STAR OF INDIANA

1985 show recaps

Sunday, June 16, 1985
Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) Tour
Normal, IL

    1 Cavaliers                                  76.9
    2 Phantom Regiment                           74.4
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            73.6
    4 Colts                                      64.4
    5 Knights                                    56.8
    6 Sky Ryders                                 49.3
    7 Phantom Reg Cadets                         42.2
    8 Illiana Lancers                            32.7

Tuesday, June 25, 1985
DCI Summer Music Games
Springfield, MO

      The new corps on the block, Star of Indiana from Bloomington, impressed the crowd with exciting visuals and horn work. Well-sung lyrics to Mickey Mouse and It's a Small World were nice effects. Dave Crouch, DCW staff coordinator, is working with Star this summer and informed this writer that some of the corps' members have had prior drum corps experience. One of these is the very talented and showy drum major, Karen Ruschman. Watch out top twelve! Tonight Star placed third with 71.50.

    1 Madison Scouts                             82.2
    2 Phantom Regiment                           72.3
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            71.5
    4 Colts                                      58.4
    5 Sky Ryders                                 55.7
    6 Blue Knights                               47.3
    7 River City Railmen                         42.3

Saturday, June 29, 1985
DCI Southeast Prelims
Durham, NC

    1 Garfield Cadets                            80.4
    2 Spirit of Atlanta                          73.9
    3 Cavaliers                                  72.1
    4 Troopers                                   67.5
    5 STAR OF INDIANA                            66.3
    6 27th Lancers                               63.9
    7 Crossmen                                   61.4
    8 Avant Guard                                52.5
    9 Les Eclipses                               52.3
   10 Florida Wave                               48.8
   11 Bluecoats                                  45.5
   12 Diplomats                                  42.8
   13 Bridgemen                                  35.4
   14 Dutch Boy                                  34.4

Saturday, June 29, 1985
DCI Southeast Finals
Durham, NC

      Still blazing a trail that will be unmatched for years (if ever), the Star of Indiana blasted a very strong Troopers out of the saddle for fourth in the finals after trailing them by a point in prelims with a tally of 68.50, up from an earlier 66.30 finish. The only thing holding this crew down from going even higher is that the color guard isn't up to the execution level of the rest of the unit. If this isn't top twelve material, though, what is?

    1 Garfield Cadets                            78.9
    2 Spirit of Atlanta                          75.9
    3 Cavaliers                                  69.7
    4 STAR OF INDIANA                            68.9
    5 Troopers                                   66.4
    6 27th Lancers                               62.4
    7 Crossmen                                   58.6
    8 Les Eclipses                               52.9

Monday, July 1, 1985
Drum Corps South (DCS) Tour
Montgomery, AL

    1 Madison Scouts                             82.0
    2 Suncoast Sound                             76.8
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            71.7
    4 Les Eclipses                               53.7
    5 Dutch Boy                                  40.6
    6 Bridgemen                                  33.7

Tuesday, July 2, 1985
Drum Corps South (DCS) Tour
Pensacola, FL

    1 Madison Scouts                             85.8
    2 Suncoast Sound                             78.1
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            73.8
    4 Crossmen                                   66.4
    5 Les Eclipses                               52.5
    6 Bridgemen                                  39.5

Wednesday, July 3, 1985
Drum Corps South (DCS) Tour
Clearwater, FL

    1 Madison Scouts                             85.9
    2 Suncoast Sound                             79.7
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            74.4
    4 Crossmen                                   62.7
    5 Les Eclipses                               54.2
    6 Bridgemen                                  42.5

Saturday, July 6, 1985
DCI South Prelims
Atlanta, GA

    1 Garfield Cadets                            86.3
    2 Madison Scouts                             86.1
    3 Spirit of Atlanta                          81.9
    4 Suncoast Sound                             79.1
    5 Cavaliers                                  77.1
    6 STAR OF INDIANA                            73.6
    7 Troopers                                   72.2
    8 27th Lancers                               69.2
    9 Crossmen                                   64.8
   10 Florida Wave                               57.0
   11 Avant Guard                                55.3
   12 Les Eclipses                               53.3
   13 Connexion Quebec                           47.3
   14 Dutch Boy                                  41.0

Saturday, July 6, 1985
DCI South Finals
Atlanta, GA

      Everyone knew when Star of Indiana hit the field. This first-year corps presents a dazzling show full of color, movement and music. Playing a show centered around popular Disney tunes, Star will undoubtedly grab a high spot in Madison this year. Sixth, 73.60

    1 Garfield Cadets                            87.9
    2 Madison Scouts                             87.2
    3 Spirit of Atlanta                          84.5
    4 Cavaliers                                  77.6
    5 Suncoast Sound                             77.2
    6 STAR OF INDIANA                            73.6
    7 Troopers                                   71.5
    8 27th Lancers                               69.8
    9 Crossmen                                   60.1
   10 Florida Wave                               56.5

Monday, July 8, 1985
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Evansville, IN

      Dressed in striking magenta, black and white uniforms, Star of Indiana treated a stunning initial visual impression, contradicting their "first-year corps" status. The color guard utilized removable skirts, which also acted as Blue Devils-style wings. The skirts gave the ladies a "Cinderella" appearance, lending themselves to the Walt Disney theme. Especially noteworthy was the corps' ability to pull off a gorgeous Zingali drill and difficult musical program. Moving in typical Garfield "speed of light" style, the strain caught up with several horns toward the end and two members went down, reminiscent of the Garfield catastrophe at Whitewater last year. But, after a quick recovery, Star finished to a standing ovation, earning a score of 72.10 and third place.

    1 Madison Scouts                             85.7
    2 Cavaliers                                  77.9
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            72.1
    4 27th Lancers                               70.5
    5 Avant Guard                                61.8
    6 Knights                                    58.2
    7 Boston Crusaders                           56.5

Tuesday, July 9, 1985
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Indianapolis, IN

      Organizers of this year's Drums on the Ohio chose "A Star is Born" as their theme, and the drum and bugle corps that inspired it did its best to live up to the billing Monday.

Star of Indiana, the newly organized corps from Bloomington, Indiana, got an enthusiastic reception Monday night at the annual Freedom Festival event at Reitz Bowl. A crowd of several thousand gave a standing ovation to the 128-member group following its performance of Walt Disney music. Star of Indiana placed third in competition that featured seven corps from the Midwest and East. The local performance marked Star's debut in competition in Indiana.

    1 Garfield Cadets                            86.7
    2 Spirit of Atlanta                          85.3
    3 Cavaliers                                  79.1
    4 STAR OF INDIANA                            71.8
    5 Troopers                                   71.4
    6 27th Lancers                               71.3
    7 Dutch Boy                                  44.2

Thursday, July 11, 1985
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Ypsilanti, MI

      Most of the crowd had no idea what to expect from another first-year corps, the Bloomington, Indiana, Star of Indiana. Star presented an upbeat and entertaining show of Walt Disney music. The corps was poised, confident and seemed to enjoy giving the performance as much as the crowd enjoyed watching. Third, 74.50.

    1 Madison Scouts                             88.8
    2 Suncoast Sound                             83.5
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            74.5
    4 Crossmen                                   64.4
    5 Avant Guard                                63.4
    6 Boston Crusaders                           61.1
    7 Bridgemen                                  49.9
    8 Glassmen                                   43.0
    9 Northern Aurora                            41.6

Saturday, July 13, 1985
DCI Midwest Prelims
Whitewater, WI

    1 Garfield Cadets                            86.6
    2 Madison Scouts                             85.8
    3 Spirit of Atlanta                          83.9
    4 Cavaliers                                  81.4
    5 Suncoast Sound                             80.3
    6 Phantom Regiment                           79.3
    7 STAR OF INDIANA                            76.3
    8 Troopers                                   76.0
    9 27th Lancers                               72.5
   10 Colts                                      68.2
   11 Crossmen                                   68.1
   12 Knights                                    63.8
   13 Boston Crusaders                           62.6
   14 Bluecoats                                  61.4
   15 Glassmen                                   50.2
   16 Dutch Boy                                  48.6

Saturday, July 13, 1985
DCI Midwest Finals
Whitewater, WI

    1 Madison Scouts                             89.2
    2 Garfield Cadets                            87.4
    3 Spirit of Atlanta                          85.6
    4 Suncoast Sound                             81.3
    5 Cavaliers                                  81.0
    6 Phantom Regiment                           76.3
    7 STAR OF INDIANA                            75.8
    8 Troopers                                   73.1
    9 27th Lancers                               70.9
   10 Colts                                      64.0
   11 Crossmen                                   62.5
   12 Knights                                    60.9

Saturday, July 27, 1985
Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) Championship
DeKalb, IL

      A program of the most obvious visual musicality was highly entertaining to both the young and the old tonight as Star of Indiana made their first appearance at DCM Championships. The flags tell the story. Plenty of sunshine is the visual key to Zippety Doo Dah. Blue flags with heavenly bodies capture the design of the hat worn by the Mickey Mouse sorcerer in the famous Disney movie Fantasia and also serve "sweeping" purposes in the Sorcerer's Apprentice. Neither the 12 shiny contras nor the little pigs were the least bit intimidated by Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

It's a Small World is accompanied by a flag displaying half of a globe and the musical arrangement is delightful. Along with the actual tune of It's a Small World, one can also hear countermelodies and rhythmic arrangements of Chinese music, Irish Washerwoman, Yankee Doodle, a marching band and a Spanish motif, to name a few. The show is musically recapitulated with When You Wish Upon A Star, but the final flags are surprisingly abstract in colors of pink, blue and silver. Fourth, 79.30.

    1 Madison Scouts                             89.9
    2 Cavaliers                                  86.8
    3 Phantom Regiment                           82.5
    4 STAR OF INDIANA                            79.3
    5 Colts                                      71.5
    6 Knights                                    71.4
    7 Glassmen                                   48.9

Monday, July 29, 1985
Drum Corps East (DCE) Tour
Rochester, NY

    1 Garfield Cadets                            93.2
    2 STAR OF INDIANA                            78.7
    3 27th Lancers                               78.5
    4 Les Eclipses                               77.0
    5 Crossmen                                   75.6
    6 Avant Guard                                72.0
    7 Connexion Quebec                           56.8
    8 Bridgemen                                  52.4

Wednesday, July 31, 1985
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Jeffersonville, IN

    1 Madison Scouts                             90.8
    2 Cavaliers                                  88.2
    3 Velvet Knights                             81.0
    ^ Freelancers                                81.0
    5 STAR OF INDIANA                            78.2
    6 Argonauts                                  69.5
    7 Knights                                    69.2
    8 California Dons                            63.9

Saturday, August 3, 1985
DCI East Prelims
Allentown, PA

    1 Santa Clara Vanguard                       93.8
    ^ Garfield Cadets                            93.8
    3 Blue Devils                                92.3
    4 Madison Scouts                             91.0
    5 Cavaliers                                  89.9
    6 Spirit of Atlanta                          87.7
    7 Suncoast Sound                             86.5
    8 Phantom Regiment                           85.1
    9 Velvet Knights                             81.6
   10 Troopers                                   81.1
   11 27th Lancers                               79.0
    ^ Freelancers                                79.0
   13 STAR OF INDIANA                            78.1
   14 Les Eclipses                               78.0
   15 Crossmen                                   73.1
   16 Sky Ryders                                 72.9
   17 Colts                                      71.4
   18 Avant Guard                                69.6
   19 Boston Crusaders                           68.3
   20 Argonauts                                  68.2
   21 Knights                                    66.0
   22 Florida Wave                               62.8
   23 California Dons                            58.7
   24 Blue Knights                               52.3
   25 Bridgemen                                  50.6
   26 Kingsmen                                   48.4

Sunday, August 4, 1985
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Rome, NY

    1 Madison Scouts                             92.8
    2 Phantom Regiment                           87.7
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            79.5
    4 Les Eclipses                               78.3
    5 Sky Ryders                                 78.0
    6 Avant Guard                                73.8
    7 Bridgemen                                  57.9
    8 Kingsmen                                   54.2

Monday, August 5, 1985
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Pittsfield, MA

    1 Madison Scouts                             93.1
    2 Velvet Knights                             85.4
    3 27th Lancers                               81.1
    4 Freelancers                                79.7
    5 STAR OF INDIANA                            78.1
    6 Colts                                      72.3
    7 Boston Crusaders                           66.6
    8 California Dons                            64.5
    9 Blue Knights                               59.2
   10 Bridgemen                                  56.9

Tuesday, August 6
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Fort Edward, NY

    1 Madison Scouts                             94.0
    2 Freelancers                                86.8
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            81.4
    4 Sky Ryders                                 79.0
    5 Avant Guard                                76.1
    6 Colts                                      73.0
    7 Blue Knights                               64.2
    8 Bridgemen                                  60.6

Saturday, August 10, 1985
U.S. Open
Marion, OH

    1 Santa Clara Vanguard                       97.1
    ^ Garfield Cadets                            97.1
    3 Cavaliers                                  92.6
    ^ Suncoast Sound                             92.6
    5 Spirit of Atlanta                          90.6
    6 STAR OF INDIANA                            85.5
    7 Troopers                                   85.1
    8 Sky Ryders                                 78.9
    9 Colts                                      78.5
   10 Crossmen                                   76.3

Sunday, August 11, 1985
DCI Summer Music Games Tour
Port Huron, MI

    1 Blue Devils                                96.3
    2 Phantom Regiment                           88.8
    3 Freelancers                                85.9
    4 STAR OF INDIANA                            84.3
    ^ Velvet Knights                             84.3
    6 27th Lancers                               82.9
    7 Connexion Quebec                           67.0
    8 Bridgemen                                  64.8
    9 Blue Knights                               60.6

Monday, August 12, 1985
Pride of Indiana IV (DCI)
Bloomington, IN

      "On the starting line . . . from Bloomington, Indiana . . ." It was the start of the final act of a dream come true for the members, instructors, directors and followers of the Star of Indiana. After countless hours of rehearsal and after a summer-long tour that had already established them as one of DCI's premiere entertainers, the first-year Star (third, 86.50) was about to take the field before its home-town crowd for the first time. It is unusual for a drum corps show to go beyond a demonstration of musical talent, but at this noble moment, the fourth annual PRIDE OF INDIANA DCI show became a bonafide EVENT. The standing ovations began even before the first note of warm-up. By the time drum major Karen Ruschman gave the corps-ready salute, the capacity crowd was rocking.

Thus began what even long-time drum corps watchers said was the most emotional performance by a single corps in DCI history. If Indiana is a state of hometowns, Bloomington was ready to assure Star that this indeed was HOME . . . no matter where the individual members came from. The audience roared with every horn line crescendo and cheered with every cymbal crash. Star's show ended in a chorus of raised voices and pounding feet in the stands. Hoosiers suddenly had another winning team to cheer for and the 13 1/2 minutes that the 128 kids will remember most Ñ perhaps for the rest of their lives Ñ were the ones spent on a well-groomed soccer stadium field in Bloomington, Indiana.

      It should be noted that the Bloomington YMCA/lndiana University production included the presentation of $2,000 in scholarship awards, double the amount originally planned. The championship-eve scheduling of PRIDE OF INDIANA also provided spectators and corps with facilities ranking only behind the major regional DCI shows and the championship itself.

    1 Garfield Cadets                            95.3
    2 Suncoast Sound                             91.7
    3 STAR OF INDIANA                            86.5
    4 Freelancers                                85.4
    5 27th Lancers                               83.9
    6 Crossmen                                   77.5
    7 Argonauts                                  70.7

Wednesday, August 14, 1985
DCI World Championship Prelims
Madison, WI

    1 STAR OF INDIANA                            84.1
    2 Les Eclipses                               80.3
    3 Marauders                                  72.3
    4 Connexion Quebec                           71.9
    5 Canadian Knights                           68.8
    6 Ventures                                   68.7
    7 Bluecoats                                  67.3
    8 Diplomats                                  66.2
    9 Northmen                                   64.6
   10 Phantom Reg Cadets                         61.4
   11 Black Knights                              60.8
   12 Kingsmen                                   60.5
   13 New York Lancers                           59.9
   14 Sancians                                   58.5
   15 Glassmen                                   53.9

Thursday, August 15, 1985
DCI World Championship Quarterfinals
Madison, WI

      The long-awaited Star of Indiana arrived on the scene preceded by a mini-caravan of pit equipment for the front sideline. One of the cars is used as the D.M.'s podium. The corps wears black trousers and magenta tops, topped off with white Aussie hats. A white "star" is emblazoned on the breast of the tunics. When You Wish Upon A Star brought "oohs" and "aahs" from the crowd and one Disney piece followed another. Every part of the show, from opener to closer, was incredibly entertaining and well conceived. The utilization of creative and imaginative flags and props stunned the spectators into a major ovation at the end of the show. We'll be singing and whistling for a long time after this one. Prelim score, 84.10.

    1 STAR OF INDIANA                            86.7
    2 Troopers                                   85.6
    3 Les Eclipses                               82.4
    4 Sky Ryders                                 81.1
    5 Colts                                      80.9
    6 Avant Guard                                78.3
    7 Boston Crusaders                           77.4
    ^ Florida Wave                               77.4
    9 Knights                                    77.3
   10 Argonauts                                  76.0
   11 California Dons                            73.3
   12 Marauders                                  72.6
    ^ Connexion Quebec                           72.6
   14 Ventures                                   70.4
   15 Bluecoats                                  70.2
   16 Canadian Knights                           69.3
    ^ Diplomats                                  69.3
   18 Blue Knights                               68.2
   19 Dutch Boy                                  67.2
   20 Northmen                                   64.0
   21 Phantom Reg Cadets                         62.1
   22 Kingsmen                                   61.4
   23 New York Lancers                           60.1
   24 Black Knights                              59.8
   25 Sancians                                   57.7

Friday, August 16, 1985
DCI World Championship Semifinals
Madison, WI

    1 Garfield Cadets                            96.2
    2 Santa Clara Vanguard                       96.0
    3 Blue Devils                                95.9
    4 Madison Scouts                             95.6
    5 Cavaliers                                  92.3
    6 Suncoast Sound                             92.1
    7 Phantom Regiment                           91.6
    8 Spirit of Atlanta                          90.2
    9 Troopers                                   87.9
   10 STAR OF INDIANA                            87.5
   11 Velvet Knights                             86.8
   12 Freelancers                                85.9
   13 27th Lancers                               85.2
   14 Les Eclipses                               84.1
   15 Sky Ryders                                 83.4
   16 Colts                                      80.9
   17 Crossmen                                   80.4
   18 Avant Guard                                78.6
   19 Knights                                    75.2
   20 Boston Crusaders                           74.7
   21 Florida Wave                               74.1
   22 Argonauts                                  70.4
   23 California Dons                            67.9
   24 Marauders                                  67.7
   25 Connexion Quebec                           66.1
   26 Bridgemen                                  63.6

Saturday, August 17, 1985
DCI World Championship Finals
Madison, WI

      A dream come true was the reward for the Cinderella Corps of '85, the Star of Indiana. After finishing in thirteenth place in Allentown, Star worked exceptionally hard over the final two weeks to reach the lofty top 12. At long last, Star's visual and brass execution became worthy of their show design and a tenth place score of 85.90 reaffirmed the enormity of their accomplishment. In just 11 months, Star went from birth to maturity and we can expect them to be a major power for many years to come.

    1 Garfield Cadets                            98.4
    2 Santa Clara Vanguard                       97.2
    3 Blue Devils                                97.1
    4 Madison Scouts                             95.0
    5 Cavaliers                                  94.1
    6 Suncoast Sound                             92.7
    7 Spirit of Atlanta                          91.0
    8 Phantom Regiment                           90.1
    9 Troopers                                   86.7
   10 STAR OF INDIANA                            85.8
   11 Velvet Knights                             85.3
   12 Freelancers                                83.2

1985 show information | the drum corps years | drum & bugle corps index

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