The Illinois season comes to a big end this weekend, with shows at Western Illinois, Belleville East, Oblong, Pinckneyville, and the big dog, Illinois State. As we also do for U of I, the staff and 1 director will be predicting the top 3 in each class, as well as their finalists, a “sleeper” pick who might steal a spot away, and their 14 finalists, in order. Please keep in mind all predictions are merely for fun.
Let’s get to the predictions!
Western Illinois University Marching Band Classic: Macomb, IL
Class 1A – Weathersfield and Cambridge are the only 2 in this class that have competed this year, so we will go ahead and copy their head to head matchup from earlier and predict Weathersfield the winner here with Cambridge in 2nd. Last year Hamilton took 3rd in this class so we think they will do that again this year.
Class 2A – Macomb will sweep this class and all of the awards. We think Clark County, MO will take 2nd with Rushville following in 3rd.
Macomb is our pick to win the 1A-2A Grand Champion Award
Class 3A – Geneseo should win the class, but it will be close with Mahomet-Seymour on their heels in 2nd. Metamora should round out the Top 3.
Class 4A – Rock Island and Dunlap are going to be EXTREMELY close in this contest. We’ll give the nod to Rock Island as they outscored Dunlap by a tenth at their most recent meeting at University of Illinois. Expect Davenport Central to be close behind in 3rd.
Rock Island is our pick to win the 3A-4A Grand Champion Award.
Pinckneyville Mardi Gras Field Show and Parade: Pinckneyville, IL
Class 1A – This class is very spread out with 2 bands going first, and the other 2 going well into the end of the competition. Based on past success, we will predict Elsberry to win this class, followed by Clopton in 2nd and Johnston City rounding out the Top 3.
Class 2A – Murphysboro should win this class and take 1st. Massac County could surprise here and take 2nd, with Mascoutah taking the 3rd place.
Class 3A – Expect Francis Howell North to win here followed by McCracken County, KY and Belleville West in the 3rd spot.
Francis Howell North is our predicted Grand Champion here.
Oblong Spooktacular: Oblong, IL
Class 1A – Paris has had a good year thanks in large part to very favorable line ups for them. Their streak of luck continues at Oblong where they should win here. We think Blue Ridge will edge out Arcola as they did at EIU and these 2 bands will be 2nd and 3rd.
Class 2A – Football playoffs have split this class up a bit. This should be an interesting finish as Salem has had a solid year so far. We think this is the year Rich Central and their college style marching band show is finally passed up and Salem will walk away with a win here. Rich Central should be close behind in 2nd followed by Mt. Carmel in 3rd.
Class 3A – Newton and Robinson are the only 2 bands, and like the rest of the year, as they seem to meet a lot, it will be Newton in 1st and Robinson in 2nd.
We aren’t sure on a parade class breakdown but it won’t matter as Newton does the parade. They will take home the Grand Champion award for the Oblong Spooktacular
Belleville East Marching Invitational-Lebanon, IL
Class 1A – Carterville and Wesclin should battle it out here and it will be very close. We think Carterville will take the win here with Wesclin in 2nd. Anna-Jonesboro should snag 3rd here ending a good year for them as well.
Class 2A – This is going to be a close class as well. We think Collinsville will walk out victorious here with Alton in 2nd. Vandalia should round out the Top 3.
Class 3A – This is a Missouri dominated class. Two of the best bands in Missouri are here with Ft. Zumwalt North and Rockwood Summit. We think they will take 1st and 2nd respectively. 3rd will probably go to Mehlville.
Grand Champion will be Ft. Zumwalt North.
State of Illinois Invitational Marching Band Championships: Normal, IL
Class 1A:
Chris: 1. Eureka 2. IVC 3. U-High
Dan: 1. Eureka 2. IVC 3. U-High
John Haney: 1. Eureka 2. IVC 3. Herscher
Mark: 1. Eureka 2. IVC 3. U-High
Polls: Eureka (61% of the vote.)
Class 2A:
Chris: 1. Morton 2. Lincoln-Way West 3. Limestone
Dan: 1. Morton 2. Lincoln-Way West 3. Lakes Community
John Haney: 1. Morton 2. Lincoln-Way West 3. Limestone
Mark: 1. Morton 2. Lincoln-Way West 3. Limestone
Polls: Morton (79.1% of the vote.)
Class 3A:
Chris: 1. Marian Catholic 2. Bloomington 3. United Township
Dan: 1. Marian Catholic 2. Bloomington 3. United Township
John Haney: 1. Marian Catholic 2. United Township 3. Normal West
Mark: 1. Marian Catholic 2. Bloomington 3. United Township
Polls: Marian Catholic (85.5% of the vote.)
Class 4A:
Chris: 1. Lincoln-Way North 2. Plainfield North 3. Lincoln-Way Central
Dan: 1. Lincoln-Way North 2. Plainfield North 3. Lincoln-Way Central
John Haney: 1. Lincoln-Way North 2. Plainfield North 3. Lincoln-Way Central
Mark: 1. Lincoln-Way North 2. Plainfield North 3. Lincoln-Way Central
Polls: Plainfield North (63.9% of the vote.)
Class 1A-4A Finalists:
Chris: Eureka, Morton, Marian Catholic, Lincoln-Way North, Plainfield North, UT, Bloomington
Dan: Eureka, Morton, Marian Catholic, Lincoln-Way North, Plainfield North, Bloomington, Lincoln-Way West
John Haney: Eureka, Morton, Marian Catholic, Lincoln-Way North, Plainfield North, Lincoln-Way Central, United Township
Mark: Eureka, Morton, Marian Catholic, Lincoln-Way North, Plainfield North, United Township, Lincoln-Way West
Polls: Marian Catholic, Morton, Lincoln-Way North, Plainfield North, Eureka, Lincoln-Way West, Lincoln-Way Central
Class 1A-4A “Sleeper” Band(s):
Chris: Lemont
Dan: Lemont, T.F. South, Lincoln-Way Central
John Haney: Normal West
Mark: Bloomington, Normal West, Lemont
Class 5A:
Chris: 1. Prospect 2. Lincoln-Way East 3. O’Fallon Township
Dan: 1. Prospect 2. O’Fallon Township 3. Lincoln-Way East
John Haney: 1. Lincoln-Way East 2. Prospect 3. John Hersey
Mark: 1. Prospect 2. O’Fallon Township 3. Lincoln-Way East
Polls: Prosect (62.5% of the vote.)
Class 6A:
Chris: 1. Lake Park 2. Lockport 3. Glenbrook South
Dan: 1. Lake Park 2. Lockport 3. Downers Grove South
John Haney: 1. Lake Park 2. Downers Grove South 3. Lockport
Mark: 1. Lake Park 2. Lockport 3. Downers Grove South
Polls: Lake Park (72.2% of the vote.)
Class 5A-6A Finalists:
Chris: Prospect, Lake Park, Lincoln-Way East, O’Fallon, John Hersey, Victor J. Andrew, Lockport
Dan: Prospect, Lake Park, Lincoln-Way East, O’Fallon, Lockport, John Hersey, Victor J. Andrew
John Haney: Lincoln-Way East, Prospect, Lake Park, John Hersey, O’Fallon, Downers Grove South, Lockport
Mark: Prospect, Lake Park, O’Fallon, Lincoln-Way East, Victor J. Andrew, Lockport, Downers Grove South
Polls (top 7 bands selected:) Prospect, O’Fallon, Lake Park, Victor J. Andrew, Lincoln-Way East, Downers Grove South, John Hersey
Class 5A-6A “Sleeper” Band(s):
Chris: Glenbrook South
Dan: Naperville North, Glenbrook South, Edwardsville, Downers Grove South
John Haney: Naperville North
Mark: John Hersey, Wheaton North, Glenbrook South
Finals rankings:
Chris:
- Marian Catholic
- Prospect
- Lincoln-Way East
- O’Fallon
- Victor J. Andrew
- Morton
- Lincoln-Way North
- Lake Park
- John Hersey
- Plainfield North
- Lockport
- Bloomington
- United Township
- Eureka
Dan:
- Marian Catholic
- Prospect
- O’Fallon Township
- Lincoln-Way East
- Morton
- Lake Park
- Victor J. Andrew
- Lincoln-Way North
- John Hersey
- Plainfield North
- Lockport
- Bloomington
- Lincoln-Way West
- Eureka
John Haney:
- Marian Catholic
- Lincoln-Way East
- Prospect
- Lincoln-Way North
- Morton
- Lake Park
- John Hersey
- Lockport
- O’Fallon Township
- Plainfield North
- Downers Grove South
- United Township
- Lincoln-Way Central
- Eureka
Mark:
- Marian Catholic
- Prospect
- O’Fallon
- Lake Park
- Lincoln-Way East
- Victor J. Andrew
- Morton
- Downers Grove South
- Lockport
- Lincoln-Way North
- Plainfield North
- Lincoln-Way West
- United Township
- Eureka
Polls Champion: 3A Winner (48% of the vote.)
Best of luck to all bands, and thanks for another great season!
(full article)