Tea Area Marching Band ready to bring ‘The All American Game’ to the field

The sounds of baseball, high-energy music and a growing tradition of field marching will take center stage this fall as the Tea Area High School Marching Band prepares to debut its 2026 show, “The All American Game.”

Under the direction of Stephanie Wranek, the 112-member marching band has spent much of the summer preparing for a season that will feature familiar tunes, challenging music and a baseball-themed visual production.

“This year’s show is fun, catchy music with a lot of high energy,” Wranek said. “Plus, the audience will recognize some of the very popular music of ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ and ‘Centerfield.’”

The show combines those familiar selections with original music written by Jeff Chambers. As the title suggests, the production will incorporate baseball-inspired visual elements throughout the performance.

Tea Area’s marching band is still relatively new to field marching competitions, with this season marking just its third year competing.

While the program is young, Wranek said the students have embraced the challenge and put in significant work throughout the summer.

The students held weekly sectionals throughout the summer before participating in a two-week band camp at the end of July and beginning of August. The band is also meeting twice a week before or after school as it continues to prepare for competition.

“We’ve got 112 kids involved with the marching band this year and they have been dedicated all summer,” Wranek said.

That dedication will be put to the test with a more challenging production this year. Wranek said she has challenged the students with harder music and the program is also working with a new drill writer.

“Since we are still pretty new to field marching, everything is a learning experience for us,” Wranek said. “I definitely challenged them with harder music this year and we went with a new drill writer, so that has been exciting as well.”

Leading the band this season are three drum majors — seniors Skylynn Broesder and Sage Fanning and sophomore Haley Knodel.

Wranek said the three have taken on leadership responsibilities throughout the summer, not only learning the music and preparing themselves for performances, but also helping build connections among the members of the band.

“These three girls have been working hard all summer getting to know both the music and the students,” Wranek said. “All of the fun games and get-to-know-you events throughout the summer have been organized by them.”

Avianna Steen has also emerged as a leader within the color guard, working with the group throughout the summer and getting to know its members.

While the band will compete against other programs throughout the fall, Wranek said competition results aren’t the only measure of success.

The program’s primary goals are to have fun, build friendships and give audiences an entertaining performance.

“Our main goals are to have fun and make friends and to give the audiences something enjoyable to watch,” Wranek said. “The more we get to watch other groups compete, the more we learn!”

The band will have several opportunities to perform for local audiences during the season. The Titans will perform at the Tea Area Homecoming on Sept. 18 and again during the home football game on Oct. 2.

The competitive season includes appearances at Harrisburg on Sept. 12, Luverne, Minnesota in the morning and Brandon in the evening on Sept. 26, the Festival of Bands in Sioux Falls on Oct. 3, and March to the Meridian in Yankton on Oct. 10.

The marching season will conclude with a Marching Band Concert on Oct. 12.

With a 112-member group traveling to competitions, the marching band relies heavily on the support of parents and the community.

Wranek encouraged community members to attend performances, cheer loudly and support the students throughout the season.

Parents also help provide water and snacks on competition days, chaperone events and assist with getting props on and off the field.

“Parents, students, and community members can support the marching band by showing up at our events and cheering loud!” Wranek said.

For the students, the season represents another opportunity to grow together while representing Tea Area.

2026 Tea Area High School Marching Band members include: 

Drum Majors: Skylynn Broesder, Sage Fanning and Haley Knodel

Color Guard: Ava Anderson, Kapri Drewes, Mackenzie Haliburton, Harper Heier, Peyson Karpinen, Adleigh Mitchell, Rachel Row, Avianna Steen, Kaelee Taylor, Grace VandenHoek, Sylvia Will, Alysia Whiting and Cali Christoffer

Flutes: Stetson Bartlett, Braelynn Long, Breanna Reiners, Mya Roman, Abigail Ruegge, Audrina Schaaf, Allie Wallum and Cali Christoffer

Clarinets: Jasmine Aljanaby, Jayce Bernard, Hannah Broughton, Rory Crawford, Elizabeth Dolby, Lily Graham, Jayla Haroldsen, Mackiya Howe, Zaiden Johnson, Sophie Larson, Kiarra Osterman, Trista Smith, Lucy VanderWaerdt, Audrianna Whiting, Sarah Wilson and Jocelyn Zheng

Alto Saxes: Joey Anderson, Liam Beynon, Rilyn Caldwell, Keelyn Johnson, Dayton Luke, Eric Huntzicker, Aven Malloy, Natalie Markhardt, Will Roberts, Myranda Schnasa and Georgia Thim

Tenor Saxes/Bass Clarinet: Ben Grunewaldt and Lily Loebs

Bari Sax: Bridger Herman

French Horns: Claire Hyronimus, Kelsey Kramer, Ethan McGrew and Kyler Plott

Trumpets: Riley Clark, Carly Corner, Grant Curtis, Lincoln Dykstra, Levi Finnegan, Taylor Lowe, Jamison O’Neill, Isaiah Roberts, Collin Schilling, Kyle Simpson, Caleb Vandewalle and Ben Will

Trombones: Natalie Bien, Mason Graves, Cael Hermanson, Wes Hinks, Eleanor Mertes, Zach Moreno, Will Rieland, Colton Rimmer, Alex Schmidt, Charlee Wehrspaan, Luke Wharton and Beau Wranek

Baritones: Peyton Bartscher, Idric McGraw, Kaleb Smiley and Jayson Ysker

Tubas: Anahi Lopez, Tai Lyle and James Scott

Battery Percussion: Vera Anderson, Lola Lopez, Aubri Dore, Natalie Stange, Merriah Albers, Jhett Waltner, Jesse Godber, Leo Jordan and Camron Miller

Pit Percussion: Ayah Miller, Yoseph Bekele, Jackson Bender, Ryker Cerney, Reegan Dose, Zoey Ihnen, Ensel McGraw, Easton Meier, Isabella Preheim, Sam Roberts, Anna Robinson, Irelynn Sandman, Ben Thoreson and Liz Tuohino

The 2026 Marching Band Schedule is as follows: 

• Sept. 12: Harrisburg competition

• Sept. 18: Tea Area Homecoming performance

• Sept. 26: , Luverne, MN competition; Big Sioux Review, Brandon 

• Oct. 2: Tea Area home football game performance

• Oct. 3: Festival of Bands, Sioux Falls

• Oct. 10: March to the Meridian, Yankton

• Oct. 12: Final Marching Band Concert