Local Musician Nick Davala Joins Elite Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps for Historic Season and Macy’s Parade Performance
Wicomico County, MD – August 28, 2025 – Nick Davala, a senior at Mardela Middle and High School in Wicomico County, Maryland, has achieved a remarkable milestone by joining the prestigious Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps of Nashua, New Hampshire. Known as one of the oldest and most decorated corps in Drum Corps International (DCI), the Spartans are part of what many call “Marching Music’s Major Leagues.”
In 2024, Nick, a trombone player by training, took a bold step outside his hometown band experience to audition for the Spartans. With the guidance of current Mardela band director Joey Coco and former director Cory Boltz, Nick learned to play the baritone in just three months and mastered field marching techniques, preparing him for the rigorous demands of drum corps performance. Following the audition process, he earned a place in the corps’ hornline.
A Summer of a Lifetime
Beginning in December 2024, Nick attended monthly training sessions in Nashua, leading up to a summer tour from June 11 to August 9, 2025. The tour spanned over 8,000 miles across 15 cities, with the corps performing for thousands and competing at the highest level in the United States and Canada. The season culminated in Indianapolis, where the Spartans captured their third consecutive DCI Open Class World Championship, capping off what Nick describes as a “summer of a lifetime.”
Celebrating a Milestone Year
The 2025 season marked the Spartans’ 70th anniversary, with their production Mística completing a three-year thematic trilogy. The corps not only secured their third consecutive Open Class World Championship but also competed in select events alongside World Class corps as part of a transition plan to move fully into World Class competition in 2026.
Additionally, the Spartans were selected to march in the iconic 99th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in November 2025, giving Nick and his fellow members a national stage to showcase their artistry and celebrate the corps’ milestone anniversary.
Musical Achievements and Recognition
During the 2024–2025 school year, Nick also received accolades for his trombone performance, earning invitations to perform in the Maryland All-State Band, the All Eastern Shore Band, and the Wicomico County Band. As he enters his final year of high school, Nick will serve as Drum Major of the Mardela Warriors Marching Band, bringing the skills, discipline, and experience gained from his time with the Spartans back to his school community.
About the Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps
Founded in 1955 by Albert LaFlamme in Nashua, New Hampshire, the Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps was originally created to provide at-risk youth with a positive outlet. Today, the corps is nationally recognized, with multiple DCI Open Class World Championship titles, including victories in 1997, 1998, 2004, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The organization is committed to providing young performers with high-quality performing arts experiences, fostering personal growth through discipline, teamwork, and dedication.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmEP38x-1Z8
We’re excited to kick off another great year of gaming and competition! This season, our team will be focusing on Fortnite, Overwatch II, Valorant, and League of Legends as part of the PlayVS online high school league. Competitions will take place after school! This will be an after-school activity, that usually takes 2-3 days a week, for about an hour.
Being a member of the Mardela eSports Team is both an opportunity and a privilege. To remain on the team, students are expected to:
✅ Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA
✅ Have no suspensions
✅ Keep at least a 90% attendance rate
eSports at Mardela is about more than just gaming—it’s about teamwork, responsibility, and representing our school with pride. We can’t wait to see our Warriors compete, grow, and achieve great things this year!"
Register HERE: https://shorturl.at/aadD1
We’re excited to kick off another great year of gaming and competition! This season, our team will be focusing on Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, and Rocket League as part of the PlayVS online high school league. Competitions will take place after school, and some students may also have the opportunity to play during Wednesday Flex.
Being a member of the Mardela eSports Team is both an opportunity and a privilege. To remain on the team, students are expected to:
✅ Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA
✅ Have no suspensions
✅ Keep at least a 90% attendance rate
eSports at Mardela is about more than just gaming—it’s about teamwork, responsibility, and representing our school with pride. We can’t wait to see our Warriors compete, grow, and achieve great things this year!"
Register HERE : https://shorturl.at/ucoT3
Meet Mrs. Driscoll Mardela's NEW College Counselor. She is excited to support our students with all their college readiness needs. You can contact her at cdriscoll@mywcps.org. Keep an eye out for upcoming workshops and outreach opportunities.
At a distribution event held at East Salisbury Elementary this week for, 54 students from throughout Wicomico Schools received a new pair of sneakers for the school year, with able assistance from the team of Community School Coordinators.
The initial outreach was to families of students identified by pupil personnel workers as a family in transition. If there are still shoes and socks available when these students have been served, Wicomico’s Student & Family Services may provide shoes to other students and scholars who are in need.
Wicomico County Public Schools
The following criteria apply to all middle school students attending school dances:
1. GPA
o Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0, as required by county policy.
2. Conduct
o Students must not have served any Out-of-School Suspensions (OSS) during the current semester.
o Any student excluded based on cumulative OSS days per county policy will not be eligible to attend.
3. Attendance
o Students must have no more than 2 unexcused absences in the 45 days leading up to the dance.
o For the first dance of the school year, attendance is evaluated from the first day of school.
4. Guests
o Guests from outside the school are not permitted.
An exciting opportunity is here!
🌟 PAID Research Internship Program with UMES 🌟
UMES 4-H is proud to launch a new STEM Research Internship for high school students on the Lower Shore.
✔️ Open to students ages 14–18 with a minimum 3.0 GPA
✔️ Work with UMES faculty in the School of Agricultural & Natural Sciences (SANS)
✔️ Explore real research projects
✔️ Develop your own project with a service learning component
✔️ Gain valuable experience AND get paid!
🗓 Apply by September 15th
🔗 Details + Application: https://forms.gle/pdyXoyBgki72mUza8
Don’t miss this chance to learn, grow, and lead through research! 🚀
#MardelaWarriors #STEM #UMES #ResearchInternship #StudentOpportunities
IT Support Class - Interested in a Career with Computers - Sign up for the Twilight CTE Class. Class starts on September 15. Contact your school counselor Mr. Hollamon to register for this class. email: bhollamon@mywcps.org
Meet Mrs. Driscoll Mardela's NEW College Counselor. She is excited to support our students with all their college readiness needs. You can contact her at cdriscoll@mywcps.org. Keep an eye out for upcoming workshops and outreach opportunities.
Meet Mrs. Driscoll Mardela's NEW College Counselor. She is excited to support our students with all their college readiness needs. You can contact her at cdriscoll@mywcps.org. Keep an eye out for upcoming workshops and outreach opportunities.
Thanks to all of the dedicated leaders from throughout Wicomico County Public Schools who committed their Thursday to taking part in the School Safety Summit, held at James M. Bennett High. The summit was put on by the Department of School Climate and Safety,, and was led by Tara O'Barsky, Director of School Climate & Safety, and members of her team.
The day's focus was on the first of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Micah Stauffer's strategic priorities: School Climate & Safety. Participants learned more about:
Physical Safety Layers (Preparing a Safe Physical Environment)
Setting the Foundation for Psychological Safety (Building a Strong Social Environment)
Tiered Response to Psychological Safety (Ensuring a Strong Attentive Environment)
Our schools and school system are preparing for a great 2025-2026 school year with safe learning environments that support learning, student achievement and engagement, a high-performing workforce, and ample opportunity for family and community engagement.
This is for Wicomico County students in-need from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Students will receive a Free backpack along with several essential school supplies (while supplies last, as this is first-come, first-served). A child must be present with an adult to receive school supplies.
-Free Backpacks
-Free Essential School Supplies
-Free Haircuts & Braiding
-Fun Activities
-Info about the upcoming school year
-Community programming
-Health Information and more
Mark your calendar for Sunday, August 24th, starting at 1 p.m. at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center! For more information, log onto wicomicorecandparks.org or contact tobarsky@mywcps.org
Also, "Thanks" to our growing list of sponsors for making this possible for Wicomico County students.
#LearningTodayLeadingTomorrow
#WicomicoCountyPublicSchools
