RAPID CITY, SD (KOTA) – Central High football coach Brandon Colpitts knows and understands it.
During Colpitts’ time as a football player at Council Bluffs Lincoln High School in Iowa, his coach turned to the stands after a Lynx touchdown and yelled, “Strike Up the Band!”
Even at the University of South Dakota, where the Cobblers’ coach played from 2014 to 2018, the SOUND of the USD Marching Band provided hours of energy at the Coyotes’ home games in the Dakota Dome.
Well, nothing has changed at Central High School in Rapid City.
The Central High School Marching Band is as much a part of game day as the Central football team.
“To have the ultimate high school football experience, there needs to be a good bond between your football team and your band,” Colpitts tells KOTA Territory Sports.
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In recent years, students in the hallways of Central High School have come to understand this. They are proud of the band, proud to be a Cobbler, and recognize the marching band’s commitment to bringing cheer to their school.
“When the bands play in the stands during timeouts, we cheer, scream and get excited for the players,” explains Andrew Belsaas, director of the Central Band. “And when it’s our turn, the players really support us.”
“A lot more people are accepting of being in marching band,” said Trevor Bennett, Central’s head drum major. “Not just within the band, but throughout the school. And then people are excited to come play, and they put in the work and time to sound good.”
Over the summer, Belsaas and Colpitts had many discussions about how they could join forces. The Cobblers will be introducing several new traditions starting this fall.
“Finding ways to bring as many kids together as possible for an important cause like supporting Cobbler sports is a big deal, and Mr. Belsaas does a great job,” Colpitts said.
The band has invested around 40 hours of work so far and mastered all the elements that make a halftime show worthwhile.
“The students have to memorize their steps, their positions, the visual elements and also all the music,” explained Belsaas.
Catch the Central High School Marching Band in action on Friday, September 6th when the Cobblers host Spearfish at the Rushmore Bowl. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
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