Groton — The Robert E. Fitch High School Falcon Marching Band finished third at the USBands national championship on Nov. 3 at Delaware State University, behind the first place band by less than seven-tenths of one point. 

The Fitch band finished with a score of 96.425 out of 100 possible points, with the second place band scoring 96.463 points, and the first place band scoring 97.1, according to the USBands website.

The class in which Fitch competes includes bands of 45 to 55 students.

“It’s a huge accomplishment; just the opportunity to go and compete at that level is a special honor,” said Larry Grundy, whose son played in the band before graduating in 2014, and whose daughter often carries the band banner.

The students left Fitch at 11 a.m. on the Sunday of competition and returned home at 3:45 a.m. the following morning, Grundy said.

“Obviously, they’ve worked really hard since summertime, and they’ve been putting in hour upon hour, from band camp before school started, and every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for the last two months,” Grundy said. “The kids have just been really dedicated.”

The band is holding a fundraiser from 4 to 9 p.m. on Monday at Pizza Palace in Groton to help pay for its travel costs.

The band will also play during Groton’s holiday lights parade on Dec. 5.

d.straszheim@yahoo.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim