The Westminster High School marching band had an undefeated season in Tournament of Bands competitions and captured regional and state championships for the fifth straight year.

The band also competed in a national competition in the Bands of America Regional last month in Youngstown, Ohio, placing second in its division and third overall out of 26 bands.

In addition, the band's percussion section and color guard were undefeated in competitions all year.

Those achievements were among several at recent competitions by Carroll County high school marching bands.

Bands are classified and judged by size, from Group I, the smallest, to Group IV, the largest.

Competitions draw bands from Maryland and surrounding states.

The Tournament of Bands Chapter 13 Championships were held Nov. 2 at Westminster High School.

Participating Carroll County schools' awards:

Group I: North Carroll High, first place, Eldridge Parrish, director; Liberty High, second place, Joe Fischer, director; Century High, third place, Derrick Askew, director; South Carroll High, sixth place, Joe Sullivan, director.

Group IV: Westminster High, first place, Mark Lortz, director, Bryan Drake, assistant.

Bands from North Carroll, Liberty, Century, and Westminster high schools earned spots to the Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championship on Nov. 9 in Scranton, Pa., competing against bands from the Eastern Seaboard states.

The top 25 bands in each group on the East Coast are invited to the championship.

Carroll County high school bands finished:

Group I: North Carroll, seventh place; Liberty, ninth place, (also won best woodwinds); Century High, 22nd place.

Group IV: Westminster, first place. The band scored 97.4, winning Best Color Guard, Best Marching, Best Music, Best Percussion and Best Woodwinds.

The Francis Scott Key High School Marching Band, under the direction of Charlie Berry, participated in the United States Scholastic Band Association Championships, placing fifth in its division of 49 bands that participated.