Minnechaug band opts out of Elite Eight for All-State festival

Date: 3/21/2011

March 21, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

WILBRAHAM — The Minnechaug Regional High School band will not participate in this year's NCAA Division II basketball tournament Elite Eight.

Margaret Reidy, the Minnechaug band director, told Reminder Publications that this year's tournament conflicts with the Massachusetts All-State music festival, taking place in Boston March 24 to 26.

In past years, the band has served as the "adopted" pep band for teams in the tournament's quarterfinal, semifinal and championship rounds, which are set to take place on March 23, 24 and 26 at the MassMutual Center this year.

Last year, the band supported St. Cloud State, which lost to Indiana University in the Final Four.

That was the last opportunity the band will have to take part in the tournament. The Elite Eight will make its new home in Highland Heights, Ky., next season.

The MassMutual Center had hosted the tournament every year since it returned to Springfield 2006 after a long hiatus. The city also hosted the tournament in 1977 and from 1980 to 1994.