Blue Stars
Other Names:First Federal Blue Stars; merger Blue Stars Color Guard and Apple Arrows; Blue Star Cadets (1983-86)
LaCrosse, WI United States
Founded: 1964
World Class
Results from final championship competition of the year
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| Repertoire for 2000 |
Carmina Burana |
| Were diu werlt alle min by Carl Orff Carmina Burana - The Boston Carmerata - Joel Cohen: Erato Disques 0630-14987-2 |
| Tanz (from Carmina Burana) by Carl Orff Carmina Burana - The Boston Carmerata - Joel Cohen: Erato Disques 0630-14987-2 |
| In taberna by Carl Orff Carmina Burana - The Boston Carmerata - Joel Cohen: Erato Disques 0630-14987-2 |
| Veni, veni, venias by Carl Orff Carmina Burana - The Boston Carmerata - Joel Cohen: Erato Disques 0630-14987-2 |
| In trutina by Carl Orff Carmina Burana - The Boston Carmerata - Joel Cohen: Erato Disques 0630-14987-2 |
| Ave formosissima (from Carmina Burana) by Carl Orff Carmina Burana - The Boston Carmerata - Joel Cohen: Erato Disques 0630-14987-2 |
| O Fortuna Plango Vulnera (from Carmina Burana) by Carl Orff Carmina Burana - The Boston Carmerata - Joel Cohen: Erato Disques 0630-14987-2 |
CORPS Photos
The Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps based in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
Founded in LaCrosse in 1964 by Frank Van Voorhis and David Dummer, the Blue Stars Color Guard merged with the Apple Arrows Drum and Bugle Corps of La Crescent, Minnesota in 1965 and became the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. The new corps began entering field competitions in 1966 and found a sponsor in the local First Federal Savings and Loan, which sold stock certificates in the corps as a fundraiser. The group was then billed as the First Federal Blue Stars. Dr. David Kampschroer started instructing the corps in that 1966 season and became corps director in 1968, remaining in that position until 1988.
The corps' early years were unusually successful. They appeared in the finals of every national contest they entered between 1966 and 1979. 1970, however, was the year the corps surprised everyone, as they defeated the Cavaliers and the Kilties, and finished in fifth place at VFW Nationals in Miami.
The Blue Stars were urged by Cavaliers founder Don Warren and Troopers founder Jim Jones to join in starting a new organization run by the drum corps and free from the rigid, inflexible rules of the American Legion and VFW. The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. During the 1971 season, the "Midwest Combine," composed of the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers were not only booked into a number of shows together, but they found a host for a show of their own, which was a spectacular success. A simiar group called the United Organization of Junior Corps (also known as the "Alliance") was made up of five top-tier Eastern corps. In 1972, the ten corps from the Combine and the Alliance joined with three other top corps to form Drum Corps International (DCI), which remains as the sanctioning body for junior corps in North America. Blue Stars director Dr. David Kampschroer also served as DCI's first executive director.
DCI's initial season of 1972 was the corps' finest year as a member of what was then called "open class." The Blue Stars had traded wins with Santa Clara Vanguard and were one of the favorites to win it all going into the inaugural DCI World Championships. In semifinals, the corps placed second behind Santa Clara. Although they beat SCV in Finals, the surging Anaheim Kingsmen passed them both to become the first DCI World Champion..
The corps remained a consistent powerhouse throughout the 1970s. They made DCI finals every year through 1979, and became the 1973 CYO National Champions and the 1977 VFW National Champions. The Blue Stars still hold the distinction of making the biggest drop in Top 12 standings in one year, from third in 1973 to 12th in 1974; and the biggest gain in standings in the Top 12, from 12th in 1974 to fifth in1975.
Then came the 1980s; membership recruitment fell off, and the Blue Stars finished 13th in 1980, 16th in '81, and dropped out of contention in 37th place in 1982. After the 1982 season, with no sponsor and being saddled with staggering debt, the corps ceased operations.
However, some staff members and alumni of the corps refused to see it die. They organized as LBS Cadets, Inc. and entered a corps in 1983, competing in the Cadet Corps International circuit under the name Blue Star Cadets, because the Blue Stars name was still encumbered with debt. For 1984 and '85, the corps restricted its competition to Drum Corps Midwest shows and worked at paying off the old corps' debts. In 1986, the debt had been sufficiently paid down that the new group was able to reclaim the name and legacy of the Blue Stars.
The rejuvenated Blue Stars became one of the most consistently successful small corps in DCI. They won the DCI Class A60 World Championship in 1989 and the renamed Division III title in 1993, 2001, and 2003.
As the corps approached its 4th DCI Championship in 2003, its fundraising bingo game suddenly was not only not making money, but it was losing so much that it had to be shut down, leaving the corps once more in dire financial straits. A plea to the drum corps community for assistance brought in enough money to save the corps.
After the 2003 season, Greg Struve was named the new corps director. He set about reorganizing operations, expanded recruiting into Minnesota and Iowa, and inaugurated a new capital fund drive called, "Return to Glory," As a result, the corps grew from 53 members in 2003 to more than 100 in 2004 and moved up to Division II. After continued growth and Division II placements of 5th in 2004 and 3rd in 2005, in 2006, Blue Stars returned to the highest level of DCI competition, Division I (now World Class),
After two 14th place finishes, in 2008 the Blue Stars returned to DCI World Championship Finals for the first time since 1979. With the exception of a 13th place finish in 2012, the corps has been in DCI Finals every year since, through 2017.
[Blue Stars; Drum Corps International; Drum Corps World, various issues; Gary Cuzzocrea, RAMD, 3/9/99]
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1961 1 scores
Highest Score 0.000
Final show in DCX Archives January 22, 1961 1961 Winona Winter Carnival Winona WI
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1962 1 scores
Highest Score 58.550
Final show in DCX Archives September 8, 1962 Drums on the Chippewa Eau Claire WI placed 5 with a score of 58.550
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1963 2 scores
Highest Score 71.500
Final show in DCX Archives September 2, 1963 Labor Day Festival Merril WI placed 5 with a score of 71.500
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1966 6 scores
Highest Score 78.300
Final show in DCX Archives September 5, 1966 Janesville WI placed 4 with a score of 71.000
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1967 12 scores
Highest Score 77.450
Final show in DCX Archives September 4, 1967 Janesville WI placed 3 with a score of 75.200
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1968 12 scores
Highest Score 84.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 21, 1968 VFW Nationals Detroit MI placed 8 with a score of 78.700
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1969 13 scores
Highest Score 85.250
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1969 VFW Nationals-Preliminary Round Philadelphia PA placed 9 with a score of 85.250
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1970 11 scores
Highest Score 89.850
Final show in DCX Archives August 23, 1970 Wisconsin State Fair West Allis WI placed 2 with a score of 81.750
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1971 22 scores
Highest Score 88.950
Final show in DCX Archives September 6, 1971 Whitewater WI placed 1 with a score of 83.500
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1972 16 scores
Highest Score 89.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1972 DCI World Championships Whitewater WI placed 2 with a score of 87.650
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1973 17 scores
Highest Score 86.550
Final show in DCX Archives August 19, 1973 Wisconsin State Fair West Allis WI placed 4 with a score of 86.550
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1974 19 scores
Highest Score 79.900
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1974 DCI World Championships Ithaca NY placed 12 with a score of 75.700
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1975 18 scores
Highest Score 87.500
Final show in DCX Archives August 16, 1975 DCI World Championships Philadelphia PA placed 5 with a score of 87.500
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1976 14 scores
Highest Score 84.450
Final show in DCX Archives August 21, 1976 DCI World Championships Philadelphia PA placed 9 with a score of 80.350
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1977 30 scores
Highest Score 85.850
Final show in DCX Archives August 24, 1977 VFW Nationals Minneapolis MN placed 1 with a score of 82.150
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1978 23 scores
Highest Score 85.650
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1978 DCI World Championships Denver CO placed 8 with a score of 84.600
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1979 19 scores
Highest Score 84.850
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1979 DCI World Championships Birmingham AL placed 10 with a score of 83.050
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1980 29 scores
Highest Score 79.650
Final show in DCX Archives August 15, 1980 DCI World Championships Prelims Birmingham AL placed 13 with a score of 77.050
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1981 26 scores
Highest Score 79.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 21, 1981 DCI World Championships Prelims Montreal QUE Canada placed 16 with a score of 75.700
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1982 31 scores
Highest Score 62.300
Final show in DCX Archives August 20, 1982 DCI World Championships Prelims Montreal QUE Canada placed 37 with a score of 53.100
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1985 3 scores
Highest Score 56.700
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 1985 Winona MN placed 2 with a score of 56.700
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1987 13 scores
Highest Score 81.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 1987 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Madison WI placed 24 with a score of 55.300
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1988 16 scores
Highest Score 81.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1988 DCI World Championships Class A/A60 Finals Kansas City MO placed 3 with a score of 75.100
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1989 22 scores
Highest Score 88.300
Final show in DCX Archives August 16, 1989 DCI World Championships Prelims Kansas City MO placed 17 with a score of 65.000
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1990 20 scores
Highest Score 81.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 14, 1990 DCI World Championships Class A60 Finals Buffalo NY placed 5 with a score of 81.600
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1991 26 scores
Highest Score 89.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 1991 DCI World Championships Class A/A60 Finals Dallas TX placed 3 with a score of 84.700
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1992 26 scores
Highest Score 84.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 1992 DCI World Championships Division II/III Finals Whitewater WI placed 8 with a score of 82.400
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1993 24 scores
Highest Score 85.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 17, 1993 DCI World Championships Division II/III Finals Jackson MS placed 1 with a score of 85.400
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1994 23 scores
Highest Score 93.500
Final show in DCX Archives August 18, 1994 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Foxboro MA placed 16 with a score of 61.800
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1995 22 scores
Highest Score 91.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 8, 1995 DCI World Championships Division III Finals Buffalo NY placed 5 with a score of 85.400
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1996 28 scores
Highest Score 90.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 1996 DCI World Championships Division III Finals Orlando FL placed 3 with a score of 87.800
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1997 23 scores
Highest Score 93.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 14, 1997 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Orlando FL placed 26 with a score of 67.200
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1998 24 scores
Highest Score 90.700
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 1998 DCI World Championships Division III Finals Orlando FL placed 5 with a score of 85.700
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1999 30 scores
Highest Score 93.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 12, 1999 DCI World Championships Quarter Finals Madison WI placed 26 with a score of 70.200
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2000 28 scores
Highest Score 91.350
Final show in DCX Archives August 9, 2000 DCI World Championships Division II/III Finals College Park MD placed 5 with a score of 89.550
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2001 35 scores
Highest Score 88.550
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 2001 DCI Championships - DCI I Finals Buffalo NY
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2002 30 scores
Highest Score 89.850
Final show in DCX Archives August 7, 2002 World Championships - Division II & III Finals Madison WI placed 2 with a score of 89.850
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2003 28 scores
Highest Score 88.750
Final show in DCX Archives August 9, 2003 DCI Championships - Div II/III Finals Orlando FL placed 1 with a score of 88.600
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2004 24 scores
Highest Score 91.500
Final show in DCX Archives August 7, 2004 DCI World Championships - II/III Grand Finals Denver CO placed 5 with a score of 91.500
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2005 32 scores
Highest Score 93.925
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 2005 DCI World Championships - II/III Grand Finals Brockton MA placed 3 with a score of 93.925
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2006 33 scores
Highest Score 82.225
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 2006 DCI World Championships - Division I Semi Finals Madison WI placed 14 with a score of 81.525
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2007 35 scores
Highest Score 84.350
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 2007 DCI World Championships Semifinals Pasadena CA placed 14 with a score of 84.350
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2008 35 scores
Highest Score 90.575
Final show in DCX Archives August 9, 2008 World Class Finals Bloomington IN placed 8 with a score of 90.425
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2009 34 scores
Highest Score 90.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 8, 2009 DCI World Championships World Class Finals Indianapolis IN placed 8 with a score of 90.050
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2010 30 scores
Highest Score 92.050
Final show in DCX Archives August 14, 2010 World Class Finals Indianapolis IN placed 8 with a score of 91.900
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2011 36 scores
Highest Score 87.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 2011 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN placed 11 with a score of 86.200
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2012 32 scores
Highest Score 85.450
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 2012 DCI World Championship Semifinals Indianapolis IN placed 13 with a score of 84.600
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2013 34 scores
Highest Score 86.200
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 2013 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN placed 12 with a score of 85.450
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2014 31 scores
Highest Score 89.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 9, 2014 DCI World Championships World Class Finals Indianapolis IN placed 9 with a score of 89.600
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2015 32 scores
Highest Score 85.450
Final show in DCX Archives August 8, 2015 DCI World Championships World Class Finals Indianapolis IN placed 11 with a score of 85.150
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2016 31 scores
Highest Score 89.975
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 2016 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN placed 9 with a score of 89.050
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2017 31 scores
Highest Score 88.975
Final show in DCX Archives August 12, 2017 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN placed 10 with a score of 87.938
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2018 30 scores
Highest Score 90.475
Final show in DCX Archives August 11, 2018 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN United States placed 8 with a score of 90.050
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2019 31 scores
Highest Score 91.300
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 2019 DCI World Championship Finals Indianapolis IN United States placed 8 with a score of 91.225
Members (124)
| Member Name | Section | Years Involved |
|---|---|---|
| Albitz, Mike | Drumline | 1984 to 1990 |
| Ammerman, Michael | hornline-baritone | 1982 |
| Anderson, Steve | Front Line | 1994 to 1996 |
| Anthony, Nicole | Colorguard | 2003 to 2006 |
| Appel, Jeff | Hornline & Brass Instructor | 1998; 2002 |
| Ashcraft, Zach | Trumpet | 2007 to 2010 |
| Athanon, Tyler | Baritone | 2004 to 2006 |
| Barber, JT | Percussion | 2004 |
| Belanger, Carrie | Color Guard | 2004 |
| Bishop, Mike | Percussion Faculty | 2009 |
| Blakeney, Sharon | guard | 1978 |
| Blakeney, Sharon | guard | 1978 |
| Brody, Robyn | Mellophone | 2002 to 2004 |
| Brown, Shari | Guard | 1979 |
| Bubenyak, Megan | Pit | 2003 to 2004 |
| Castor, Patrick | Horn Line | 1965 to 1970 |
| Conlin, Sarah | Colorguard; flag, rifle, sabre, dance | 2005 |
| Conniff, Richard | Contra | 1991 to 1998 |
| Crandell, Steve | F - Horn | 1982 |
| Cuthbert, Scott | Snare | 1981 |
| Dannen, Cody | Baritone | 2004 |
| Deal, Jennie | Color Guard | 1996 to 1999; 2002 |
| Doucet, Jocelyne | Hornline Tuba | 2007 |
| Duesterbeck, Wayne | drum | 1966 |
| Farrell, Chris | Colorguard | 2003 |
| Feuerborn, David | tuba | 2006 |
| Flash, Anoka | Soprano | 1980 |
| Flynn, Daniel | Baritone/Euphonium | 2012 |
| Fredrickson, Alana | soprano | 1997 to 2002; 2004 |
| Frost, Aaron | Hornline: Lead Baritone | 2000 to 2002 |
| Glasscock, Valerie | Mellophone | 2004 to 2005 |
| Graves, Mark | Trumpet | 2008 |
| Green, Chris | Brass Caption Head | 1999 |
| Guns, Pam | Guard | 1971 to 1974 |
| Hall, Mark | horn line | 1982 |
| Hauer, Brent | Baritone | 2005 |
| Hefle, Scott | Baritone | 1980 |
| Herder, Jason | Snare LIne | 2002 |
| House, Ryan | pit | 2002 |
| Howes, Red | Soprano | 1978 |
| Johnston, Jason | Baritone | 2005 to 2006 |
| Jones, Tyler | Trumpet | 2018 |
| Jordan, Mark | Baritone | 1979 to 1981 |
| Kelley, Justin | Trumpet | 2006 to 2007 |
| Keys, Corkie | Color Guard | 1979 |
| King, Brian | Tenors | 1993 |
| Kirk, Tahle | Percussion Caption Head | 2004 |
| Larson, Alex | Soprano | 2005 |
| Larson, Alex | Trumpet | 2006 |
| Larson, Alex | Intern | 2007 |
| Lorenz, Elizabeth | Battery (bass 1) | 2004 |
| Machel, Guy | Baritone | 1979 to 1981 |
| McCune, Julia | Colorguard | 2003 |
| McGill, Lauren | Baritone | 2004 |
| McGill, Lauren | Bari / Euph Line | 2004 to 2007 |
| Melkowski, Kevin | Baritone | 2005 |
| Mielke, Dave | Baritone | 1981 |
| Miller, Justin | Backfield Conductor | 2002 to 2009 |
| Moore, Eddie | Euphonium | 2012 to 2015 |
| Nash, Sarah | Soprano | 2004 |
| Nichols, Jacob | Mellophone | 2005 to 2006 |
| Novak, Heather | Frontline | 2004 to 2005 |
| Oelschlager, Joni | colorguard | 2001 to 2004 |
| Papineau, Clem | Brass | 1977 |
| Pataska, Dawn | guard | 1972 to 1975; 1979 |
| Payne, Ryan | Bass Line | 2002 to 2003 |
| Pease, Ariel | colorguard | 2005 |
| Petroff, Judy | Color Guard | 1980 to 1981 |
| Pfister, Kelly | Front Ensemble | 2005 to 2006 |
| Phillips, Justin | Mello, Bari | 2002; 2004 |
| Polcher, Megan | Pit | 2003 to 2005 |
| Post, Mike | Tuba | 2008 |
| Quiram, Lea | Soprano | 1997 to 2002 |
| Randall, Kathryn | Colorguard | 2009 |
| Rensberger, Jaynee | colorguard | 2004 |
| Ritacco, Dan | brass instructor / mello & trumpet tech | 2004 to 2006 |
| Rivera, Cisco | Lead Sop (Soloist) | 1971 to 1973 |
| Rivera, Robert (Cisco) | 1st Soprano | 1971 to 1973 |
| Saputo, Joseph | Mellophone | 2009 |
| Schlossman, Nick | baritone, euphonium | 2005 to 2006 |
| Schmidt, Jason | Baritone | 2010 to 2012 |
| Schmidt, Jason | Admin | 2013 |
| Seip, Cameron | Soprano | 2002 to 2007 |
| Seip, Dave | Hornline - contrabass | 2000 to 2003 |
| Seip, Dave | Brass staff | 2004 |
| Sensel, Geoffrey | Front lin | 2002 to 2003 |
| Severance, Jonathan | Front Line | 2000 to 2001; 2003 to 2007 |
| Severance, Steve | Soprano | 1974 to 1981 |
| Shockley, Richie | Mello/Trumpet | 2004 to 2008 |
| Simon, Natan | soprano | 2000 to 2001 |
| Skoubis, Zach | Color Guard | 2004 to 2005 |
| Soenksen, Justin | bass drum | 2003 to 2004 |
| Soucie, Miranda | Mellophone | 2004 to 2005 |
| Sterner, Christopher | Trumpet | 2007 to 2008 |
| Stoecker, Greg | Mellophone | 2006 |
| Stoleson, David | Drumline | 1986 to 1990 |
| Stoltman, Peter | Hornline | 1998 to 1999 |
| Talbot, Jesse | Soprano | 2004 to 2006 |
| Tayir, Henner | Drumline | 1982 |
| Thomas, Jeff | Snare | 1997 to 2000 |
| Todd, Chase | Contra | 2009 |
| Todd, Chase | Contra | 2009 |
| Toppin, Andy | Hornline | 2005 to 2006 |
| Traczyk, Rachel | Mellophone | 2004 |
| Traczyk, Rachel | Drum Major | 2005 to 2006 |
| Trader, Kyle | Trumpet | 2006 |
| Tryba, Mark | Soprano | 1976 |
| Turley, Melody | Hornline: Mellophone | 2002; 2004 |
| Turley, Melody | Drum Major | 2003 |
| Vaillette, Lois | Brass | 1979 |
| Vasquez, Ramon | Brass Caption Head | 2002 to 2003 |
| Villano, Mike | Baritone | 2010 to 2013 |
| Volkman, Dave | Snare | 1976 |
| Waggoner, Rachael | guard | 2002 to 2005 |
| Wagner, Robert | Soprano | 1977 to 1980 |
| Wallingford, David | french horn | 1979 |
| Watson, Aaron | Mellophones | 1999 to 2000 |
| Werlein, Mark Werlein | Percussion | 1971 to 1973; 1975 to 1977; 1981 |
| Werner, Andy | Tenors | 1992 to 1994 |
| White, Conrad | mellophone | 2003 to 2005 |
| Wolff, Erin | Colorguard | 2000 to 2001 |
| Young, Shaylee | Baritone | 2003 to 2004 |
| coon, jake | Snareline | 2002 to 2004 |
| mercure, oniel | percussion | 1982 |
CORPS 36 items
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BlueStars,Lacrosse,WI,LP1-FinisCoronatOpus(RE-1.0)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Richard Elmquist
BlueStars,Lacrosse,WI,LP2-2009-TheFactory(RE-1.0x0.75)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Richard Elmquist
BlueStars,Lacrosse,WI,LP3-GoldFinisCoronatOpus(DST-1.0)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Donn Stroh
BlueStars,Lacrosse,WI,LP4-Alumni(BIV-1.0x1.0)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Bill Ives
BlueStars,Lacrosse,WI,Patch1-RedFinisCoronatOpus(RE-2.5x3.25)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Richard Elmquist
BlueStars,LaCrosse,WI,Patch2-Soprano(RE-3.0x4.0)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Richard Elmquist
BlueStars,LaCrosse,WI,Patch3-BlueFinisCoronatOpus(RE-3.0x3.25)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Richard Elmquist
BlueStars,Lacrosse,WI,Patch4-WhiteFinisCoronatOpus(DPMFT)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by DCI Patches, Medals, Flags and Trophies
BlueStars,Lacrosse,WI,Patch5-DarkRedFinisCoronatOpus(Site)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by UNKNOWN
BlueStars,Lacrosse,WI,Patch6-RoundStar(Site)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by UNKNOWN
BlueStars,Lacrosse,WI,Patch7-2014-50thAnn(RE-3.0)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Richard Elmquist
BlueStars,Lacrosse,WI,Patch8-1989(RE-2.75x3.25)J_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Richard Elmquist
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