Juniata marching to boy band beat
Field show built for pulling heart strings
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MIFFLINTOWN -- During the 1990s and early 2000s, the arrival of a boy band in the U.S. often triggered a wave of over-the-top fan reactions, with teenage girls and young women filling stadiums, arenas and even hotel lobbies in a frenzy of cheers, chants and screams.
These groups typically featured harmonized vocals, choreographed dance routines, and a carefully crafted image by record labels. All of these things fueled the fire for fans of the bands.
If you hear cheering before the Juniata County Marching Band even plays a note this fall, don't be surprised. Their 2026 field show, "Battle of the Boy Bands," is built for instant crowd reaction, pulling together four songs that audiences know by heart and students love to perform.
The show blends four eras of pop and soul, moving from Motown to 90s pop to modern stadium energy. The playlist includes "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys, "My Girl" by The Temptations, "Drag Me Down" by One Direction and "Bye, Bye, Bye" by N*SYNC. It's a mix that lets the band lean into nostalgia, modern hooks and classic charm, all in one production.
"We wanted to do a more contemporary show this year," Juniata County Marching Band Director Brad Eargle said. The theme also gave them room to pull from several eras for broad audience appeal. Parents know the '90s hits. Grandparents know The Temptations. Students know One Direction. It's a rare show where everyone in the stands recognizes something and most recognize everything.
Each piece brings its own personality and its own set of challenges. "Each piece has some unique challenges that will help the band grow, and they also have areas that feature some of our strengths throughout the show," staff said. "My Girl" leans into warm brass lines and smooth phrasing. "I Want It That Way" demands blend and balance. "Drag Me Down" pushes tempo, drive and stamina. "Bye, Bye, Bye" brings the rhythmic punch that gets a crowd leaning forward.
This year's drum majors, seniors Asher Wriglesworth and Addison Eby, are leading a group that's younger overall than usual. That dynamic could have made the season feel like a rebuilding year, but the band didn't wait long to show what they could do.
"We overall have a younger group this year, so my anticipation was that there was going to be a lot of focus on skill building and basics," Eargle said. "But they've really surprised me with how hard they've worked and how quickly they're picking things up."
Band camp in August set the tone.
"Long days, hot weather and hours of fundamentals usually mean slow early progress, but this group found its stride quickly," Eargle added. "We had some great progress during camp in August. From our first performance to our second, the kids have really shown a lot of growth in their confidence and maturity."
That kind of jump doesn't happen without leadership. Older students have stepped up, guiding younger members through marching technique, musical phrasing and the unwritten expectations that come with performing.
"Our older students are really doing a tremendous job of mentoring and leading," Eargle said. "I think we're set up for some good things over the next few weeks."
The show itself is built to highlight that growth. The opener hits with familiar Backstreet Boys harmonies, arranged in a way that lets the winds show off their tone while the percussion drives underneath. The Temptations segment brings a shift in style, leaning into classic soul lines that require control and warmth. One Direction's "Drag Me Down" pushes the band into a modern pop groove, giving the battery plenty to chew on. And the closer, "Bye, Bye, Bye," is pure energy -- the kind of chart that gets the crowd clapping before the band even reaches the final set.
Visually, the show gives the drill writers plenty to work with. The variety in the music allows for contrasting forms, quick transitions and moments that spotlight different sections. Younger marchers get chances to shine in controlled, supportive drill, while veterans anchor the more complex moves. It's the kind of show that grows with the band, giving them room to improve week by week.
Crowds will notice the confidence building. They'll see it in the way the band takes the field, in the way the drum majors command attention and in the way the ensemble settles into each piece. They'll hear it in the balance, the clarity and the way the group leans into the emotional lift of each song.
And they'll feel it -- because this show is built to be fun. It's built to make people smile, to make them remember, to make them tap their foot or sing along. It's built to give the band a soundtrack that matches their personality: young, energetic, hardworking and ready to surprise people.
As the season gets underway, Eargle said they're hopeful the band maintains the trajectory they've already set. The foundation is there. The leadership is strong. The music is engaging. And the students have shown they're willing to put in the work.
If they keep growing the way they did from band camp to their early performances, the Juniata County Marching Band is poised for a fall filled with big moments, bigger confidence and a show that audiences won't forget anytime soon.
Introducing the 2026 Juniata County Marching Band ...
Drum Majors
Addison Eby, senior
Asher Wriglesworth, senior
Flutes
Allison Burdge, junior
Sybrina Herrold, freshman
Sophia Laub, freshman
Lillian Leach, sophomore
Hope Miller, senior
Aniyah Varner, freshman
Clarinets
Carolyn Heidenreich, junior
Nichole Higgins, freshman
Emma Swartz, sophomore
Deja Sweigart, junior
Brooke Walton, freshman
Chloe Whisler, junior
Natalee Wolfe, senior
Anna Wolaver, sophomore
Alto Saxophones
Madison Copeland, senior
Nevaeh Hess, sophomore
Kaelyn Walter, senior
Tenor Saxophones
Lisa Goodling, sophomore
Yaa Serwaa, senior
Baritone Saxophones
Jackson Imes, sophomore
Mellophones
Selena Mayall-Marker, senior
Juliet Heidenreich, freshman
Erin Turns, freshman
Trumpets
Cadence Austin, junior
Claire Ciarrocchi, freshman
Myles Imes, freshman
Nolan Imes, senior
Garrett Kerstetter, freshman
Lucas Kleckner, freshman
Mathew Mayberry, sophomore
Hudson Soccio, junior
Hallie Ziegler, freshman
Adrianna Peck, freshman
Trombones
Liv Foltz, senior
Joanna Hess, freshman
Sage Kauffman, senior
Tubas
David Mayall-Marker, junior
Ella Snyder, freshman
Snare Drums
Alexander Copenheaver, freshman
Aubree Kauffman, sophomore
Tenor Drums
John Randolph, junior
Bass Drums
Luke Erhard, junior
Asher Neibert, freshman
Jaxton Niman, freshman
Cymbals
Nicholi Keiter, freshman
Silks
Riley Apple, senior
Lily King, freshman
Julia Martin, senior
Andrew Rutherford, freshman
Bethany Walton, junior
Tahkoma Martin, junior
Majorettes
Selena Fultz, junior
Caylee Imes, freshman
Calla Mianulli, senior
Ella Zimmerman, sophomore
Lailah Jade Sweigart, sophomore