Maize senior Jacob Froese still recalls the chilly November evening three years ago when the Eagles played Kapaun Mt. Carmel in the Class 5A state football semifinals.
 
Froese, then a freshman percussionist, made the short journey with his MHS bandmates to Wichita Heights High School and watched as Avery Johnson, now Kansas State’s starting quarterback, led Maize to a thrilling 22-21 victory that featured the winning touchdown and two-point conversion in the final 30 seconds.
 
“We were down and we weren’t dominating the game,” Froese said. “We were pretty low on morale at one point.
 
“I feel like the band really helped keep that up that night and helped push us through to a win that took us to state.”
 
Froese saw the impact a band can make during that game. And after spending the past summer touring as a member of the San Antonio-based Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, he also knows the impact a band can have on him.
 
Froese is the Capitol Federal® True Blue Student of the Week.
 
The Crossmen are part of Drum Corps International, which for more than 50 years has conducted competitive drum corps events for youth and young adults across North America. Froese, who began taking piano lessons as an elementary student, auditioned and trained throughout June with the Crossmen as an electric keyboard player before traveling with the corps on a muti-state tour that included playing in venues such as San Antonio’s Alamodome and Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.
 
Froese’s interest in the organization began to grow after he witnessed a DCI competition in 2002 in Olathe.
 
“It’s kind of crazy how niche it is, but at the same time how big it is,” said Froese, who spent his “spring training” period with the Crossmen at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla. “After that first show, I watched a lot of YouTube videos. Just watching some of those shows and some of those groups, it reminded me how great music is. If you want to watch it, live is the way to go.”
 
Froese was part of the Crossmen’s 50^th anniversary tour, which began with a performance July 5 in Conway, S.C., and concluded in Indianapolis in early August. His time with the 160-member corps left an impression.
 
“Overall, it was a great experience,” said Froese, who is considering marching band options as part of his college decision. “I think probably the biggest impact it had on me was getting a full sense of how much work it takes to be at that level on your instrument.
 
“That inspired me to dedicate more time to practicing or just setting aside more time for whatever I need to do, whether it’s hobbies or academics. Just learning how to work hard, that’s probably the biggest takeaway I had.”
 
Froese, who carries a 4.24 grade-point average and is in his second year on KSHSAA’s Student Advisory Team, is on the right track.
 
Since his freshman year, Froese has played in Maize’s marching band, concert band and as a member of the One Maize percussion ensemble with students from Maize South. He’s been a past member of Maize’s Robotics Team and has renewed his interest in that this year.
 
“Jacob is a hard-working and dedicated student,” said Connor Siler, Maize’s co-director of bands and Froese’s current piano teacher. “He embodies self-motivation and pushes himself and those around him to a high level. Over the past four years, I have seen Jacob become a very skilled musician.”
 
Froese played with the One Maize ensemble at the Kansas Music Educators Association’s annual convention as a freshman. Since then, he has played with the KMEA all-state band, taken solos to state on the snare drum and piano and served as a section leader for the MHS band.
 
That dedication persuaded Maize principal Chris Botts to encourage Froese to pursue a spot on the KSHSAA Advisory Team, a state-wide group of students from all class sizes who meet periodically at KSHSAA’s office in Topeka to provide input to the organization’s executive board, board of directors and staff regarding student issues.
 
“I encouraged Jacob to apply because I felt he would be a good representative from Maize High School but also add to the advisory team,” Botts said. “Jacob is an exceptional member of the band and is also extremely intelligent and well-spoken.
 
“He has a kind soul. I knew that if he was selected, he would be reliable, able to provide feedback to the team and represent Maize High School in a manner that makes us proud.”
 
Froese and the KSHSAA Advisory Team had its first meeting of the 2024-25 school year in late August.
 
“I just thought it would be a good opportunity to have an impact on some activities that don’t see as much action,” said Froese, who also competes in scholars bowl and qualified with his Maize teammates for the Class 6A state tournament last year. “It’s been great really just seeing different points of view of how people around the state do things, especially small schools because of how huge a lot of the Wichita schools are.
 
“Most issues that we talk about are pretty unanimous when they’re talking about stuff that they’re going to show to the board. But there’s definitely a couple things that could be a fit for 5-6A but not 1-2-3-4A as much. The biggest example of that was last year when we talked about the (basketball) shot clock and having people to run it.”
 
At a meeting last year, advisory team members were asked to suggest a change to an activity with which they were involved. Froese pointed out the state music competitions have solo and ensemble categories, but felt a duet division would be worth considering.
 
“It’s cool to see what goes on behind the curtain and just how activities are regulated because it’s such a big part of the school experience,” Froese said. “It helps a lot of people keep going by being involved.”
 
Froese plays a large array of percussion instruments between his marching band and concert band involvement. He’ll travel to Manhattan with his bandmates on Saturday to participate in K-State’s Central States Marching Festival, then compete with the Eagles in the Kansas Bandmasters Association Open Class Marching Championship the following weekend at Emporia State.
 
“I think right now, especially with what I’m looking for in college, is marching in a drum line,” Froese said. “It’s a great way to share music, share some fun hype with people who don’t always listen to music.
 
“I just like being able to perform in front of people. Even if they don’t fully appreciate what you’re doing, they’re here to see the show.”