As is customary traditional, the Poland Seminary High School Marching Band held its Alumni Night on Friday, September 8 against Canfield. They shared the night with the cheerleading alumni and a Hall of Fame induction during the pregame. The alumni consisted of former classmates and even coaches. However, the band had a special alumni return from the class of 1967.

All of the marching band alumni had the opportunity to rehearse and play both the alma mater and one of the band’s halftime songs, “I Knew You Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift. They stood side by side the current band members and enjoyed the opportunity to share what they loved doing when they were younger. 

Recent Poland Graduate, Colin McDonald, attended his second alumni night since graduating in 2021. He continued marching band after his high school years stating, “I’m a part of the YSU Marching Band, and I go every week.”

Other Poland grads such as Becca Olesko and Dustin Smith recall memories such as the Massillon Band Night as their favorite part of their high school band career. To them, the only thing that has changed is the size of the band and certain details that have upgraded over time. 

A former member of the band was Geoff Howard. Howard graduated in the class of 1967 and has since returned to every alumni night that the band has hosted. Howard believes that the band will never change.

Howard said, “You see the same mix of personalities.. You see the same relationships between the directors and the band. It doesn’t change.”

Howard felt that the band gave him a special welcome when moving here as a senior- an experience he will never forget.