Blue Coat Regiment Marching Band

About

The marching band at Riverview High School, in both its current form and the original Shark Attack Band, is the most visible ensemble of the Band Program and has enjoyed many successes—from numerous victories at Florida Marching Band Championships (FMBC) events, Superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) Marching Music Performance Assessment (MPA) and most importantly, seeing tremendous growth in its members as musicians and young men and women by way of an invigorating education through the marching arts. The students, staff and families all take pride in the group’s performances and the way they represent Riverview High School and the local community.

When Riverview High School opened its doors to students in 1998 the marching band was known as the Shark Attack Band. From the band’s humble beginnings they began to make a name for themselves. Year by year the Shark Attack Band’s reputation continued to grow and in 2009 they had their breakthrough year; led by Director of Bands John Davis and Drum Major Amanda Tracy, the band placed first in class (by a margin of 2.6 points) and earned Runner-Up Grand Champion at the Chamberlain High School FMBC Invitational. 2009 would also be the band’s premiere at the FMBC State Championships.

At the beginning of the 2012 marching season the students of the band voted to change the band’s name to match their new competitive attitude—and the Blue Coat Regiment was born.

Since 2000, Riverview’s marching band has earned three overall Excellent ratings, nine Superior ratings and eleven Straight Superior ratings at the FBA Marching MPA, something that highlights the Band Program’s commitment to excellence and high achievements. (There is no data available for ratings for 1998 or 1999 and the event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

2024 – “Hypnotic”

Robert A. Luster, Director
Mason Coughenour and Liam White, Drum Majors

  • In 2002 the Shark Attack Band had its premiere performance at an FMBC regional competition at Vero Beach High School’s Treasure Coast Crown Jewel 21st Marching Band Festival; that evening the band was one of ten to advance to the final round of the competition. Just one week after their performance at Vero Beach, the Shark Attack Band placed second in the gold class at the Chamberlain High School FMBC Invitational.

    Year by year the Shark Attack Band’s reputation continued to grow and in 2009 they had their breakthrough year. Led by Director of Bands John Davis and Drum Major Amanda Tracy, the band placed first in class (by a margin of 2.6 points) and earned Runner-Up Grand Champion at the Chamberlain High School FMBC Invitational. 2009 would also be the band’s premiere at the FMBC State Championships in Class 2A hosted at Braden River High School.

    From that year on the band’s students, staff and families were driven towards greater successes, and at the beginning of the 2012 marching season the students of the band voted to change the band’s name to match their new competitive attitude—and the Blue Coat Regiment was born. In 2016 the Blue Coats earned a block score seeding for FMBC State Championships, a first in Riverview High School history, at the Braden River High School Invitational.

    During the 2018 marching season the Blue Coats made school history again by earning the school’s first grand championship at an FMBC regional, beating out ten other bands for the top spot at the Lecanto High School Panther Pride Invitational Marching Band Festival with a score of 73.750—and earning overall awards for Best General Effect, Best Visual and Best Color Guard. In 2019 the band would again with a grand championship, this time at the Largo High School Golden Invitational, and in 2022 they earned their third title at the North Marion Kingdom of the Sun Festival.

    2023 – "Stranded”
    Robert A. Luster, Director
    Mason Coughenour and Preston Davila, Drum Majors
    • 2nd place in Class at the Wiregrass Ranch FMBC Regional
    • Straight Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA
    • 11th place at FMBC Class 3A State Championships

    2022 – “The Forest”
    John Owen Davis II, Director
    Isaac Rivard and Francis Portales, Drum Majors
    • 2nd place and Best General Effect Music in Class and 3rd place Overall at the Newsome Music Festival
    • Straight Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA
    • Grand Champions and Best in Finals Music, Visual, General Effect, Color Guard and Percussion at North Marion Kingdom of the Sun Festival

    2021 – “Look Up”
    John Owen Davis II, Director
    Naadirah Anderson and Brianna Moreno, Drum Majors
    Isaac Rivard, Deputy Drum Major
    • 1st place and Best Music, Visual, General Effect, Color Guard and Percussion in Class and 3rd place Overall at the Braden River Invitational
    • Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA
    • 12th place at FMBC Class 3A State Championships

    2020 – “We Built this City”
    John Owen Davis II, Director
    Sadari Ames, Braelynn Bolger, Lucas Davey and Nate Perez, Drum Majors
    • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the band did not attend any FMBC or FBA events

    2019 – “What a Wonderful World”
    John Owen Davis II, Director
    Sean Jackson and Marcus Torres, Drum Majors
    • Grand Champions and Best Overall Music, Visual and General Effect at Largo Golden Invitational
    • Straight Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA

    2018 – “World Beneath the Waves”
    John Owen Davis II, Director
    Travis Miller, Assistant Director
    Kacey Massena and Diane Johnson, Drum Majors
    • Grand Champions and Best Overall Visual, General Effect and Color Guard at Lecanto Panther Pride Invitational Marching Band Festival
    • Straight Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA
    • 1st place in Class and Best Visual, General Effect and Color Guard and 2nd place Overall at Newsome Music Festival• 14th place at FMBC Class 3A State Championships

    2017 – “The Trials”
    Trevor Butts, Director
    Travis Miller, Assistant Director
    Katelyn Andux and Sarah Ferguson, Drum Majors
    Kacey Massena, Deputy Drum Major
    • 1st place in Class and 4th place Overall at Seminole Sound Spectacular
    • 1st place in Class and 2nd place Overall at the King High School Lion’s Pride (non-FMBC competition)
    • 2nd place in Class and 3rd place Overall at the Wiregrass Ranch Marching Music Regional Championship• Straight Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA
    • 13th place at FMBC Class 4A State Championships

    2016 – “The Address”
    Trevor Butts, Director
    Travis Miller, Assistant Director
    Phil Cruz, Drum Major
    Katelyn Andux and Sarah Ferguson, Deputy Drum Majors
    • Best Color Guard, Percussion and Drum Major and Overall 1st place in Class, and 3rd place Overall at the King High School Lion’s Pride (non-FMBC competition)
    • Best Visual, General Effect and Percussion in Class 3A, 1st place in Class 3A, Best Color Guard Overall and 2nd place Overall with block score of 83.1 at Braden River Invitational
    • Straight Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA
    • 7th place at FMBC Class 3A State Championships

    2015 – “Into the Light”
    Trevor Butts, Director
    Travis Miller, Assistant Director
    Shara Crane, Drum Major
    Maegan Nation and Phil Cruz, Deputy Drum Majors
    • Best Color Guard in Class 4A at the Seminole Sound Spectacular
    • Best Color Guard in Class 4A at the Wiregrass Ranch Marching Music Regional Championship
    • Straight Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA
    • 10th place at FMBC Class 4A State Championships

    2014 – “It’s Only the Beginning”
    John Owen Davis II, Director
    Travis Miller, Assistant Director
    Jasmine Cherry, Drum Major
    Shara Crane, Deputy Drum Major
    • Overall Best Color Guard at the Durant West Coast Invitational
    • Best Visual, Music, General Effect and Color Guard and 1st place in Class 4A and Overall Runner-Up at the Chamberlain Invitational
    • Straight Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA
    • 6th place at FMBC Class 4A State Championships

    2013 – “The Legend of 1,000 Paper Cranes”
    John Owen Davis II, Director
    Travis Miller, Assistant Director
    Amir Torres, Drum Major
    Nicholas Rowan, Deputy Drum Major
    • Best General Effect, Visual, Percussion and Color Guard and 1st place in Class 3A at the Durant West Coast Invitational
    • Best Visual in Class 3A at the Chamberlain Invitational
    • Best Individual Visual in Platinum Class at the Newsome Music Festival
    • Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA

    2012 – “Digital Deception: The Swan Virus”
    John Owen Davis II, Director
    Trey Bradshaw, Drum Major
    Amir Torres, Deputy Drum Major
    • Best Color Guard in Class 2A at the Chamberlain Invitational
    • Best General Effect and Visual and 1st place in Class 2A; overall runner-up at the Newsome Music Festival
    • Straight Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA
    • Score of 93.5 and 8th place in Class 4A at USBands National Championships in Annapolis, MD

    2011 – “Tribal Affect”
    John Owen Davis II, Director
    Makayla Cooey, Drum Major
    Trey Bradshaw, Deputy Drum Major
    • Best Music, General Effect, Visual, Percussion and Color Guard and 1st place in Class 1A at the Chamberlain Invitational
    • Best General Effect, Visual and Color Guard and 1st place in Class 2A at the Newsome Music Festival
    • Straight Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA
    • 17th place at FMBC Class 2A State Championships

    2010 – “Intergalactic Suite”
    John Owen Davis II, Director
    Stephan Whittington, Drum Major
    • 3rd place in Class 2A at the Largo Golden Invitational
    • Best General Effect, Music, Visual, Percussion and Color Guard and 1st place in Class 2A at the Chamberlain Invitational
    • Excellent rating at FBA Marching MPA
    • 13th place at FMBC Class 2A State Championships

    2009 – “Tai Chi and the Art of Discipline”
    John Owen Davis II, Director
    Amanda Tracy, Drum Major
    • 3rd place in Class 2A at the Largo Golden Invitational
    • Best General Effect, Music, Visual and Color Guard and 1st place in Class 2A, and Overall Runner-Up at the Chamberlain Invitational
    • Straight Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA
    • 16th place at FMBC Class 2A State Championships

    2008 – “Vox Vocis Terra: Voices of Earth”
    John Owen Davis II, Director
    Jerry Hamilton, Drum Major
    Amanda Tracy, Deputy Drum Major
    • Excellent rating at FBA Marching MPA

    2007 – “La Nouba”
    John Owen Davis II, Director
    Alex Crenshaw, Drum Major
    • Excellent rating at FBA Marching MPA

    2006 – “Songs in the Key of Blue”
    Michael Woodfin, Director
    Alex Crenshaw, Drum Major
    • Excellent rating at FBA Marching MPA

    2005 – “The Music of Alexander Borodin" 
    Michael Woodfin, Director
    Marlene Rivera, Drum Major
    Brian Schmitt, Deputy Drum Major
    • Excellent rating at FBA Marching MPA

    2004 – “The Music of Carlos Santana”
    Michael Woodfin, Director
    Marlene Rivera, Drum Major
    Paulina Esteso, Deputy Drum Major
    • Superior rating at FBA Marching MPA

    2003 – “The Music of Frank Sinatra”
    Michael Woodfin, Director
    • Excellent rating at FBA Marching MPA