Marching band from N.J. compete in Indy

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Thousands of students and parents from across the country are in Indianapolis this weekend competing for top marching band honors.

They're here for the Bands of America competition.

But for one band, just getting here was a victory.

"I know how our band director thinks. I knew he wasn't going to let us miss this.," said Luke Benato.

Not even a hurricane could stop the Bridgewater-Rariton marching band from New Jersey.

But Super storm Sandy sure did try.

The school district is less than thirty miles from the Atlantic coast – and took a beating.

"The kids were on call. They were told to just stand by. There's no power, the schools were shut down,” recalled Anna Rene Jeremiah, whose son is a band member. “So there were no rehearsals.”

And with phone lines out too, little communication.

"We had nine days in a row with no rehearsal,” said Band Director Larry Markiewicz. “So as you can imagine with anything on this level to take nine days off is - you know - it's almost like shutting it down."

But Markiewicz and his 160 students didn't give up.

Neither did their community.

"We had about 50 cases of water donated in our band room,” said parent John Kautz. “No power. Pitch black. But people were coming through for the trip."

"And then we packed up and came here," recalled one band member.

"Their first hot shower - their first electricity was when we got here for over a third of the band," said Markiewicz.

Nearby Avon High school opened its doors, fed them, and let them get in some practice.

Then, at Lucas Oil Stadium, they played and made the first cut.

"When they announced to us last night that we made semi-finals, everybody just freaked out. It was amazing!" said Benato.

As the finalists were announced Saturday night, the Bridgewater-Rariton group didn’t hear their name. They would not make it to the final round.

But this year, that didn't matter very much.

"Words can't describe. They're the best group of kids I've ever taught collectively at the same time,” said Markiewicz.” It was just really important to come out here and show that we could you know move on. And we did."