INDIANAPOLIS – Reading Buccaneers took home the title of DCI All-Age World Champion after its 97.525-point performance on Saturday, defeating the field by nearly two points.
“Every year is very different,” said Reading Buccaneers staff and music coordinator Paul Cullen. This year was, very much so, a collective effort with everybody. The membership put everything out there yesterday, and tonight they lit it on fire.”
After a strong showing at the DCI All-Age Class Championships on Friday, Buccaneers carried momentum into Saturday to take the top spot at the second-ever All-Age World Championship event.
The Pennsylvania corps’ victory on Saturday marked the end to a commanding 2025 campaign. After creating a strong lead – which never got closer than 2.475 points prior to Saturday – over second-place Caballeros earlier on the 2025 DCI Tour, Buccaneers capped off a dominant season on Saturday by sweeping all captions.
“As a group of designers and a group of performers, we challenge each other,” Cullen said. “We challenge each other to be better and different every day and every year. Each year brings a different set of challenges, but as long as we keep pushing each other to be better, the sky’s the limit. This year was different because everybody challenged everybody.”
1. Reading Buccaneers » 97.525
2. Hawthorne Caballeros » 95.775
3. Bushwackers » 94.250
Reprising its position of All-Age silver medalist from 2024 at Saturday’s event was the Hawthorne Caballeros. With an end-of-season score of 95.775 — and eyes set toward an exciting 80th anniversary next summer — the corps took second in all captions.
“This season has been so incredible from start to finish,” said Hawthorne Caballeros drum major Kim Roman. “We’ve had a lot of changes this year, for the better, administratively and on the field. We’re really excited, and next year is our 80th season, so that season is going to be a really good one for us, too.”
Rounding out the top-three All-Age corps was Bushwackers, which earned back-to-back bronze medals and ended its season with a final tally of 94.250. The Princeton, New Jersey corps thrived in the Total Visual caption en route to a bronze medal.
“The experience is so different every season; especially with an All-Age group,” said Bushwackers drum major Hunter King. “It’s really such an incredible experience to see people who are brand new, or people who are spending their last years of their drum corps career with us. It’s really such a different experience at Bushwackers, and that means a lot.”
4. Atlanta CV » 91.625
5. Cincinnati Tradition » 90.950
6. Hurricanes » 89.550
7. White Sabers » 87.475
Earning substantial breathing room in fourth place, Atlanta CV took fourth place and improved upon its 2024 final score — 89.575 — by more than two points.
“Performing at All-Age Finals is a massive accomplishment for the corps,” said Atlanta CV drum major Gabriel Sanchez. “I know two years ago, we were in DCA Finals – and that’s all the way in New York – so just being in Lucas Oil is always a pleasure and just performing is already a baseline of success.”
Cincinnati Tradition rounded out the top-five All-Age corps for 2025, while ranking ahead of Atlanta CV in Visual Proficiency. At Friday’s Class Championships, the Ohio corps earned its second consecutive All-Age Open Class title.
Hurricanes and White Sabers – placing sixth and seventh, respectively – were separated by just over two points, as a large lead in General Effect weighed the scales in Hurricanes’ favor. White Sabers, though, ranked ahead of Hurricanes in Total Music.
8. Rogues Hollow Regiment » 85.925
9. Sunrisers » 83.475
10. Govenaires » 83.075
11. MBI » 80.300
12. Fusion Core » 78.325
One of the closest competitive races from Friday’s event continued into Saturday, as Rogues Hollow Regiment and Sunrisers — who were separated by 0.075 points, in the Ohio corps’ favor, Friday — jostled for final positions.
Rogues Hollow Regiment came away with the lead, earning an advantage of more than two points thanks to its strong Music scores. The Ohio-based corps also outscored White Sabers in Visual Analysis.
“This season has meant everything,” said Rogues Hollow Regiment drum major Kevin Lin. “All the ups and downs, a lot of the challenges, and the ability to express our emotions has been an absolute pipe dream to be able to manifest today.”
Sunrisers completed a strong season; one of the most improved All-Age corps in terms of final score. Sunrisers outpaced last year’s final output by nearly four points.
“We came back last year after about five years of inactivity, and now that we are bigger and even better this year compared to last year, it’s truly amazing,” said Sunrisers drum major Alexis Panebianco. “Seeing the progress from last year to this year and throughout this year, everyone feels super accomplished, and I’m so proud of everyone in the corps.”
Govenaires, Friday’s ‘A’ Class champion for the second year in a row, capped off the top-10 All-Age corps. The Minnesota corps outpaced Sunrisers in General Effect.
MBI completed its return to the All-Age stage in strong fashion, ranking 11th overall, scoring an impressive seventh in Percussion and 10th in Total Music.
Fusion Core, which worked its way through a unique offseason — the corps moved from New Jersey to Florida — rounded out the Top 12, scoring 78.325. According to drum major Rui Lin, it’s been a rewarding summer.
“Most of us are not original Fusion Core members from New Jersey; for most of us, it’s our first time performing at All-Age Finals, so we were trying to get back into what Fusion Core really is,” Lin said. “By the end of the season, everyone has really gotten close, and I think we’ve defined a new kind of Fusion Core.”
Saturday’s Finals mark the conclusion of a successful second season of DCI’s All-Age Class.
