The Sound of the Swarm Mineola High School marching band captured the Area C marching championship Saturday night in Whitehouse on its way to a sixth straight appearance in the state marching championships in Conference 3A.

Mineola will be joined on Wednesday, Nov. 6 in San Antonio’s Alamodome by Winnsboro, making its third straight state showing.

Mineola was runner-up to Whitesboro in last year’s state contest while Winnsboro placed 8th.

Mineola won the previous three state titles in 2017, 2019 and 2021, while placing third in its first appearance in 2015.

Mineola was third after the preliminary round Saturday and jumped past second-place Redwater and third-place Atlanta to win the event.

Commerce placed fourth, Winnsboro fifth and Queen City sixth to earn the six spots in the state contest.

Quitman’s Proud Blue Band just missed an invitation to state, placing seventh.

The Alba-Golden band will perform Saturday, Nov. 2 at 9:30 a.m. at Meredith Memorial Stadium in Mineola in the Conference 2A area contest.

Hawkins competed Tuesday in Waco in the state military marching contest in Conference 2A.

Some 23 bands have qualified for the state Conference 3A contest Nov. 6, starting at 9:30 a.m., Mineola marches at 1:15 p.m. and Winnsboro at 3:30. The finalists will be announced at 4:30 p.m. Ten bands will advance, starting at 7:15 p.m.

See Page 10A for photos