Milestones from the 2025 WGI Percussion Championships
In part two of our 2025 Milestones series, we look back and highlight the accomplishments made at a record breaking Percussion World Championships
Welcome to part two of our 2025 Milestones series where we wrap up the winter season and celebrate the achievements made by performing groups at the 2025 WGI World Championships. After reviewing color guard in part one (linked below), we now look at Percussion Championships which occurred in its usual week after guard.
Much like the guard division, percussion had a big year as well. A total of 492 ensembles competed throughout the season to combine for 1,669 scores at 25 events. At World Championships, 233 ensembles competed for an increase of 19 from the 214 that competed in 2024.
Most notable at World Championships were the new record scores that were set. Never before this year had a marching ensemble surpassed a score of 99, yet three groups achieve the feat this year. Congratulations to Ayala HS (CA), RCC (CA), and Rhythm X (IN) who finished with scores of 99.5, 99.163, and 99.063 respectively. With these scores, Ayala and RCC set new records in Scholastic World and Independent World.
There were a ton of other milestones that occurred at World Championships and deserve recognition; let’s take a look back.
Class Champions & Medalists
Independent World:
1st place: RCC (CA) - seventh championship and 16th medal in Independent World (IW champions in 2018, 2015, 2012, 2007, 2005, 2002; 9 additional medals in IW)
2nd place: Rhythm X (IN) - 15th medal in all classes (IW champions in 2013, 2009, 2008; IO champions in 2002; 11 additional medals in IW)
3rd place: Broken City (CA) - sixth medal in Independent World (IW champions in 2019; IW silver medalists in 2017; IW bronze medalists in 2022, 2018, 2016)
Scholastic World:
1st place: Ayala HS (CA) - 12th medal in all marching percussion classes, 10th medal in Scholastic World (SW champions in 2023, 2016, 2010; SA champions in 1999; 6 additional medals in SW and 1 medal in SO)
2nd place: Bridgeland HS (TX) - first medal in any class in only their second ever appearance at World Championships
3rd place: Chino Hills HS (CA) - 14th medal in Scholastic World (SW champions in 2023, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2012; 7 additional medals in SW)
Independent Open:
1st place: Veritas (IN) - first championship and medal in any class
2nd place: Civitas Independent (SC) - second medal in Independent Open (IO silver medalists in 2022)
3rd place: UTSA (TX) - first medal in any class
Scholastic Open:
1st place: Victor J. Andrew HS (IL) - ninth medal and fourth championship in any class (SO champions in 2024; SO silver medalists in 2013, 2012; SO bronze medalists in 2018, 2017; SA champions in 2016, 2014; SA silver medalists in 2011)
2nd place: Fishers HS (IN) - sixth medal in any class (SO silver medalists in 2024; Scholastic Concert World champions in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023)
3rd place: Rancho Cucamonga HS (CA) - third medal in any class (SO champions in 2004; SA bronze medalists in 2002)
Independent A:
1st place: 1st place: M3 (OH) - third championship and medal in Independent A (champions in 2024 and 2022)
2nd place: Nomad Indoor (PA) - first medal in any class
3rd place: Lake Effect Percussion (MI) - first medal in any class
Scholastic A:
1st place: Clinton HS (MS) - second championship and third medal in any class (SO champions in 2014 and SA silver medalists in 2013)
2nd place: Choctawhatchee HS (FL) - third medal in any class (SO champions in 2002, SW bronze medalists in 2003)
3rd place: E.D. White Catholic HS (LA) - third medal in Scholastic A (SA silver medalists in 2019 and 2017)
Concert Classes:
PSCW Champion: Ayala HS (CA) - 9th championship in Scholastic Concert World and 17th medal in all concert classes (PSCW champions in 2014-2017, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006)
PSCO Champion: North Forney HS (TX) - first championship and third medal in all classes (PSCW silver medalists in 2019 and 2022)
PSCA Champion (tie): - Everett HS (MA) - first championship and third medal in all classes (Scholastic Marching Open silver medalists in 2003 and 2004)
PSCA Champion (tie) - Selma HS (CA) - first championship and first medal; 2025 was the group’s first time attending World Championships
First time finalists in any class:
PSO - Chisholm Trail HS (TX)
PSO - Saginaw HS (TX)
PSO - Germantown HS (MS)
PIA - Lakeville Area Percussion (MN)
PIA - Legacy Percussion (FL)
PIA - Breakwater Performing Arts (MI)
PSA - Dakota Combined Schools (MI)
PSA - Lakeway Christian Academy (TN)
PSA - Lower Dauphin HS (PA)
PSCA - Selma HS (CA)
PSCA - Canton McKinley HS (OH)
PSCA - Lowell HS (MA)
PSCA - Atoka HS (OK)
First time finalists in respective classes:
PIW - Meraki (CA)
PSW - Dorman HS (SC)
PIO - Imperial Dynasty (DE)
PSO - Goshen HS (IN)
PSO - Basha HS (AZ)
PSA - Choctawhatchee HS (FL)
PSA - North Penn HS (PA)
PSA - Catawba Ridge HS (SC)
PSCW - Grassfield HS (VA)
PSCO - North Forney HS (TX)
PSCO - Milford HS (OH)
PSCO - Spring-Ford HS (PA)
PSCA - Everett HS (MA)
Miscellaneous facts:
RCC (CA)’s seventh championship moves them into sole possession of second place in the all time leaderboard of most championships in Independent World. Music City Mystique leads with eight championships.
For the third straight season, the spread between the top two groups in Independent World was a tenth or less (0.1 spread in 2025 and 2024, 0.038 spread in 2023). This is the first time in any marching class that the spread between the top two ensembles was a tenth or less for three consecutive seasons.
2025 marks the tenth time that two ensembles from Southern California won both marching World classes. At the last 14 World Championships, groups from Southern California have won 23 championships (out of a possible 28) between the two marching World classes. 2009 was the last time that neither marching World class was won by an ensemble from Southern California.
Ayala HS (CA)’s championships in both Scholastic World and Scholastic Concert World moves the school to 14 percussion championships all time. 2025 was the school’s fourth championship in Scholastic World and the third time that they won both Scholastic World classes in the same season (the previous two times were in 2016 and 2010). They remain as the only school to achieve this feat.
With their silver medal, Bridgeland HS (TX) became only the second school from Texas to medal in Scholastic World. The previous group to do so was Winston Churchill HS in 2003 who remains as the only Texas school to ever win the class.
After taking home the bronze medal, Chino Hills HS (CA) continues an impressive streak of medaling in 12 straight seasons which started back in 2012. Dartmouth HS (MA) holds the record for all classes with most consecutive medal finishes at 14 years from 1998 to 2012.
Veritas (IN) won their first ever medal and championship and by doing so, became the first ensemble from Indiana to win a championship in Independent Open. They also became the first independent ensemble from the state to win in any class since Madison Independent won Independent A in 2011.
Victor J. Andrew HS (IL) claimed their second straight championship in Scholastic Open and became the first ensemble to win consecutive titles in the class since Pacifica HS (CA) won four straight from 2006 to 2009.
Additionally, Victor J. Andrew HS and Fishers HS (IN) finished in the top two spots in Scholastic Open for the second year in a row. The last time the same two groups finished in the top two spots in consecutive seasons in any class was in 2008 and 2009. It actually occurred in two classes - in Independent World, Rhythm X and RCC claimed gold and silver respectively in both seasons, while in Scholastic Open, Pacifica HS and Trumbull HS (CT) accomplished the same.
M3 (OH) won their second consecutive championship in Independent A and third in four seasons. They became the first ensemble to win the class in consecutive seasons since L.E.A.P (IL) did so in 2003 and 2004.
Clinton HS (MS) were named champions for the second time in school history, this time in Scholastic A, 11 years after they won gold in Scholastic Open. They remain as the only ensemble from Mississippi to win a championship in any class.
North Forney HS (TX) became only the second ensemble from Texas to win a concert class and first since Tomball HS won Scholastic Concert Open in 2017.
Everett HS (MA) and Selma HS (CA) each won their first championship by tying for the Scholastic Concert A title. This title marks the first time in WGI history that there was a tie for first place in any percussion class.
What a great season for the percussion division in 2025! Stay tuned in the next few days for the final piece in the Milestones series where we’ll recap Winds Championships!