Waltrip band members win state medals

On the heels of earning national honors last week, the Waltrip High School Roaring Ram Band had several individual students earn medals earlier this week at the UIL Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest.

Nine members of Waltrip’s band took home first or second place in their division, according to director Jesse Espinosa, as did one of its band sections.

“We are beyond proud of these students for their accomplishments,” Espinosa said. “We are excited about all of our students that had the opportunity to compete at this high level and display their outstanding musicianship.”

According to Espinosa, senior Robert Paniagua and sophomore Jesse Espinosa – the director’s son – took home gold medals in the trumpet soloist First Division category, while senior Angel Garza was a gold medal winner in the drum set soloist First Division. Seniors Riley Brugner and Christopher Luce along with sophomore Evan Weltin each won silver medals in the keyboard percussionist Second Division. Seniors Conlan Ramirez (trumpet soloist) and Jorge Garcia (piano soloist), as well as freshman Benjamin Griffith (trombone soloist), won Second Division silver medals, according to Espinosa.

The band’s brass sextet with percussion of Andrew Brugner (tuba), Wesley Hudgins (tuba), Christopher Castaneda (trombone), Cesar Torres (trombone), Jesse Ramos (euphonium), Vincent Rodriguez (euphonium) and Weltin (timpani) also brought home a First Division state medal.

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