Victoria Knotts sports a Cadets sweatshirt to support her son AJ, who plays baritone for the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.

She and her family travelled about 500 miles from eastern Pennsylvania to see the "Thank You Ada" performance put on by the corps on Sunday evening at Dial-Roberson Stadium.

This is AJ's second year with the corps. This fall he will be a junior at Penn State.

Many family members of the Cadets travel long distances to see the corps perform from coast to coast during the summer.

Competition begins Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis where about 8,000 people will purchase tickets from $25-$45 each to see six of the top corps perform, including Ada's favorite, the Cadets.