INDIANAPOLIS – Homestead High School took first place in the Indiana State School Music Association marching band finals Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, the first time since 1996 the band took first place in Class A competition.

The school was one of eight northeast Indiana high schools participating in the state finals this year.

Norwell High School also did well, placing third in the Class C competition.

Leo High School, which was making its first trip to state finals, placed 10th in Class C with Concordia coming in fourth.

In the Class B competition, DeKalb High School placed eighth, and North Side High School came in ninth place. In Class D, Woodlan High School came in fifth place, and Bluffton High School came in 10th place.

As all 10 bands in Class A were on the field awaiting results, Homestead Band Director Steve Barber was off by himself pacing, his hands behind his back.

It came down to Homestead and Avon and when Avon was named as runner up, the Homestead fans erupted in cheers as Barber went to his knees and wiped his eyes.

The last time the school brought home first place was the year the school's current freshman were born, Barber said.

"It's been a long time coming and this was a great day for Steve Barber," said Mike Hardiek, drill designer. "The kids put so much effort into it" and he said he was happy they reaped the reward of their efforts.

Results for Class C at the ISSMA state marching band finals are in. From northeast Indiana, Norwell placed third, Concordia Lutheran finished fourth and the Leo High School band, making its first ever appearance at state finals, finished 10th.

Here is the results of Class C competition:

1. Western/Russiaville

2. Beech Grove

3. Norwell/Ossian

4. Concordia Lutheran/Fort Wayne

5. Edgewood/Elletsville

6. North Harrison/Ramsey

7. Heritage Hills/Lincoln City

8. Gibson Southern/Ft. Branch

9. Fairfield/Goshen

10. Leo

Members of the DeKalb Baron Brigade marching band played a game of "Catch Me" along with their musical numbers to capture an eighth place in Class B at Saturday's ISSMA state marching band finals. Amid explosions and sweeping flags, they created an air of intrigue and mystery while playing the music of Adam Frank Sullivan's "Under Cover."

It appeared to be the conductor in a yellow vest disappearing into the night amid the streetlights and eluding those searching for him, but wait, maybe that was just an illusion?

Director of the DeKalb Baron Brigade, Terry Fisher said he felt good about the performance and said he was "awfully proud of them."

North Side's Marching Redskins centered their performance around the theme, "Detroit Swing City." Carrying large replicas of vinyl records and with a backdrop of juke boxes, the Marching Redskins wowed in their sharp black, white and red uniforms, accompanied by a visually stunning flag team in pink, blue, purple and white.

Results of Class B competition:

1. Concord/Elkhart

2. Greenwood

3. Jasper

4. Northview Brazil

5. Goshen

6. Floyd Central/Floyds Knobs

7. Plainfield

8. DeKalb/Waterloo

9. North Side

10. Munster

Woodlan placed fifth in Class D at the Indiana State School Music Association marching band finals Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis with a rousing performance and a strong drum section.

Against a cityscape background and matching flags, the Spirit of Woodlan marching band created the illusion of its theme, "Night Moves" through color, cadence and music.

Bluffton's Bengal Brigade explored the recycling energies of water, wind and sun, complete with shiny, silver 14-foot wind turbines for their performance entitled "Green."

Here are the results for the Class D competition

1. Lewis Cass/Walton

2. Forest Park/Ferdinand

3. Paoli

4. Springs Valley/French Lick

5. Woodlan/Woodburn

6. Eastern Greentown

7. Mater Dei/Evansville

8. North Posey/Poseyville

9. Monrovia

10. Bluffton

For more on this story see Sunday's Journal Gazette or go to www.journalgazette.net after 3 a.m.