Saline County well-represented in Murray State Racers band

SALINE COUNTY - College basketball fans around the country eagerly awaited the results of Selection Sunday, but it was particularly important to four Murray State University band members from Saline County.

Sarah Baldwin, of Eldorado, and Harrisburg natives Joshua Lowe, Dylan Mitchell and Brady Hodson will travel with the Murray State Racers men's basketball team to Hartford, Connecticut for the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, which begins Thursday morning.

Murray State, a 12-seed, will face 5-seed Marquette at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Baldwin said while she was hoping for a different location, she's looking forward to the road trip with the band.

"I was hoping they would play in California, but there's a lot to see in Connecticut," Baldwin said.

If Murray upsets Marquette, it will play its second round game on Saturday. Even if the team goes one-and-done, though, band members will have the opportunity to explore Hartford.

"Our band director posted some places that will be interesting to visit, and we won't have to leave immediately after the game if we don't win," Baldwin said. "We'll have a little time to look around.

Baldwin said only 29 members of the band got to go on the road for the NCAA tournament. The Saline County contingent earned its spot by attending every home game and playing to cheer on the Racers.

All four also are graduates of Southeastern Illinois College. Lowe graduated from SIC in 2017 and the others in 2018.

Hodson's grandfather, Greg Hodson of Harrisburg, is particularly proud. Greg Hodson is a 1968 graduate of Murray State, having graduated with a degree in music and playing in the band.

He said he encouraged his grandson to try out for marching band and pep band.

"I told him he should try. The worst thing that could have happened would be if he hadn't made it," Greg Hodson said.

He said he's proud of the success of both his alma mater, his grandson and Brady's bandmates and friends.

"They got to go the (Ohio Valley Conference) tournament, where Murray State won, and now they get to go to the NCAA tournament. That's quite an accomplishment," Greg Hodson said.

"And, I have to say I'm proud of Murray State. It's a great school, and when you're there, you're not just a number. They treat students well."