Opelika’s Spirit of the South Sweeps Superior Ratings at Zebulon Competition
Opelika High School’s Spirit of the South Marching Band earned Superior ratings in all five categories (drum major, color guard, percussion, band and overall) at the March the Plank Invitational in Zebulon, Ga., on Oct. 24.
Opelika High School’s Spirit of the South Marching Band went five for five on Saturday, earning Superior ratings in every category at the March the Plank Invitational in Zebulon, Ga.
When results were announced at Pike County High School’s Pirate Stadium on Oct. 24, the Spirit of the South received Superior ratings for drum major, visual ensemble (color guard), percussion, band, and overall ensemble. Superior is the highest rating a band can earn.
The awards announcement for Opelika High School. Video: Chad Turner, via Facebook Live in the Opelika “Spirit of the South” Band Boosters group. Edited by Opelika Daily News.
Watch the Spirit of the South’s full March the Plank performance below, posted by Opelika Music.
Full performance: “2026 Opelika High School Competition Band – March the Plank Invitational.” Video: Opelika Music on YouTube.
The Pike County Pirate Regiment hosts March the Plank every year. Organizers describe it as a “low pressure corps style competition” where every band should feel welcome while enjoying some friendly competition.
Spirit of the South members on the field during the awards ceremony. Contributed photo.
Congratulations to the students, staff and band families of the Spirit of the South.
Sources: Awards announcement video by Chad Turner, shared via Facebook Live in the Opelika “Spirit of the South” Band Boosters group; Pike County Pirate Regiment event page. Written with AI assistance and reviewed by Opelika Daily News.
Jerry Katz is the creator of Opelika Daily News. A former broadcaster, he has been writing about Opelika for more than twenty years — first as a blogger, now as the one-person newsroom behind this site. He curates the region's local news daily, writes the Katz Ramblings column and the weekly From the Archives look-back, and maintains an archive of more than 3,200 posts reaching back to 2002. He lives in Opelika. Reach him at jerry@opelikadailynews.com. View all posts by Jerry Katz
