When first-year Dylan Barrett came to St. Thomas, he fell in love with the school. To him, though, there was just one thing missing: a pep band.

Barrett took the initiative to change that. He started recruiting and researching as soon as he arrived at St. Thomas and was able to organize a group of students to play at the first home football game. They have been playing every home football game ever since and hope to continue.

“When I came here, in the back of my mind, I said, ‘I would love to start an athletic band,’” Barrett said. “It looked like the only thing that was lacking was someone to sort of take charge.”

After doing some research, Barrett met with sophomore Steven Widlowski, who had already organized a group of seminarians to play at games with Caruso’s Crew. The two worked to merge the existing seminarian band into a bigger pep band that puts community spirit at the base of its values.

The group played at the first home football game of the season. With about 20 students playing at the game, they were satisfied with their organized sound and surprised at the smooth transition into being a part of the game’s atmosphere.

Though they now have a group of about 30 members, they are still looking for more people to join the band. Members plan to announce the opportunity in band classes and advertisements around campus to promote the new band and gain members.

“If you have an instrument, come play with us,” Barrett said. “You don’t need to be good, you just have to be willing to learn music and have a good time.”

The lack of equipment is another obstacle for the band to overcome. Since their official club status is still in the process of being reviewed and approved, they have not yet received funding. Until the funding comes through, they have to make do with what they have. Barrett said they just have to wait for funding to come with official club status; the necessary equipment will follow.

Widlowski said they received support from faculty, who have been a tremendous help in overcoming their obstacles.

After seeing them perform at a football game, Vice President of Business Affairs Mark Vangsgard stepped in to help the group get a jump-start on structural aspects of a new club like organization and finding space to meet and play. Vangsgard said he is a big advocator of co-curricular activities, and he saw the pep band as another way for students to apply themselves outside of academics.

“There should be an opportunity for (students) to explore different things … things that may not necessarily relate directly to their academic experience but are going to be part of their lifelong learning,” Vangsgard said.

Widlowski said a pep band at St. Thomas is important because it contributes to the excitement and school spirit of college sports.

“It’s all part of the college atmosphere,” Widlowski said. “It’s a whole other dimension to the dynamic of the sporting events. It’s great.”

The band integrates the value of a spirited atmosphere in its goal to “perform engaging music all while promoting community spirit, pride and passion at St. Thomas sporting events,” as its mission statement says.

First-year student Caleb Schoot, Barrett’s friend and an avid participant in the new pep band, said it also important because it is a place for students to play instead of in the existing bands at St. Thomas.

“It provides students the opportunities to get involved in music that might not have the time for band,” Schoot said.

As a newly organized group, the members have many goals for the future. Their main focus right now is football games, but Barrett said they hope to merge into other sports such as basketball and hockey once those sports seasons start.

Schoot hopes the band can expand and play around campus or in the community as volunteer work.

“I think one of the other things that, down the road, we’re going to build into is maybe volunteering, so maybe going to play at a senior living center or a hospital,” Shoot said.

He also said he has hopes of the band receiving field time to play as well as eventually expanding into a marching band that could perform during halftime and travel.

“The sky’s the limit at this point,” Widlowski said. “We’re just gonna see how far we can take this thing. It has come so far already, and it’s going to be good to see where it goes.”

Kassie Vivant can be reached at viva0001@stthomas.edu