The Richmond Hill High School Wildcat marching band earned several “superior” ratings at the 31st annual Coastal Empire Classic, held Oct. 13 at Effingham County High School in Springfield.

The Wildcats, who presented the competition show “Gladiator” in their first competition of the year, received “superior” scores in color guard, percussion, drum major, music, visual, general effect and overall performance. Mallory McGee and Reuben Rios, the Wildcats’ drum majors, were named the best overall drum majors in the competition.

Richmond Hill last year won the event’s grand champion award. Carroll County captured this year’s top award.

“I am very proud of our kids and I think it says a lot that our kids got straight ‘superiors’ in every caption, and that it took a much larger band with a huge prop production and staff to beat our show by a little over one point. Our kids did a phenomenal job,” Wildcats band director Dr. Daniel Kiene said.

Bands competed in Class A and Class AA, while two bands — including Richmond Hill competed in Class AAAA, the largest class of competition.

The Wildcats will compete in the Battle of the Border Marching Competition (Bridgemen Classic) on Saturday in Valdosta against 18 other bands in a double-elimination competition.