VIN'S PEOPLE: Braden River High’s Marching Band of Pirates sweeps Class 3A competition

Congrats to Braden River High’s Marching Band of Pirates.

Directed by Clifford Dawson, they took first place in Class 3A at the recent Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit competition at Orlando Boone High, winning every category – colorguard, percussion, music, visual and general effect. What’s more, they finished as second runner-up for Grand Champion, surpassing bands two and three times their size.

By the way, the MBOP hosts a marching band competition Saturday and a Community Night Nov. 8 at BRHS.

Band members are Grace Helton, Hudson Knapp, Emma Hubley, Athena O’Neal, Addy Hartley, Grace Ladd, Quinn McGettigan, Hannah Taylor, Ava Carpenter, Matthew Bowers, Gracie Parrish, Alexa Helton, Alexa Macke, Nick Teta, Elisabeth Pavone, Ethan Embry, Makayla Mocadlo, Adanna Wharton, Joshua Sallee, Gardy Genestant, Carter White, Mason Embry, Chance Boeglin, Nico Wharton, Joshua Small, Braxton Taylor, Andrew Ronek, Francisco Martinez-Lopez, Allyson Abercrombie, Paul Close, Jonathan Pavone, Kasey Wade, Aiden Bogart, Greggory Papp, Jared Rodriguez, Hunter Seavey, Jack Fletcher, Emma Daley, Jacob Greenwood, Eric Holt, Carter Sirota, Bryce Caffrey, Jimmy Daley, Katelyn Ashburn, Logan Bertelson, Abigail Insley, Lawson Ling, Alexis Huffstetler, Mason Brughelli, Eva Abraham, Lane Berriault, Erika Bertelson, Sarah Connor, Sidney Foeller, Abbi Geiger, Madison Gordon, Leah Hegemier, Zoey Johnson, Emelia Magda, Orchid Nguyen, Marlie Patterson, Abby Pollard, Chloe Randall, Ahmya Randall, Mariah Rathwell, Valerie Rettig, Ashley Romero-Vicente, Ava Small, Ariana Smith, Zoey Smith, Kirsten Soler, Liliana Vazquez, Alexandria Williams and Koda Wright.

· Margaret Pappie, the school crossing guard for King Middle and Palma Sola Elementary, is 90 years young!

? And Dr. Kevin Lipscomb is now a sexagenarian. He hit the Big 6-0!

? Well done to Megan Linderman, recipient of the Manatee County Tax Collector’s 2023 Aimee Brewer Award,  named for the late Aimee Brewer, who had an impactful career with the MCTC.

Megan is assistant manager for the Customer Contact Center in the Customer Solutions & Associate Development Department.

Other nominees were Nicole Abbott, Kim Alfonso, Victoria Hiestand, Alyssa Pond, Ralph Renning and Christine Vandenwildenberg.

? Sue Rayburn is 39. Again.

? If any of Michael Polin’s esteemed colleagues at Stewart Elementary didn’t know of their speech language pathologist’s passion for the Philadelphia Eagles, they might now.

The NFL team recognized Mike, his wife, Mary, and the Polin family as "Season Ticket Members of the Game" before last Sunday night’s Dolphins-Eagles game. Mike’s family has held season tickets since 1958 – a whopping 65 years!

The Eagles had Mike, his dad, Gary, and brother-in-law Yonah Korngold on the field for a pre-game ceremony, presenting them with a special football and a one-minute in-game video on the Lincoln Financial Field Jumbotron.

Team Polin enjoyed the Eagles 31-17 win, too.

? And big ups to Parrish Community High head football coach Dylan Clark, Tampa Bay Bucs’ Coach of the Week. He is the second Manatee County coach honored this season. Bayshore's Jamaal Sanders was saluted Oct. 5.

Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at [email protected]. Or call 941-962-5944. Twitter: @vinmannix.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VIN MANNIX: Braden River High marching band sweeps Orlando competition