Yorkville High School marching band wins 1st place at University of Illinois tournament for the first time

For the first time, the Yorkville High School Marching Foxes won first place in Class 5A at the University of Illinois Marching Band Championships on Oct. 17.The Foxes also took home best music and best visuals. They were the second-highest-scoring team of all 42 bands in competition, across six classes.Yorkville High School Band Director Justin Henekamp said the placement was a “historic” achievement because the tournament is one of the state’s largest marching band competitions. In 18 years of competing in the University of Illinois championships, this is the first time the Foxes took home first place, he said.Henekamp said it was tremendous to perform so well at the culminating event of the band’s competitive season.“(We are) extremely proud of our students; they have continued to push and make progress throughout the season and at every show,” Henekamp said.The band has focused on the process of performing and making excellence habitual, he said.“Our students have taken this to hea