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Published: Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012 / Updated: Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 11:39 PM

York County bands dominate Upper State competition

After winning performances over the weekend, all seven high school bands in York County are marching into the state championship competition on Saturday.

Local bands dominated the Upper State semi-finals in class 4A, posting five of the six best scores.

Northwestern High School’s Purple Regiment had the biggest win, placing first in the class, followed by Rock Hill High, Nation Ford High and Fort Mill High. Spartanburg High snuck in to take fifth place, followed by Clover High at sixth.

Northwestern continued its ascent. After finishing second in the White Knoll Invitational on Sept. 29, the band followed with a first-place finish at the Blythewood Tournament of Bands on Oct. 13, and then Saturday’s win.

“The students have been working hard all season and have steadily improved,” Purple Regiment Director Mark Yost said.

Ahead of Upper State, he said, “we prepared the same as always in that we ask the kids to leave the field every day performing better than when they started the rehearsal.”

In class 3A, York Comprehensive High placed sixth and South Pointe placed eighth. Both are moving ahead to the finals in Columbia on Saturday.

In class 1A, Lewisville High placed third.

Here’s how the top seven scored with judges in 4A:

• Northwestern High School – 92.275

• Rock Hill High School – 91.775

• Nation Ford High School – 91.725

• Fort Mill High School – 90.750

• Spartanburg High School – 85.675

• Clover High School – 83.900

• T.L. Hanna High School (Anderson) – 82.325

Scores for 1A and 3A were unavailable.