To be ranked one of the top 20 drum and bugle corps in the world is sweet, said Mike Ottoes, head of Casper's drum and bugle corps.

But to achieve this ranking after roughly a decade of financial difficulties and a year off is even sweeter.

The Casper-based Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps returned home Sunday after a week at the Drum and Bugle Corps International World Championships at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

"We had a fantastic week in Pasadena," Ottoes said. "The members did a great job performing and represented the state of Wyoming very well."

The corps scored a 77.55, good enough to place them in the top 20 at the prestigious competition.

The 122 member corps competed against roughly 55 other groups from 22 states, Canada and Japan in what Troopers trumpet player Kyle Trader called the Super Bowl of the bugle corps world. Fitting then, that the competition was at the Rose Bowl, with as many as 50,000 fans in attendance.

Trader said they trained all summer for this opportunity to shine - competing in more than 30 locations around the U.S. - and the performance exceeded his expectations.

The Troopers are a group of 14-to-21-year-old musicians and colorguard members who come from all over the country.

"It was possibly the best I have ever performed in any drum corps I have been with," Trader said in an interview Monday. "It was full of energy and we put it all on the field."

As they walked out of the stadium from their final performance on Thursday, Trader said the corps knew it was perfect.

"It was a spectacular performance," he said. "Coming off the field, we just looked at each other and knew it was the best we had done, it wasn't said with words but with emotions and energy."

Capping off the excitement of a flawless performance, Trader was named next year's drum major, the highest ranking in a drum and bugle corps.

"This has been a goal of mine since 2005," the Longmont, Colo., native said. "It was a great note to end on and it will be a great year next year. This is such an honor."

Drum Corps International was formed in 1972 and Troopers participated every year from the beginning, except 2006.

Ottoes said the group took the competitive year off, which allowed them to "take a step back and regroup."

"We took off 2006 to get in compliance with the IRS and solve some internal operational issues," Ottoes said.

The Troopers worked through 2006 to settle issues regarding the group's tax-exempt status and did not compete last year.

With those problems behind them, Ottoes said their future looks bright as the troop marches into the 2008 season and their 50th anniversary.

"The organization is on strong footing," he said. "2007 was a spring board for 2008 and beyond."

Ottoes thanked the City of Casper and Wyoming for supporting the troop and their comeback.

"Without them it wouldn't have been possible."

Reach Christine Robinson at (307)266-0639 or christine.robinson@casperstartribune.net