Few people can say they were members of a high school marching band that won a Grand Championship in each of their four years of school. The Marching ’Cat Class of 2010 achieved the “four-peat” Saturday night at Martin Stadium when they took the Grand Prize in the Fifth Annual Battle on the Border, hosted by the Lowndes High Georgia Bridgemen Boosters.

Eleven high school bands from Georgia and Florida competed on Saturday afternoon with the top eight coming back for the finals Saturday evening.

Phil Mika, director coordinator, said, “This competition has become a very important part of the community. We had approximately 3,500 people in attendance including the participating band student’s.

Performances included shows that potrayed the Wizard of Oz, music from Styx, ACDC and The Blues Brothers.”

The Marching ’Cats gathered all superiors in the afternoon performance collecting the “Best in Class” trophy along with individual top honors in Dance and Flag Auxiliary.

Lincoln County High placed second overall and won Best General Effect and Music.

The Berrien High School Rebel Regiment also collected superiors in the festival portion and second in the Silver Division. They competed in the final eight.

Exhibition performances were given by the Lowndes High Georgia Bridgemen and the VSU Blazin’ Brigade.

“We had some huge obstacles to overcome this year,” said Valdosta City Schools Band Director Michael Thomas. “ Staffing concerns and not having our drill sent to us on time made the beginning of the season rough. Our kids are resiliant. They stayed focused, kept improving each day and never lost sight of our goals.”

The Marching ’Cats’ performance included added props and general effects that, because of time constraints, are never seen during halftime at ball games. These added elements include life-size western tents, cowboys, hay, a life-size cow, outhouses and a good old-fashioned hoedown played by flute soloist Karlee Norton.

In addition to Saturday’s trophy, the Marching ’Cats were Grand Champions at the 2006 Sound of Silver in Blackshear, The Battle of the Border in 2007, and the 2008 Royal City Classic in Kingsland.

The Battle on the Border is held as a fund-raiser for the Lowndes High Georgia Bridgemen Booster Organization.