Mercer County Pep Band invited to state

Robert Blackford/Editor

Members of the Mercer County High School band practice at the high school in Aledo. Sixty members of the school's pep band will play at the Class 1A and Class 2A semi-finals on Feb. 27.

The Mercer County High School's Pep Band has been invited to play at the Class 1A and Class 2A girls' state basketball semi-finals and finals this year on Feb. 27. The event will be held at Redbird Arena on the campus of Illinois State University.

Mercer County High School band director Rusty Ruggles said he has sent off audition tapes to the IHSA in the past and this year his band was chosen to appear.

Ruggles said the band has about 120 kids but he is only allowed to take 60 to the state finals.