For the first time in 25 years, the Raymondville High School Bearkats are headed to the state marching band championship.

The team has come a long way since band director Benjamin Keltner took charge in 2020.

“It's been a learning process, and a growing process,” Keltner said. “We've been getting better every year."

When Keltner joined the community, there were just 39 members. Three years later, they're 130 members strong.

The band said they couldn’t go this far without all the help and support of the maintenance crew and bus drivers.

To recognize them this year, the Raymondville High School marching band named the maintenance crew and bus drivers honorary band members.

“We really appreciate all of their time, and they're really put in all of their hard work into us,” marching band member Andrea Jalomo said.

From building props and pushing those onto the field and driving them around, the honorary band members also provide emotional support to students.

“We like to talk to the kids too,” Raymondville High School custodian and honorary band member J.J. Garza said. “Just [tell them], ‘hey, you know what you're gonna do a good job, everything's great.’” 

As an honorary band member, Garza will be heading to San Antonio with the students next week as part of the UIL State Open Class Marching Band Contest at the Alamodome.

“They're sacrificing a lot of their time, and we just have a tremendous support system,” marching band member John zuniga said. 

The state competition runs from Monday, Oct. 30 through Wednesday, Nov. 1.