The Yorkville High School Marching Foxes won first place in Class 5A at the University of Illinois Marching Band Championships on Oct. 17, marking the program’s first top finish at the tournament in 18 years of competing, Shaw Local reported.
The ensemble also earned best music and best visuals, finishing as the second-highest-scoring team among 42 bands across six classes. Band Director Justin Henekamp called the placement a historic achievement at one of the state’s largest marching band competitions.
Henekamp said the 175-student band focused on making excellence habitual throughout the season, with students committing to every practice and performance regardless of weather conditions. The ensemble previously earned first place in Class 4A at the Red & Black Fall Classic at Northern Illinois University and first place in Class 3A at the Naperville Central High School Marching Classic.
Henekamp credited part of the program’s success to winterguard and winter percussion programs, along with support from Yorkville Music Boosters and school district administration. The boosters help transport equipment, chaperone buses and maintain equipment. The band is scheduled to perform at Disney World in Florida next spring, with staff already planning the 2027 production.
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