The Grapevine

by Martin McConnell

The Independence High School marching band marched through Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom on April 20, and the IHS vocal ensemble sang at the Waterside Stage at Disney Springs the next afternoon.

The Independence performers were treated as honorary Disney cast members for the day as part of the theme park’s Imagination Campus program. The marching Blue Devils held a set of three evening rehearsals before the event, which culminated in a 20-minute parade down Magic Kingdom’s “Main Street, U.S.A.”

“Students on the six-day trip experienced three of the Disney theme parks and two of the Universal Studios Orlando parks,” said Independence Band Director Matt Schatt. “It was a truly magical experience for our students to get to perform in the premier park of the Walt Disney World Resort.”

Three IHS alumni recently helped their college golf teams claim a conference championship.

Former Blue Devils golfer Sophia Trombetta helped the Michigan Wolverines clinch a Big Ten women’s golf championship. 2022 marks Michigan’s first women’s conference title, and also secures them a bid in the NCAA championships, which will take place throughout May.

Former Independence golfers Lyndsay Blum and Emma McGreal played at Otterbein University, helping lead the team to an Ohio Athletic Conference championship and another automatic tournament bid. Blum was also named a co-medalist for the OAC conference tournament.

Independence High School junior A.J. Marcinko recently began work with the Lake County Captains baseball team. Marcinko got the job through Cuyahoga Valley Career Center’s media arts program, and will be working the camera in the game day entertainment department.

The Captains are the High-A minor league affiliate for the newly-renamed Cleveland Guardians. Marcinko will be a part of game day festivities inside the park, and will likely be gathering in-game footage for media packages. ∞