LAKEWOOD – Before the football team even starts working out, the band is.

The Lakewood High School pep band started working out with its band camp Monday through Wednesday.

At least one camper said her muscles were “hurtin” as the band marched and danced around the LHS parking lot in 80-plus degree temperatures.

Director Katy Trapp said the 66 musicians make it the biggest band she’s had in nine years there, up from 48 last year and 18 her first year.

Devin Smith, a senior drum major and trombonist, said Trapp is an incredible teacher who lets them have fun, but is organized and sets timely tasks so they don’t goof off.

Smith said Trapp has helped change the image of being in band, making it so young people want to join. About 25 freshman are in band this year.

“We perform super cool dance routines” at halftime and “everybody goes to football games,” he said.

Smith said he has been playing for about nine years and finds music a way to “express myself.”

“I suck as sports,” he admitted.

So he found his niche in band. “It’s a big family. I know every person, and we hang out,” Smith said.

Daryan Freeman, a senior flutist, agreed. “It’s a family atmosphere,” she said.

Freeman said members still get teased for being in band, just like the old days, but they actually take pride in being able to take a good ribbing. It actually unites them. “We don’t mind it,” she said.

Freeman said the band is looking forward to the halftime shows on the new turf field at LHS this year.

They recalled once when putting on a show it was pouring down rain. A band member got a shoe stuck in the mud and continued performing without it.

“We don’t stop for anything,” Freeman said.

Another senior trombonist, Amanda Brown, agreed. She talked about when they performed at Disneyland and the parade was canceled because of a “light spray. We did it anyway. The only ones, a one-man parade,” she said, adding everyone lining the parade route had on ponchos.

Brown said one of her favorite events each year is Band Day, performing with other high schools at halftime at a University of Washington football game. They like to see their pictures on the Jumbotron.

“I want to be in that band so bad,” Freeman chimed in.

Ryan Brower, a senior tuba player, said for being a small school Lakewood students get a lot of opportunities.

Tuba players, especially at the college level, have a reputation for being the fanciest dancers. Brower has a jump on them, having learned in high school how to show off. For example, when the band performs Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off,” more than playing the tuba, Brower dances with it.

When asked to dance without the tuba, Brower said he couldn’t.

“The tuba completes me,” he said with a smile as the others laughed.