Last this weekend the Northview High School Marching Band won another state title.

It's been a tough year for the band. Last month one of its members, Halie Hite, 15, died in a car accident.   WTWO spoke with band staff and members about their bittersweet season.

Bob Medworth has been the director for the past 32 years. “We've been there and won nine times and finished second seven or eight times,” Medworth says. “We've set the standard a little too high and put unnecessary pressure on ourselves it's hard to keep that pressure off your own back."

His wife Ruth Ann is the Assistant Band Director. She enjoys seeing the students’ hard work pay off. “Anytime you walk into Lucas Oil Stadium, the huge space, lights, JumboTron it's a very exciting situation.

Leah Garvin is a senior. She was proud of their winning routine. “It was a great performance but it was my last one it didn't matter what the results were because we did an awesome job.”

Senior Nathan Maffioli is the drum major. He was also proud of the performance. “We knew we went out there and did our best and did the best show that we could do.”

Taylor Mikles is a senior on the color guard. "We put a lot of hard work into it and this year was rough,” Mikles said. "Halie and I were partners so the first couple of shows it was hard not having her there. But after wards you knew she was there looking down at you and you could feel her presence during the performance. You knew she was there even though she wasn't physically there.”

Ruth Ann says the staff was also hoping to win back-to-back state titles for Halie. "We always try to teach them that we'll take whatever we can get but I hoped just a little extra this year that we could do it for Halie and to think that happened is amazing."