WATERLOO - Area directors said their high school bands had strong showings in Saturday's marching contests.

West, Cedar Falls and Independence high schools captured Division I ratings at the State Marching Band Festival. East received a Division II rating. The contest, in which judges rate performance without ranking bands, was held at Waterloo Memorial Stadium, next to Central Middle School.

West and Independence went on Saturday evening to compete in the Valley Fest Showdown at West Des Moines' Valley High School. West placed fourth out of 14 bands in the largest division. Independence placed third out of eight bands in their division.

West band director Steve Citta said the band received its 20th consecutive Division I rating at the state festival.

"They were just amazing; it was so musical, it was so wonderful," he said. "That night (at Valley Fest) they looked pumped and ready. They were amazing once again."

West's Liz Mussett and Makayla McDonald received the outstanding drum major award at Valley Fest.

Finishing ahead of West were Irondale of New Brighton, Minn., in first place; Sioux Falls Lincoln in second; and Ankeny in third. A low score from one of the judges caused West to fall behind Ankeny, said Citta.

"He's evaluating me and how I designed the entire show," he said. "He didn't care for it, so he buried the points."

Saturday's performances were the final competitive marching events this year for the band. The band will perform Friday during halftime of the football team's home game.

Independence director David Lang said the band received its 18th consecutive Division I rating at the state festival.

At Valley Fest, high school bands from Pella and Waseca, Minn., took first and second place ahead of Independence. But Lang was happy with how his band played.

"Those were two of our best performances of the year," he said. "So, we were really happy with how the kids performed, and we had a lot of fun, too." The band will finish its competitive marching season Saturday at a contest in Waukee.

Cedar Falls band co-director Gerald Ramsey was "very pleased with how the day went," he said. "They were ready for the day."

The state contest is the only competition the Cedar Falls band participates in. It also was the band's final marching performance of the year.

Other Division I ratings for area high schools went to Jesup, Nashua-Plainfield, Crestwood, Decorah, Oelwein and West Delaware. Other Division II ratings included East Buchanan, Denver, South Winneshiek, Sumner-Fredricksburg, West Marshall and Union.

Contact Andrew Wind at (319) 291-1507

or andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com.