On Saturday Sept. 27, 2025, the Tracy High Marching Band attended the first competition of the 2025-2026 season.
The band placed eighteenth out of thirty-one teams overall in the competition. They were fourth out of six teams in its division, and color guard placed first in their division and seventh overall.
Led by the new drum major Jason Mehlhaff, new color guard captains Jolene Cisneros and Julissa Alvarez Martinez.
Prior to the competition, Mehlhaff explains the work that the team has put in for this moment.
“A lot of prep work has been done and I’ve always had the mentality that how you practice is how you perform and how you perform is how you practice and I’m pretty satisfied with what we’ve done so far the only thing that’s left is to get out there,” Mehlhaff stated.
The marching band has a mix of students from all grades and for many this is their first competition, the students were excited and ready to get started.
Sophomore Frank Xie expresses his excitement on the way to the competition.
“I feel so great right now like I could fly to the moon right now with no hesitation,” Xie exclaims.
The Tracy High Band Boosters were in attendance at the competition and showed support for their team.
David Madrid, the band boosters vice president supported the band at their first competition.
“It means a lot actually (to be here supporting Tracy) cause there’s a legacy here with the marching band itself.” Madrid expressed. “It was established in 1924 so last year we hit a hundred years…just being a part of the legacy of Tracy High and supporting the young people here and the arts and the music program is great.”
Jacob Cortez, band director, expressed his pride for the band and how they stepped up to the plate.
“I felt the students stepped it up compared to practices, the energy was really there too and the students really stepped it up…” Jacob Cortez stated. “it just feels like a different band compared to the start of last season.”
