Maricopa High Marching Rams finish 4th in state

GLENDALE — Maricopa High School’s Marching Ram finished fourth Saturday among the state’s top eight high school bands at the state championships.

“They did a great job,” band Director Ivan Pour said. “It was the best of the year.”

The state championships took place at Glendale Community College. There, the Marching Rams competed against Arizona’s best marching bands.

Pour has taught MHS bands for more than 15 years.

It is only the second time since 2010 that the Marching Rams have gone to the ABODA championships. ABODA stands for Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association.

The band recently earned third place in semifinals, a rating of superior, and a score of 79.913. The score was a program record for the highest overall score in any marching competition. It was a first top-three finish at a state level competition in program history.

Although the Maricopa High band has finished competition for the year, it now pivots to concerts and some MHS basketball games.

Scheduled Dec. 9 is the Ak-Chin Masik Tas Light Parade and the Fiesta Bowl Parade, joined by the Rams’ cheer squad, on Dec. 16 in central Phoenix.