What a season it's been! Saturday night in Foxboro, Mass., drum corps fans witnessed history as the Cadets were crowned DCI World Champions, capping a dramatically wild year of ups and downs within the Division I rankings. The Cadets scored a 99.150, topping the Cavaliers (97.625) and the Phantom Regiment (96.825) while sweeping every caption and tying an all-time DCI high score record. The finale was the exciting conclusion to a year of drum corps that included the announcement of the ESPN2 broadcast on Sept. 6, another quarterfinals cinecast at theaters around the country and at a DCI feature on the CBS Evening News last Friday night. "The Cadets are honored to live as the champions of 2005. It was a wonderful year; a memorable year," said George Hopkins, director of the Cadets. Crowds, meanwhile, rushed to nearly every venue DCI appeared at, setting numerous attendance records. "2005 was a great season of drum corps. Great attendance at Texas, Murfreesboro and Indy made for a fabulous season," Hopkins said. Cavaliers director (and DCI chairman of the board) Jeff Fiedler believed 2005 was a memorable one. "I think it was a great year for the activity. It was incredible competition – scores were back and forth, all the time. You had 15, 16 drum corps that were battling for spots – maybe even more. It was a great summer," Fiedler said. Hopkins likewise elaborated on the competition this summer. "The competition was wonderful. The Cavaliers were their excellent selves, Phantom just kept on coming, and it is exciting to see corps like the Bluecoats, the Scouts, and Blue Knights come on strong," Hopkins said. Outside of the competition, 2005 was simply a good time for all. "It's been a lot of fun! A great season," said Sal Salas, director of the Madison Scouts and Division I corps director of the year. Finally, Hopkins relished the opportunity to win big on his "own turf." "The championship in the East is always a great thing for those of us who reside here, as it is a wonderful time to meet old friends. I saw people I marched with 25 years ago in the lots and at the hotel. What an exciting time personally," Hopkins said.