It was clear as mud that State Band would be a new challenge for director Mark Philgreen because the field was a slick, muddy mess.

On Oct. 7, the band competed in State Marching Band in Waterloo.

“The field was the muddiest field I’ve ever had a band march on in my 34 years of teaching,” Philgreen said. “Mud and no yard lines.”

Senior Holden Smith said that the field was covered in 6 inches of mud, with 2 inches of water on top.

“It was kind of like trying to march on an ice rink,” said Smith.

A tactic used at State Marching Band to keep the band from slipping involved double tying shoes as well as being careful in general. West Delaware managed to be one of the few bands to not have a member fall.

“There was a part where we marched backwards and Emily La Rosa started to slip,” said Smith. “A couple people lost their shoes in the mud.”

The marching band costumes were covered in mud up to the knees, resulting in parent Brenda Crumpton taking them home to wash them.