Reading Buccaneers, Cincinnati Tradition, Govenaires win inaugural DCI All-Age titles

INDIANAPOLIS — One of the premier weekends in the marching arts added a new event to the lineup Saturday morning — the first-ever DCI All-Age World Championship, in front of an energized audience of more than 2,500. 

A new batch of performers across three competitive All-Age divisions took to the field inside Lucas Oil Stadium with hopes of earning the title of World Champions. 

“I can only describe being here in Lucas Oil as magical,” Bushwackers drum major Kevin Ramsey said. “Everything that we’ve done has been building up to this moment.”

Three corps — Reading Buccaneers, Cincinnati Tradition and Govenaires — walked away from Saturday afternoon's event with a new trophy in hand, etching their names in the history books. 

"It was great," Buccaneers drum major Andrea Gwynn said. "This place is enormous. Being in this venue and getting to perform with all of the other DCI corps is very special."

WORLD CLASS

1. Reading Buccaneers » 95.925
2. Hawthorne Caballeros » 93.825
3. Bushwackers » 92.625
4. Atlanta CV » 89.575
5. Hurricanes » 86.800

The 20-time Drum Corps Associates World Champion Reading Buccaneers earned their first-ever DCI All-Age World Class title, taking home the Corso Family Memorial Trophy. 

The Pennsylvania corps was also awarded the following World Class caption awards: High Percussion, The Jim Costello Memorial Trophy for High Visual, the Hy Dreitzer Memorial Trophy for High Brass, the Frank Gerris Memorial Trophy for High Total Effect, and the Harvey Olderman Memorial Trophy for Best Color Guard. 

"Our show was electric", Gwynn said. "Being in this great stadium, it was really good. It was very rewarding to have our best run at the last day, so it was great."

Hawthorne Caballeros concluded its 2024 season in second place, edging out Bushwackers by 1.2 points. 

Receiving the World Class bronze medal Saturday afternoon was Bushwackers. The Princeton, New Jersey corps capped off one of its strongest competitive seasons in recent memory, and took second place in percussion. 

“It was electric,” Ramsey said. “Seeing all the people in the stands, compared to what we’ve been through, excited for drum corps in an entirely new setting is really exciting for all of us.”

Atlanta CV nearly broke 90 points with a score of 89.525, taking fourth place in World Class. Hurricanes rounded out the World Class rankings in fifth, while scoring as high as fourth in percussion.

 

OPEN CLASS

1. Cincinnati Tradition » 87.475
2. White Sabers » 86.775
3. Rogues Hollow Regiment » 83.025
4. Fusion Core » 82.125

Cincinnati Tradition earned the Glen Johnson Memorial Trophy for Open Class champion, outscoring White Sabers by a close margin of 0.7 points. The Ohio corps earned top Open Class caption awards for Best Color Guard, High Percussion, and the Bob Holton Memorial Trophy for High Visual.

“Today’s run was great,” Cincinnati Tradition drum major Bryce Hopwood said. “There was lots of energy and precision, and I couldn’t be happier.” 

White Sabers earned the Open Class High Brass and High Total Effect awards, while outscoring the Ohio corps in Total Music on the scoresheets.

“Getting to perform inside Lucas Oil is really exciting,” White Sabers drum major Holden Taylor said. “It’s definitely a change to what we’re used to, but we’re really excited to be here.” 

Rogues Hollow Regiment, in just its fourth year as a competing drum corps, earned third place in Open Class. The Ohio-based corps edged out fourth-place Fusion Core by less than a point, largely due to leads in Total Visual and Total Music. 

Fusion Core, in Open Class fourth place, scored an impressive second among Open Class corps in percussion.

A CLASS

1. Govenaires » 80.775
2. Sunrisers » 79.175
3. New York Skyliners » 76.750
4. Columbus Saints » 71.550

Govenaires took home the Joe Geswaldo Memorial Award for A Class champion, while also winning all A Class caption awards — High Total Effect, High Brass, High Color Guard, High Visual, and the Sean Holton Memorial Trophy for High Percussion.

“Today’s run was excellent,” Govenaires drum major Sophia Fenske said. “It was so much fun to be here inside Lucas Oil Stadium, and to get to see the crowd here. We have loved every minute of it.” 

Sunrisers, which hadn’t competed since 2021, took second place, and narrowly edged Govenaires in Music Analysis. 

“I think today’s run went really well,” Sunrisers drum major Alex Pannebianco said. “A lot of the stuff that we’ve been working on these past few weeks showed up today, and I’m really happy with it.” 

The third-place New York Skyliners outscored Sunrisers in color guard. Columbus Saints rounded out the A Class leaderboard with a score of 71.500.

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