September 11, 2013
Predictions for the weekend of September 14, 2013
Filed under: — Dan Balash @ 8:54 pm

Week 2 is upon us.  Three big Chicago area shows, two St. Louis shows, two Central Illinois shows, and Murphysboro round out this week.

Let’s get to the predictions.

Murphysboro Drums at Appletime: Murphysboro, IL

Class 1A: Sparta and Pinckneyville should be 1st and 2nd, with Pinckneyville taking the class crown.  Anna-Jonesboro should round out the Top 3.
Class 2A: Rematch of last year here.  We see no reason why Potosi won’t win again, with Carterville taking 2nd.
Class 3A: McCracken County, Waterloo, and Carbondale should all be close in score.  We’ll give the nod to defending champ Waterloo.  McCracken, we think, will come in a close 2nd, with Carbondale on their heels in 3rd.

Grand Champion:  You have to participate in both parade and field to win this award.  Waterloo should win this again since none of the other 3A field bands are in the parade.

 

Metro East Marching Classic: O’Fallon, IL

Class 1A: Most of the usual suspects are here.  Effingham, the defending 1A champ here, is under new direction, and sometimes bands have a year or two to really adjust.  We think Newton is primed to take the class, with Mater Dei sliding into 2nd.  Effingham should still be good, and will complete the Top 3 in this class.
Class 2A: This class is 75% Missouri bands so our predictions may not be all that accurate.  Ft. Zumwalt East should take 1st here, followed by Timberland.  We think the lone IL representative in the class, Highland, will capture 3rd.
Class 3A: This should be an all Missouri Top 3 with Rockwood, Ft. Zumwalt North and Ft. Zumwalt South taking the Top 3 spots, in that order.
Class 4A: Oakville should win this class, followed by Edwardsville in 2nd and Francis Howell North in a close 3rd.

Grand Champion:  The winner of 4A will win this award, and that will be Oakville.

 

Belleville East Marching Invitational: Belleville, IL

Class 1A – This is pretty easy since Wesclin is the only competitor.  Wesclin takes 1st.
Class 2A – Mehlville could win this class, followed by Edwardsville in a very close 2nd, and we think that’s the way it will go for a very early season start for Edwardsville, which we think will be adding more and more to their show as the season progresses.  Francis Howell North should round out the Top 3 here.
Class 3A: It’s an all Missouri showdown.  Lindbergh should take Class honors here, followed by Ft. Zumwalt North and Rockwood Summit not far behind in 3rd.

 

Morton Pumpkin Festival: Morton, IL

Class 1A – This one should be pretty cut and dry.  Geneseo should walk away with class honors, followed by East Peoria in 2nd and Olympia in 3rd.
Class 2A – This is a tough one to call without having seen many of these bands yet.  Limestone, we think, will take the class here.  Davenport Central, the lone Iowa representative at the show, we think will capture 2nd, with Dunlap getting 3rd.
Class 3A – This one is all about UT and Normal West, we think, in a close fight for 1st.  Normal West has a week under their belt already, but we think UT will come out strong and win their first show of the year.  Normal West should be a very close 2nd place, with Bloomington snagging 3rd.

Grand Champion:  This could be a tough call as Limestone is strong, and UT has a history of success.  We think UT, being in 3A, will have the advantage and will take their first Grand Champion Award since the 2011 Geneseo Maple Leaf Classic.

 

 

Pontiac Indian Showdown: Pontiac, IL

Class 1A: Hoopeston Area and Dwight both start their 2013 competitive seasons here-with this being the earliest in recent years that Dwight has competed.  Tri-Valley competed last weekend at Washington, earning 3rd place in their class.  We think Tri-Valley will take first here, with Hoopeston Area 2nd, and Dwight Township 3rd.

Class 2A: Interesting class here.  Eureka, Streator Township and Illinois Valley Central all competed last weekend, with Eureka and Streator Township both earning class titles.  Prairie Central played “sleeper” last year, beating Eureka pretty handily in 2A at the Illini Marching Band Championships.  These early season shows are always crapshoots to predict what will happen.  We think Illinois Valley Central will win this class, with Prairie Central 2nd, and Eureka not far behind in 3rd.

Class 3A: Danville and East Peoria went head to head last year at this show, with East Peoria with a few point margin for 2nd place in Class 3A last year.  Champaign Centennial and Danville went head to head in class last year at the Illini Marching Band Championships, with Danville beating Centennial by a close margin.  Therefore, this class is up in the air.  We think Champaign Centennial will eke out a close victory, with East Peoria 2nd, and Danville 3rd.

Class 4A: Good class here.  Washington, Normal Community and Joliet West are no strangers to each other at this class, meeting up pretty constantly.  We think Washington Community will win in a tight race, with Joliet West 2nd, and Normal Community 3rd.

Grand Champion: The Pontiac Indian Showdown is celebrating its’ 10th anniversary this year, with Marian Catholic winning 4 titles, Washington 3, and Normal Community and Eureka 1 apiece.  We think Washington Community will win their 4th title here, tying Marian.

 

Lake Park Lancer Joust: Roselle, IL

Class 1A: Lincoln-Way West looks to four-peat as champions of this class.  We think they will, with the Wheaton schools battling it out for 2nd and 3rd in class.  We’ll give the early season nod to Wheaton Warrenville South in 2nd, and Wheaton North 3rd.

Class 2A: Great class here.  Lincoln-Way North joins the battle in this class this year, and regular participants Victor J. Andrew, Wheeling, Naperville North, Naperville Central and Waubonsie Valley are all here as well.  This will be a fun class, and could be quite a battle for top 3.  We think Lincoln-Way North will win this class, with Victor J. Andrew 2nd, and Wheeling rounding out the top 3.

Class 3A: A very interesting class here as well.  We think Prospect will once again win this class (they’ve done so since 2009), and it’s really a battle for 2nd and 3rd in this class.  There are some great bands here as well, and it will be a battle.  We think Lockport Township will take 2nd here, and Plainfield North will come in 3rd.  Watch out, however, for Millard West from Nebraska and Downers Grove South, as both could play spoiler here.

Finalists: 10 finalists here, and there may be some great bands sitting for finals.  In no order: Prospect, Lincoln-Way North, Lockport Township, Naperville North, Victor J. Andrew, Plainfield North, Downers Grove South, Wheeling, John Hersey, Millard West.

Finals: Prospect looks to four-peat as champions of the Joust.  We think they’ll do so, with Lincoln-Way North 2nd, and Lockport rounding out the top 3.

 

North Knights Marching Festival: Grayslake, IL

Class A: Tight class here.  Both bands are still early, but we think Sandwich pulling double duty this weekend will pull off a close victory over Antioch.

Class AA: Lakes Community looks to repeat as champions here.  Rolling Meadows could give them a run, but we think Lakes Community will pull off the victory. Grant Community will finish 3rd.

Class AAA: Elk Grove looks to repeat as AAA Champions here.  Prairie Ridge l0oks to get second, with Grayslake Central 3rd.

Grand Champion:  We think Lakes Community will repeat as champions at this show.

 

A.A. Stagg Jamboree: Palos Hills, IL

On the full opening weekend after our week one kick off in Washington, the A.A. Stagg Jamboree  is our first look at reigning ISU champion Marian Catholic along with some programs on the rise.  This show is almost twice as large as it was last year, and that should make for a great day of shows!

Class 1A: This class features two programs with major changes in the percussion instruction, and Sandwich recently changed guard staff as well.  Last year this class was won by Lakes Community.  This year, they will still be top three, but our prediction is, 3rd place Lakes, 2nd Place Sandwich, and first place going to Our Pick: Providence Catholic


Class 2A: Good class with a couple of regular ISU bands in attendance.  Some good programs that have been building over the years, but when it comes down to it, one of these programs has always been there.  Last year this class was won by Glenbard West, but after the shuffling of classes from last year and the addition of more bands, this is where we stand:  3rd Place Plainfield South 2nd Place Romeoville, and first place going to Our Pick: Lincoln-Way Central


Class 3A: Another good class with bands that have been progressively getting better over the last few years.  Huntley won this class last year, and they will still do well this year, but with Marian Catholic showing up, even early season, it would be a tall order to repeat.  That being said, our picks are 3rd Place Plainfield Central, 2nd Place Huntley, and first place will go to Our Pick: Marian Catholic


Grand Champion: Marian Catholic

 

Best of luck to all bands starting their 2013 competitive seasons this weekend!

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