CHAMPIONS — The Tyler Consolidated Marching Band racked up yet another win, taking first place at the Black Walnut Festival in Spencer, W.Va. last weekend. Th award winning band will compete again this weekend at the Ripley Viking Fest along with 19 other high school bands from around the state.

The Tyler Consolidated High Marching Band performed in the field competition at the Spencer Black Walnut Festival on Saturaday, Oct. 10 and brought home several awards to Tyler County.

Fresh from an exciting Grand Champion win in Sissonville just a week before, the Silver Knights proved they were contenders in the music world yet again at this competition. The Consolidated band was in class B at the Black Walnut Festival, which was the middle of the five classes that made up the show. Other bands in class B were Riverside, Scott, Braxton County, Pt. Pleasant, and Poca.

The awards captured at this competition by the Silver Knights include: first place band-class B; first place field commander-class B; third place percussion-class B; and runner-up grand champion band of the entire eighteen band field.

The Silver Knights had the highest marching score of the event and came in second overall in music and general effect at Spencer. Knights field commander, Christine Keplinger, tied for first overall with the field commander from Nicholas County.

With the number of members of the band hovering at right around 44, the Silver Knight band has a distinct and large sound and has a long history of excellence. Wayne Smith is the band director, assisted by Sally Conklin. Support staff includes Rusty Keplinger, Barb Palmer, Todd Palmer, Martin Parrish and Rosemary Haught.

The grand champion Knights will compete at the Ripley Viking Fest on Saturday along with 19 other high school bands from all around the state.