The Lyon College bagpipers are already off to a strong season. The pipers have been to two contests in Florida.

At the first contest in Orlando, Jimmy Bell took the Professional Piper of the Day award, followed by Elliot Smith at his first Professional-level contest. Avens Ridgeway also placed strong in her Grade 1 events and piper Jared Malone took the top prizes in his first Grade 3 contest with Lyon College. Because of her performance, Ridgeway was also extended an invitation to the Sandy Jones Invitational in March.

Two weeks later, Bell took Smith and Malone back to Florida to compete at the highland games in Sarasota. Smith won the Professional Piper of the Day and Malone won the Grade 3 Amateur Piper of the Day.

Bell also recently traveled to Knoxville, Tenn., to teach a workshop at Maryville College.

Competitions in March include highland games in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sandy Jones Invitational, Back Bay Highland Games in Massachusetts, and the Heart of Florida Highland Games in Dade City, Fla.