By London Ling 
The Eye of the Hurricanes 

Everyone is excited to get their first look at the Hardeeville Hurricanes’ football team on Friday, but it will also be the season debut for another one of our school’s proudest institutions. 

The Marching Shockwave will make its first appearance of the season during Friday’s game against Bethune-Bowman at Ridgeland Stadium, and the marching band and the new majorette team have been working hard since the summer in hopes of putting on their best show every chance they get.  

The marching band has been a missing element in Hardeeville since 2012, but it made its return at last year’s homecoming game with stellar in-game performances and an even better halftime show. The Marching Shockwave also participated in the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day parade in January, and director Jada Valdez is looking forward to the band’s first full year back.  

“This year people should be looking forward to seeing the band make more appearances — at both home and away games,” Valdez said. “We also would like to give our crowd something to be excited for and come out to more games this season.” 

Another new addition this year is the majorette team, something the school has never had in the past. Like the band members, the majorettes have worked throughout the summer in preparation for performing with the band throughout the season.  

“I am excited for this new addition,” Valdez said. “This gives the young women of our school an opportunity to step out and try something new and give them more confidence and a new sense of style with the many types of dances they will be learning.”  

Sophomore band captain Morgan Myers has been a part of the program for four years, predating the reintroduction of the full Marching Shockwave. Myers said a major key to the band’s success revolves around fostering a sense of teamwork and strong interpersonal relationships among band members. 

“My relationship with the members of the band revolves around respect and learning from each other,” Myers said. “Everyone understands the constructive criticism and feedback from each other to be better. As far as teamwork, we are one band, one sound, so everyone puts in equal effort to better ourselves as a band family.”  

Junior clarinetist Danielle King, a six-year band student, spoke with us about the importance of having a band to enhance school spirit and support within the community.  

“I think the band plays a huge role in getting people hyped up and excited for any sports event or community event,” King said. “Hearing our band play helps lift peoples’ moods and gets them excited when music is played. It also gives people more to look forward to throughout the season.”  

Hardeeville’s marching band is evolving into something great that we haven’t seen in a while and continuing to expand and make their presence known. Be sure to look out for the Marching Shockwave this season and get lost in the sound.