VALDOSTA — Lowndes High School’s Georgia Bridgemen marching band will host Battle on the Border, a marching band competition, Saturday at Lowndes High School’s Martin Stadium.

Battle on the Border Chairman Phil Mika said 14 high school marching bands from Georgia and Florida will compete throughout the day with four size classifications. The first will take the field at 11:40 a.m.

Mika said the marching bands will be judged on music, marching and general effect and awarded a rating of superior, excellent or good. A first, second and third place winner will be selected in each classification.

All bands achieving superior or excellent ratings will receive awards, according to Battle on the Border materials. Every band in the competition will receive a participation trophy or plaque.

Judges will present awards to the marching band with the best drum major, best color guard or drill team, best majorettes or dance line and best percussion in each classification.

Mika said the first place band from each classification and the next four highest-rated bands will proceed to the final round of competition. At this stage, awards will be presented to the band with the best music, the best marching and the best general effect.

A grand champion trophy will be awarded to the highest-scoring marching band overall, regardless of classification. This band will also receive a Yamaha YX 350A xylophone with rosewood bars, compliments of Music and Arts Center.

“This is our first time hosting something like this,” Mika said. “It’s off to a great start. We hope to make it an annual event.”

The Bridgemen are scheduled to make an appearance during Battle on the Border. It will be strictly an exhibition performance.

Tickets for Battle on the Border are $5 each and can be bought at the gate Saturday. Food and drinks will be sold.

All proceeds will help with the cost of the Bridgemen’s trip to Pasadena, Calif.

The Bridgemen, about 360 strong, will perform during the 117th Tournament of Roses Parade, themed “It’s Magical,” at 8 a.m. pacific standard time on Monday, Jan. 2, 2006, in Pasadena, Calif. Although normally held on New Year’s Day, it is a tradition to never conduct the festivities on Sunday.

The Tournament of Roses Parade features three types of entries — floral floats entered by a participating corporation or community organization, equestrian units and marching bands. According to organizers, the route is 5.5 miles in length and takes about 2.5 hours to complete.

Using about eight flights, Todd said the Bridgemen will fly to California from Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 28 and return on Jan. 3, 2006. The cost of the trip per student is $1,400 and includes transportation, hotel, some meals and tickets to various attractions.

The Bridgemen recently conducted a Boston Butt fund-raiser, which resulted in a $10,000 profit, and hosted a dinner reception for Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association President Elizabeth “Libby” Evans Wright. Todd said band students have sold discount cards and cookie dough, bagged groceries at Harveys and waited tables at Fazoli’s.

In April 2002, the marching band performed during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival parade in Washington, D.C. A year later, the band was invited to perform during Macy’s 77th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

In January, the Bridgemen traveled to Washington, D.C., to march in the 2005 inaugural parade.

In addition to Todd, members take direction from Robert Maynard, Richard C. McLendon, Hahira Middle School’s Mika, Lowndes Middle School’s Deborah J. Bradley and Alan Drew. Other staff members working with the band are Uniform Manager Jan Newton, Travis Wingate, Color Guard instructor Sarah Price Merriman, Equipment Manager Austin Merriman, and danceline instructor Amanda Becton.