While other students spent the past three months focused on having a fun and relaxing summer, one Baker University student was gearing up to participate in a world championship.

On Aug. 7-9 senior Michael Stickelman traveled to Indianapolis to compete in the Drum Corps International World Championships as a member of a corps called the Cavaliers.

“Last November I went to auditions for the Cavaliers … and they told me whether or not I was good enough to come back and audition again,” he said. “Then there was another audition camp at the beginning of January and I went and auditioned again because they wanted to see me come back and they told me that they wanted me to be in the corps with them.”

Stickelman said he was very excited when he found out he was going to be a member of the Cavaliers.

Senior Sarah Shipley, a fellow student, said she was proud of Stickelman for finally doing what he’s always wanted.

“He definitely has a passion for it,” she said. “He loves it.”

Director of Bands Ray James said Stickelman deserved the honor of being a member of the Cavaliers.

“He deserves it just from his perseverance,” James said. “You have to be real disciplined because they work very, very hard. It’s like basic training in one of the services.”

Playing the mellophone, Stickelman joined the 149 other members of the Cavaliers in the quarterfinals on the first day of competition. To move on to the next round the Corps had to finish in 12th place or higher, and it was.

“We were pretty much in fourth place in every round,” Stickelman said.

After performing in the finals in Lucas Oil Stadium, finalists gathered to hear the scores. The Cavaliers placed fourth overall.

“I really wasn’t surprised,” Stickelman said. “I knew we had done really well.”

James and Shipley were among a group of the Baker community that traveled to see Stickelman perform.

“It was very awesome because I know how much he wanted it,” Shipley said. “So it was really cool to actually go there and see him do what he’s always wanted to do.”

James, who had seen Stickelman perform with the Cavaliers earlier in the year, said the show in Indianapolis was probably the best he’s seen the group march and play.

“It was just superb,” he said. “It was quite exhilarating to watch and I was very proud to have a student involved.”