JR Bechtel came to the Bushwackers during the winter camps for the 1996 season and immediately began recruiting, starting what would soon be a large contingent of members making the drive up from southeast PA. He returned in 1997 to be the center snare, and ended up being the ONLY snare until the spring. While the drum line struggled for numbers early, they all did their part to fill out the section behind a much healthier horn line and finished the season respectably.
In 1998 JR achieved his long-time goal of marching with the Cadets of Bergen County, winning a World Championship in the process. Rather than return for his age-out year, he came back to the Bushwackers to tech the snare line in 1999. Partway through that season, he took over as Caption Head, and also rewrote a portion of the percussion book. Though overall that was a rough season, JR’s stepping up to begin rebuilding the Percussion section was promising enough to not only be brought back officially as Caption Head and Arranger, but also brought back much of the percussion section that would become the nucleus for the next few years. While 2000 was even tougher than 99 in some ways, it was not for lack of effort. Now writing the entire book and able to bring in his staff, JR also brought an influx of members from the high schools he taught. That group worked incredibly hard to get the most out of the season, and returned hungry for the next year.
In 1998 JR achieved his long-time goal of marching with the Cadets of Bergen County, winning a World Championship in the process. Rather than return for his age-out year, he came back to the Bushwackers to tech the snare line in 1999. Partway through that season, he took over as Caption Head, and also rewrote a portion of the percussion book. Though overall that was a rough season, JR’s stepping up to begin rebuilding the Percussion section was promising enough to not only be brought back officially as Caption Head and Arranger, but also brought back much of the percussion section that would become the nucleus for the next few years. While 2000 was even tougher than 99 in some ways, it was not for lack of effort. Now writing the entire book and able to bring in his staff, JR also brought an influx of members from the high schools he taught. That group worked incredibly hard to get the most out of the season, and returned hungry for the next year.
2001 was one of JR’s most enjoyable years around the drum corps. Jumping 5 spots from 2000, the show clicked, the corps got better every weekend and the the percussion section started to gain some traction, moving up in our placements and back into competition. That momentum carried over to 2002. With most of the past few years’ members returning, plus some new additions, the corps fielded their largest Battery in years. In addition this was a very large step forward for the pit. The judging community seemed to have finally started developing a taste for JR’s innovative writing, and the solid membership numbers paved the way to finally bring back the cymbal line the next year, laying the foundation for what would be one of the corps’ signatures in the future.
In 2003 some members from previous years were unable to return for various reasons. Unwilling to take a step backwards from the previous season, JR and the rest of his staff all agreed to jump in the line to maintain the standard they had set. Many favors were called in that season, but it was a great line that was also a great group of friends. Though they had a ton of fun, they worked hard and maintained a very professional presentation across the entire percussion caption.
In 2003 some members from previous years were unable to return for various reasons. Unwilling to take a step backwards from the previous season, JR and the rest of his staff all agreed to jump in the line to maintain the standard they had set. Many favors were called in that season, but it was a great line that was also a great group of friends. Though they had a ton of fun, they worked hard and maintained a very professional presentation across the entire percussion caption.
That would be JR’s last year with the drum corps as Caption Head and last year being there full time, returning for much of 2009 to work with the bass line and occasionally in other seasons when the line was short-staffed. Though it was very hard for him to walk away, JR did so with the hope that some new blood would invigorate the program. In hindsight this panned out as he’d hoped, and was probably for the best since soon afterwards he got married and started his family.
For a large group of alumni, JR’s writing, teaching, and guidance defined their time with the Bushwackers, and he set an example both as a member and a leader that brought out the best in his students and in his friends. It is with great pride we welcome JR into the Bushwacker Hall of Fame.