THE MARIPOSA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND TOOK HOME THIRD PLACE HONORS IN ITS CLASS AT THE 50TH CENTRAL CALIFORNIA BAND REVIEW HELD LAST SATURDAY IN MERCED. THE 36-MEMBER BAND AND COLOR GUARD WAS THE SMALLEST UNIT COMPETING, BUT THEIR PRIDE, HARD WORK AND BIG SOUND CARRIED THEM FAR. PLACING CLOSE BEHIND SCHOOLS FROM SANTA CRUZ AND SAN JOSE WITH STUDENT POPULATIONS FIVE TIMES THAT OF MCHS IS A HUGE VICTORY. AMONG THE 52 BANDS AT THE COMPETITION, MARIPOSA ALSO PLACED THIRD HIGHEST IN TOTAL MUSIC SCORE. ONE JUDGE COMMENTED, "WOW! THIS IS AN AWESOME LITTLE BAND; ...A FULL, MATURE SOUND, EVERYTHING IN BALANCE. THERE IS SOME GOOD STUFF GOING ON MUSICALLY UP IN THE HILLS." DR. PHILLIP SMITH, ROD FIESTER AND THE BAND INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO SEE AND HEAR ITS AWARD-WINNING BAND IN THE MERRY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS PARADE ON SATURDAY DEC. 12, AND TO ENJOY THEIR CONCERT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THE EVENING OF TUESDAY, DEC. 15.