Students hold bus-painting competition to prepare for tonight’s derby
Trinity High School band members Sarah Hall, top, and A.J. Falvo got more paint on themselves than the buses during bus painting night at the Washington County Fairgrounds.
Marlena Engen, a band member at Fort Cherry High School, puts a brush to the hood of a bus at the painting of the buses at the Washington County Fairground.
Brent Zavislak, a band member at Bentworth High School, paints stripes above the windows of the bus.
When the school buses take to the track at Washington County Fair for the annual bus demolition derby tonight, band members from 13 Washington County high schools will be rooting for one with their paint job.
Band members got together last week to paint the buses used in the derby. The students were given the theme “fabric patterns” and had about an hour to paint their buses. At the end of the time limit, each team was judged based on school spirit, sportsmanship, neatness, following instructions and adherence to the theme. For the past two years, the Bentworth band won and walked away with the $100 prize. This year, they were dethroned by Avella.
Twelve bands returned for this year’s competition, with Trinity also joining the action. Other schools involved were Washington, Chartiers-Houston, Burgettstown, Ringgold, Peters Township, California, McGuffey, Beth-Center, Charleroi and Fort Cherry.
“I’m pretty sure I’ve never screamed as hard in my life,” said Avella junior Becca Spencer following her school’s victory.
Avella’s bus was painted with several different patterns, described by students as having “a little bit of everything.” The front of the bus was painted with buttons, the idea of junior Catie Fluharty.
For everyone involved, winning or losing isn’t the most important part of the day, and all the kids have fun regardless if they place or not.
“Each school steps up and they take pride in what they do,” said Ken Coffman, the Beth-Center band director.
The event is largely organized each year by the fair board vice president, Chad McGowan. McGowan notes it’s an expensive undertaking.
“The buses aren’t donated, the fair board buys them every year,” McGowan said.
Despite this, McGowan said it’s a tradition that will go on.
“With the reaction we get from the kids, it’s something we just can’t quit,” McGowan said.
Tonight is also band night at the fair, and the bands will be performing for the grandstand crowd before the demolition derby.
For Washington band members, the competition usually conflicts with band camp, leaving them to paint their bus afterward. This year, though, they got to join in the fun.
“It’s nice because we get to be in the competition,” said Michelle Sperl, a parent. “(The kids) get to be around other bands and parents.”
The buses will become scrap metal at the demolition derby at the fair tonight beginning at 8 p.m. Last year, Avella’s bus walked away victorious, and the bus painting champs are confident in another victory this year.