Adalynn Jodon could hardly keep her feet still after getting off the bus at Kiski Area High School on Sunday evening.

With a combination of excitement, fatigue, joy and relief, the trumpet playing senior stepped onto the familiar parking lot a national champion.

“It feels awesome,” she said standing a few feet from her mother, Bridgette Jodon. “(We’ve been practicing) a very, very long time. This was my last chance. It was fun.”

She and about 140 other students represented the school in the 2023 Bands of America national championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Kiski Area earned the Class AA national title and took 16th place overall out of more than 90 schools from across the nation. They performed Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

“It teaches you the best lessons and makes the best friends in life,” Adalynn said about being in the band. “Enjoy the little things while it lasts.”

Her mother held a large cardboard cutout of Adalynn’s face. The family made the trip to Indianapolis with dozens of other band parents.

“My daughter’s been in the band for five years, and it’s been an absolute journey of a lifetime,” Bridgette Jodon said. “There’s really something special about Kiski band, and the staff is phenomenal. To welcome home a national champion is just beyond our expectations. I’m the obnoxious proud mama with the cowbell, usually. We are super fans.”

Senior Heidi Plazio, who is in the color guard, found strength on the field after seeing a familiar face.

“It was pretty unreal,” Heidi said of the competition experience. “I was pretty nervous, but I saw my mom up in the crowd and I wasn’t nervous anymore. She sits really close to the front. It’s definitely something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. … I love hearing the crowd cheering. It’s just the best feeling in the world to be able to hear that.”

Heidi’s mother, Holly Kauffman, said she could tell from the halftime show of the season-opening football game that this was going to be a big year for the band.

“We all knew that was our national show,” Kauffman said. “You could feel the magic of the music. The choreographing is just phenomenal. It’s such an incredible team of instructors and staff that bring all these kids together. It’s amazing.”

Heidi and Adalynn plan to go to Slippery Rock University next year and be a part of the school’s marching band.

Police and firefighters escorted the Kiski area high school marching band back to town after becoming AA national champs in an Indianapolis competition. pic.twitter.com/qb8fwEIKjn

— Mike D. (@MikeJdiVittorio) November 12, 2023

Police and firefighters escorted the band buses down Westmoreland County streets and into the high school lot where families waited with flowers, balloons and signs.

Band director Shawn Pityk said all he could feel was gratitude while looking at the welcoming atmosphere.

He wrote the music for this year’s show. Practices started in May.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Pityk said. “I’m so lucky to be a part of an organization that has very dedicated parents; very, very dedicated students and a staff that I think is one of the best in the country. What makes it work is an unbelievable culture.

“That’s the most important thing that makes it thrive. Without that, I don’t think any of it could possibly work. It’s just a lot of good people trying to do great things together, and this is what comes out of it.”

Grandparents are also part of the super fan group that awaited band members when their buses arrived at the school.

Jim Walton, 80, who played in Vandergrift High School band in 1961, has been a staple at Kiski Area band performances since 1987. His grandson, Sean Riley, is a baritone-playing junior.

“It’s wonderful,” Walton said. “This is the greatest band ever. We have the greatest director. He’s a genius.”

Walton has developed a call and response with the band.

He proclaims, “We don’t just play instruments” and band members respond, “We play music.”

Lou Crupie, 76, is a 1965 Kiski Area graduate who played clarinet in the marching band.

His son, Matt Crupie, plays trumpet and is part of the band staff.

Lou’s grandson, Mario Crupie, is in seventh grade and plays the trumpet.

Lou Crupie said the band has developed a winning reputation since the 1980s.

“Out here, we live for this,” he said. “We absolutely live for band season to come because they have all these competitions. We get to go to different places. We went to the University of Maryland for one of our regional (contests). We just came back today from Indianapolis. Bands from all over the United States (went) and they perform for three days.”

Pityk has been a part of the band for 22 years either as director or assistant director. He hopes to build on the national success next year.

Heidi would like to see the younger band members continue to be winners on and off the field.

“Be nice to your teammates and always treat each other with respect,” she said. “They’re the people that you’re going to remember, and they’re the people that are going to really be there for you when you need it.”

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---