The Perry High School Blue Brigade marching band exceeded their goal this past weekend when they earned a Division I rating at the Iowa High School Music Association’s State Marching Band Contest.

Director Brandon Weeks says it’s a great end to the marching season. “They have worked so hard it is so great for the kids to get rewarded for all their hard work. We can’t say enough about how hard they worked and how proud we are of them.”

Perry set a goal of earning at least 68 points by the state contest. They did just that at their first contest of the year and earned a school record score of 78 points Saturday in Waukee.

Weeks says this is the school’s first official I rating in modern school history.