in with momentum and the kind of pride that makes Alice proud.
From the walls of the band hall to the roar of the football stands, one thing is clear, in Alice, success isn’t just a goal. It’s tradition.