While most people are complaining about the heat and seeking the comforts of air-conditioning, two East Peoria students are enduring the hot weather as they train with the Colts Drum & Bugle Corp.

Patrick McGehee and Jared Kumer, who will both be seniors at East Peoria Community High School in August, are in their second year with the prestigious band based in Dubuque, Iowa.
Kumer and McGehee both began playing in band in fifth grade. The two met at Central Junior High School and became friends. At EPCHS, Kumer plays the tuba and McGehee plays the trombone.

A couple of years ago, the two learned about the Colts, a Division I drum corps. There are 22 division one corps in the United States.

EPCHS band director Adam Schneblin recently invited the Colts to East Peoria to practice at EastSide Centre. The Colts practiced there June 14 and gave a free concert June 15.

“I knew these two guys were going to be marching again. I contacted the director of the Colts and I offered East Peoria as a host,” Schneblin said.

The Colts came to EastSide to practice again Friday before their show that night in Normal.
Schneblin said it is a real honor to be a part of the Colts. Students are selected on an audition basis. Once selected, a student is not guaranteed a spot the following year.

When the Colts came to East Peoria June 14, they slept on the high school gym floor and used the shower facilities there. Sleeping on floors is not unusual for the band, which has a grueling schedule.

In addition to the heat they endure during practice and in heavy costumes while performing, they have long hours of practice seven days a week, little sleep and are on the road for many hours.
Mike Grimes, operation director of the Colts, said they spend about 70 percent of their time during their 15,000 mile season on the bus, or about an average of eight hours a day.

On Friday, prior to practice, McGehee stood on the field at EastSide in a pair of shorts. The temperature was 91 degrees. (Kumer was not at the beginning of the practice Friday due to a chiropractor’s appointment.) Ironically, the last time McGehee was interviewed with Kumer they talked about the longest, coldest day of their lives. That occurred when they performed with the Colts in January for President Barack Obama’s inauguration parade.

McGehee said many people ask him why he puts himself through such a grueling process.
“It’s all about getting in shape, and it’s really just a mental thing. You can learn to deal with (the heat),” McGehee said. “It’s kind of crazy to give up your whole summer and do all this.”
But, McGehee said the efforts are worth his while.

“You meet a lot of friends and find stuff out about yourself you never knew ... You’re just here to learn how to be excellent and you’re here to learn how to do that. If this was easy, everyone would do it.”

Schneblin said the free concert the Colts gave June 15 was outstanding. He estimated about 800 people attended the event.

When Kumer and McGehee learned they would be traveling with the band again this summer, they had to get permission to take their school finals early.

Now, they will not return until the middle of August, right before school starts.

“Once you’re in, you don’t get a chance to leave. Even when they were here, they couldn’t leave to go home and sleep in their beds,” Schneblin said.

Kumer and McGehee, are among the youngest members of the Colts, which are between the ages of 14 to 21, Schneblin said, adding that he estimates two-thirds of the band to be college-aged.

“Only very talented high school students are in an organization like this. It’s a small percentage,” Schneblin said.

In talking about the Colts’ hectic schedule, Schneblin said he would not be able to endure it.
When the band was here June 14, Schneblin said he received a phone call at midnight. The Colts came in at 1:20 a.m. Their cook truck was set up by 3:30 a.m. and the cooks were back up at 6 a.m. to serve breakfast at 8 a.m. Practice started at 9 a.m. and went until 10 p.m. that night.

“By the time everyone was back at the high school, showered, and in bed, it was 11 o’ clock. Then, they were up the next morning.” Schneblin said. “The next day they had a 10 hour bus drive and woke up the next day to do it in Pennsylvania all over again.”
“It is so demanding. I would snap. I was exhausted just going back and forth between EastSide and the school. I couldn’t imagine. I would snap. It is physically exhausting. They do it for the end result, such a high energy, high achieving ensemble,” Schneblin said.

When asked why someone would put themselves through such an ordeal, Schneblin said they are trying to become world champions. The band competes Aug. 8 in the Drum Corp International finals. The winner of DCI finals is named world champions.

“Much like Superbowl players, each member of the drum and bugle corp gets a ring. The motivation is to earn that ring and to be called the DCI champions,” he said.

McGehee is not sure if he will join the Colts next summer. After graduating from high school next year, he plans to attend Bradley University. His major is undecided.

Even if McGehee and Kumer are not with the Colts next year, Schneblin said he will invite them back to EastSide.

“One of (the directors) said he would look forward to coming back again, and he said it was one of the best stops they would have all summer because of the hospitality, the warm welcome. He also said he was confident he would not be in another high school facility like EastSide. I see that this is going to be a yearly, annual event. I hope so,” Schneblin said.