OK, we admit it. We blatantly stole the idea from The Ohio State University Marching Band. We like to joke that they stole it from us, but considering they have been performing Script Ohio since 1936, that's quite a stretch.

Spelling "Woo" presents one problem. Unlike Script "Ohio", which has an "i" in it, we have no letter to dot. We solved that by providing our "Woo" with an exclamation point! This makes it possible to ceremoniously bring out a sousaphone player to dot the "!" with style!

Script "Woo!" started in 1988 when the seniors were developing an idea for the their senior show. With the help of Cindy Glass, assistant director at the time, Script "Woo!" was born. At that time, it was charted for about 130 band members. The 1999 Script "Woo!" called for 260 bandsmen - my, times have changed.

... And, so has the script. Charting of the routine was revived in 1990 after a one-year absence, and the addition of new members in the band has necessitated alteration in the design. Additionally, the music has changed. In 1990, school songs were played as many times as needed to get the band through the formation. It meant several repeats of the tunes just to allow for enough music - the result: monotony! So, the next year we decided to use the same music Ohio State uses for their script, "Le Regiment" (French National Defile). It worked great, and we've used it ever since. [photo above by Paul Martin]

The "follow the leader" marching that is required by the drill depends a lot upon the accuracy of the Majorette who leads the script. Without careful guidance and perfect timing, things can easily go astray. We've had some close calls, but the band has always pulled it off in grand style. This is one of those traditions that may never die... Check it out at the next Homecoming game!

Amy Condry leading Script "Woo!" in 1995

 

One Majorette is selected to lead the band through Script "Woo!" at each Homecoming game. Below is a list of the honored majorettes who have taken us through the Incomparable... Script "Woo!"	One sousaphone player is selected to dot the exclamation point in Script "Woo!" at each Homecoming game. Below is a list of the honored sousaphone players who have done the dotting.
YEAR MAJORETTE     1990 Brandy Mott 1991 Judy Arnold 1992 Dianna Likens 1993 Dianna Likens 1994 Jami Kunkler 1995 Amy Condry 1996 Sarah Dodeci 1997 Sarah Dodeci 1998 Stacey Clark 1999 Jill Condry 2000 Patti Jackson 2001 Dechelle Hutchison 2002 Darcie Draudt 2003 Melissa Zarella 2004 Devin Draudt 2005 Jill Johnston 2006 Kaitlin Zarella 2007 Kaitlin Zarella	YEAR SOUSAPHONE PLAYER 1988 Nick Brown 1990 Jason Ramsey 1991 Jason Ramsey 1992 Mark Zickefoose 1993** Andy Carmony & Nick Brown 1994 Chris Ewald 1995 Ben Byo 1996 Bryon Meshew 1997 Casey Emerson 1998 Brian Deily 1999 Matt Newman 2000 Keeley Emerson 2001 Matt Ellcessor 2002 Nate Bollinger 2003 Jon Spelman & Jeff Detrow 2004 Carolyn Johns 2005 Andrew Heller 2006 Andy Mick 2007 Terry Long

** 1993 Alumni Band & Reunion at Homecoming had two "!" dotters: The current senior, and the return of the first-ever dotter.

 

Dotting the "!" - an honor for WHS sousaphone players.

1996 Script "Woo!" at Follis Field

The changes in Script "Woo!" through the years reflect changes in the makeup of the group. It is interesting to see the shape of the script change with the addition of more students into the band program. Below are some copies of drill charts over the years.

A picture is worth a thousand "Woo's". Below is the 1999 drill with an overlay of the 1990 Script "Woo!" My, times have changed...

Here's how the chart looked for the 1994 Marching Band edition of Script "Woo!"

Click anywhere on the field to see the band march through the Script.

(give it time to load completely)

End of Script "Woo!" and dotting of "!" (3.5 MB Quicktime Movie with sound)

End of Script "Woo!" and dotting of "!" (880K MPEG Movie with no sound)

 

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