WISCONSIN RAPIDS -- Carol Gelhausen had seen her daughter play trumpet many times before, but Friday's performance in Wisconsin Rapids was just a little different.

Gelhausen, of Hartford, visited the city this weekend to see her daughter, Michelle, a junior trumpet player in the University of Wisconsin Marching Band, play during the Lincoln High School and Stevens Point Area Senior High School football game.

"It's exciting to see the crowd reaction," Gelhausen said after the UW band's pregame performance. "I know what it's like in Camp Randall (Madison's football stadium); I didn't know all these people knew them enough to be that excited."

Friday's contest saw a standing-room-only crowd lined up along the South Wood County Football Field, some of which attended just for the evening's music.

While Cherie Hardina would've been there regardless, the Wisconsin Rapids resident thought the university band was phenomenal.

"I think it's outstanding they will come to Wisconsin Rapids and not only play a halftime show, but before the game and after the game," Hardina said. "It's parents' night, but the band brought a lot of people in who normally wouldn't be here."

To receive the caloric boost to perform their high energy show, the band's approximately 350 members were served a spaghetti dinner at the high school cafeteria before getting into their uniforms.

Matt Kopetsky, a fifth-year senior who is enjoying his first year in the band as a cymbalist, said prepping for this week's performance was pretty exciting.

"There's something special about being under the lights and Friday night games," Kopetsky said. "I know it's a pretty big rivalry; it's got to be pretty exciting for the two cities, so we're happy to be here."

Stephan Sumnicht, a senior snare drummer, said despite the rain this week, the band still practiced as hard as ever for the event.

"It's a lot of fun for us because there's a lot of energy at high school games," Sumnicht said. "(The crowd is) always excited to see us and it kind of pumps us up to play."