For those involved with the Marching 110, the final week of summer break means it is time to get down to business and to embark upon training camp. Last week, the band practiced for about an hour and a half, three times a day, to learn its moves and to perfect its tunes.
Jason Hiestand, a freshman majoring in microbiology and one of the newest members of the 110, said he and his peers were stressed during training camp.
I would come back to my dorm room
and I could barely move he said. I was exhausted mentally and physically. And I was very short-tempered.
He said he handled the stress by trying not to think about his grueling schedule.
[I would] come back and finish up the day he said. Even if you know you still have five hours left of field rehearsals for the day
just don't stop. Keep going.
Hiestand said once training camp ended, his stress dissolved. I'm more relaxed now
he said. I know the worst is over. He also said he realizes a lot of work still will be involved, but it will be worth it.
Health and Human Services freshman Jennifer Carley agreed that her schedule is now significantly lighter than it was during training camp. On Monday, Carley said her stress ended along with training camp, but things may change now that classes are starting.
I think the thing is that you really have to know how to manage your time
she said. You can't procrastinate and wait until the last minute to get your school work done.
She said all the work she will be putting into the 110 this year will be worth it.
If you want to be good
you have to work hard
she said.
The students are not the only ones who felt the strain of training camp. Richard Suk, the director of the Marching 110, said training week and homecoming are the most hectic times of the year for the band. Suk said he finds this part of the year a little stressful, but he has lost sleep over one problem in particular recently.
The problem for this year is that we don't have a field to march on when classes start
due to reconstruction work across from Peden Stadium
Suk said. They didn't allow for enough time for grass to regrow.
The band used an intramural field to practice during training camp.
Suk said the name 110 came from the times when there were only 110 members accepted per year into the band.
It used to be the 110 Marching Men of Ohio
he said. Now we say that it represents the students' effort -that they are expected to give 110 percent.
Suk said about 225-230 students per year audition for the 110, but only about 195 are accepted. During auditions, students were evaluated in marching and music by a School of Music faculty member.
Hiestand said he had a rush of pride and accomplishment when he was accepted into the 110, but he was also a little scared of future challenges.
I've worked really hard
