Panthers' drum line gains momentum at Pinewood Prep

  • Bill Henley
  • Posted: Thursday, October 15, 2009 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Thursday, March 22, 2012 6:30 p.m.
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The Pinewood Prep drum line performs at an Oct. 2 home game among the student section of the stands. Watching the game are (from left) Laura O'Quinn and Andrew Donnelly as Josh Blease gets some instruction from faculty adviser Michael Sowers.
Bill Henley /The Post and CourierThe Pinewood Prep drum line performs at an Oct. 2 home game among the student section of the stands. Watching the game are (from left) Laura O'Quinn and Andrew Donnelly as Josh Blease gets some instruction from faculty adviser Michael Sowers.

They don't line up in any fancy formations or wear shiny uniforms. The Pinewood Prep drum line keeps it simple. Pound out a beat and get the fans behind their football team.

In its second year, Pinewood Prep's drum line has become a popular part of the Panthers' home games. Nine boys and girls under the leadership of math teacher Michael Sowers can be found at the end of the home stands adding to the ruckus of the student section known as the Blue Crew.

"This is fun," ninth-grader Laura O'Quinn said. "It's really fun to be in the drum line because the Blue Crew always pushes us to play songs."

Sowers, who played in a drum line during his high school days in Peoria, Ill., was asked last season if he could put together a similar group at the school.

"They gave me $400 and we scoured Ebay for enough drums to get us started," he said. "It was overwhelmingly great in the beginning. People came out of the woodwork to give us praise."

Sowers said the drum line is gaining momentum. He started modestly with a corps of five drummers last year and that grew to seven and again to nine to start this football season.

The group numbers 10 if one includes Sowers, who occasionally gets to relive his high school experiences.

"I go up and play with them when one of them has to leave for some reason," he said.

O'Quinn, who said she's been playing the guitar since second grade, joined the group this year for a couple of reasons.

"I did music exploratory and I was taught how to play the drums last year," she said. "Also, this is a good way to get into the games for free."

Sowers is pleased with how quickly the group has become a part of the football culture, adding to the Blue Crew and the cheerleaders' routines and playing at pep rallies.

"It's starting to interlock now," he said. "Now, I'm getting some eighth-, seventh- and sixth-graders who are interested in playing. I love that it's going to keep growing with this group."

Contact Bill Henley at 937-5433 or bhenley@postandcourier.com.