September 18, 2013
Week 3 Preview
Filed under: — Dan Balash @ 2:15 pm

We’re trying something new this week-we’re going to try “previews” of every show instead of predictions.  We’ll preview what matchups to watch at each show and maybe some fun facts at each show as well.

 

Normal West Marching Band Invitational: Bloomington, IL

1A:  It will be interesting to see if Danville continues to improve and can overtake Eureka in this class.  History tells us Eureka is always very strong and may have the edge here.  East Peoria is probably right there with them as well!  Should be a great class to watch.
2A:  Pontiac and Metamora have been pretty close to each other recently, so this could be a tight one folks.  Prairie Central had a strong showing in the most competitive class at University of IL last year, placing 3rd, so they could also make a surprise run to the top here.
3A:  Another highly competitive class here.  Can Rock Island take the class crown?  Or will Limestone or IVC have something to say about it?  So far none of these are gimmes.
4A:  Another great showdown between Morton, Bloomington and Naperville North here.  Not sure who will come out on top here, but we can guarantee that it will be close.

The winner from 4A, we think, will be named Grand Champion.

 

Tiger Ambush Classic: Edwardsville, IL

Class 1A:  9 bands is going to make this very interesting to see how it develops.  Last year’s Top 3 from 2A are all in 1A.  Mix that with last year’s 1A bands, and we have a real competition here.  Murphysboro is probably a favorite, but watch for Salem to defend their percussion and guard titles again here from them, and vie for a Top 3 spot with Winfield, Carterville, and Wesclin.
Class 2A:  This may be the only class of any show today where the Top 3 might be pretty clear cut.  Watch for the Marion vs. Carbondale vs. Waterloo rematch from Murphysboro last week to continue.  We think the order from last week may shake up with this competition.  Watch for Vandalia to possibly snag a caption in music.
Class 3A:  This class is littered with a mix of MO and IL bands.  Granite City was Grand Champ of this show last year, and we think they will probably have a somewhat clear path to winning the class here.  But Mehlville may have something to say about that.  Seckman is also never too far behind Granite City either.  Nothing is easy to call in this class!
Class 4A:  Belleville won the inaugural Grand Champion award at this competition, but with O’Fallon here, that may be tough to reclaim.  Look for a strong showing from the Marching Panthers of O’Fallon to overcome Belleville East and Jefferson City, and very possibly take all captions.  The winner of this class should easily win the Grand Champion Award at the Tiger Ambush Classic.

 

 

Chicagoland Marching Band Festival: Wheeling, IL

Should be a fun show.  Class A will be an interesting class, with Lakes Community and Wheaton Warrenville South going head to head.  Lakes Community is coming off of a 2nd place finish and a 1st place finish in class last weekend, and Wheaton Warrenville South is coming off of a very close 2nd place finish at the Lancer Joust last weekend.  H.D. Jacobs and Richmond-Burton are also here, and Bremen makes their 2013 competitive debut.

Class AA should be renamed “The Battle of the Lincoln-Ways.”  Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way East are here, and there’s a few bands here that will make things very interesting, including Rolling Meadows, who is coming off of a 1st place finish last weekend at Grayslake North, and Waubonsie Valley.  Glenbard West entertained the crowd last week with their show of Elton John music, and will no doubt do the same here.  A.A. Stagg, Alan B. Shepard, and Glenbrook North all start their 2013 seasons here.

Class AAA will be a great class to watch, with Marian Catholic, Plainfield North, John Hersey, Downers Grove South and Oak Creek, WI making their annual trek to the Chicagoland area, just to name a few bands.  There are nine great bands in this class,   It will be fun to watch and see what happens here, if there’s an upset for grand champion or one of the other placements in the class.  Anything can happen in this class.

 

Sage City Invitational: Monticello, IL

In class C/D, all of these bands are making their debuts for the 2013 season.  These 4 bands are no strangers to each other, having met up several times last year: Monticello, EIU, and Effingham.  Atwood-Hammond looks to start their final season before consolidation on a high note with a win here.

In Class B, Rantoul Township, Sullivan and Paxton-Buckley-Loda all begin their 2013 seasons here.  El Paso-Gridley looks to continue their “Revolution” with another class title, after opening their season strongly at Washington.

Class A is between Lincoln Community and Mattoon.  Lincoln Community has a week of competition under their belt, with a 2nd place finish in Class 3A at Washington.  Mattoon begins their season here.

In Class AA, Champaign Centennial is all alone, looking for another strong weekend after debuting last weekend at Pontiac.

 

Dwight Harvest Days: Dwight, IL

Class 1A includes two bands beginning their 2013 competitive seasons: Fieldcrest and Genoa-Kingston.  Coal City continues their season after debuting their show “Fantasia” last week at Stagg.

Class 2A involves Sandwich and no one else.  They’ll look for another good run of their show “Aquam Vitae” after performing last week at Stagg with a 3rd place finish.

Class 3A is a matchup between Hinsdale South and Carl Sandburg.  Sandburg will look to “Rock” (‘n Royal) the Dwight crowd.

 

Bands of America Regional Championships: Kettering, Ohio

Lincoln-Way North takes the trip east to Ohio for the inaugural BOA regional of the season.  Here, they’ll meet up with several 2012 Grand National Semifinalists in LaSalle, Northmont, and North Hardin, and one 2012 Grand National Finalist in William Mason.  This will be a fun show, and like BOA regionals usually are early season, thoroughly unpredictable.

 

(full article)