Marching beyond BVNW

Practicing at Sky Ryders drum and bugle corp, sophomore Halen McClure and junior Jack Cowman spent hours a day marching in the summer heat.

Samuel Nagy and Addi Welgos • September 5, 2025

Hailey Heckman

Before sunrise, junior Jack Cowman laced up his shoes for a run, marking the start of 10-hour days with the Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps.

The Sky Ryders is a summer camp where students stay overnight. They practice for the marching shows they will do in the last weeks. They compete in various contests that evaluate marching skill, show design and music quality.

While at rest, members of Sky Ryders hold their instruments during practice. Photo Courtesy of Jack Cowman.

The Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps was a world-class group based in Kansas during the 1980s and early 90s. In 1994, the corps disbanded due to ongoing financial difficulties. They reformed last year, and Cowman is drumming for the new group. He credited former members for bringing it back. He said the alumni have reached a stage in their careers where they have sufficient funding to restart the Ryders after almost 32 years.

“I really enjoy percussion and I really enjoy marching, so it’s just another way for me [to] expand my horizons,” Cowman said.

At Sky Ryders, Cowman plays bass drum three; however, at BVNW, he plays the marching snare drum.

According to Cowman, the nature of marching band requires people to be fit, especially for day-long practices under the hot summer sun.

“You don’t want to be out there. And it’s just like you got to keep pushing and trust the process,” Cowman said.

He said participants in the Sky Ryders camp practiced together as a full drum line, then in small groups with their respective instruments. To conclude the day, the over 100-person band rehearsed as one group.

Halen McClure is a sophomore at BVNW who also attended the Sky Ryders summer camp, and according to McClure, Cowman is one of his closest friends. The two met at the beginning of freshman year through the BVNW marching band. To McClure, building lasting friendships is an important part of the experience.

“It makes the experience very enjoyable; it’s incredibly hard, but practicing something with your friends all day can be really fun if you get past the difficulty of it,” McClure said.

McClure encourages all students who are interested in joining a professional drum corps to pursue their dreams and disregard their fears about it being unattainable.

“Just do it, because the absolute worst-case scenario is that you get cut and then you just end up in the same spot that you are right now,” McClure said.

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About the Contributors

Samuel Nagy, Writer

Samuel Nagy is a sophomore at Northwest. He is a writer for The Express, and this is his first year on staff. He participates in Swim and Track & Field at Northwest. He loves movies and his favorite is The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. He loves spending time with friends. He is excited to be on the newspaper staff, and looks forward to meeting all the staff!

Addi Welgos, Writer

Addi Welgos is a sophomore at Northwest, stepping into her first year as a writer for The Express. When she’s not focused on the newspaper, Addi loves spending quality time with her family and friends. She adores her two cats, and she enjoys relaxing by traveling with her family during the summer months. She loves re-watching “Gilmore Girls” during her free time. Addi is eager to forge new friendships and create memories while working with the staff.

Hailey Heckman, Designer

Hailey Heckman is a junior at BVNW and is excited to start her second year as a designer on staff. She is looking forward to this school year and all the work that will be done for The Express. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling, spending time outside and hanging out with family and friends.