Welcome to week 4 of the Illinois marching season. The next two weekends are the biggest of the season with the Illini Marching Band Festival and the Illinois State University marching band championships. Before that, however, we have a weekend of excellent competitions.

WIU Marching Band Classic-Macomb, IL
A: We don’t have much information on any band from Class A. The only returning band from last year is Winchester, so we are going to go with them…if only because they were here last year. Our Pick: Winchester
AA: Most of AA is the same as last year, with the addition of El Paso-Gridley. Similarly, it should play out the same. Our Pick: Farmington
AAA: Macomb is the only band in 3A…so… Our Pick: Macomb
AAAA: The two bands in 4A are Collinsville and Rock Island. Rock Island got 2nd here last year, but with Collinsville in there, it will be tough, as Collinsville beat Rock Island last year at ISU by a good margin. Our Pick: Collinsville
GC: Collinsville should be able to take a win here, but watch for Macomb to come up from 3A and take it. Our Pick: Collinsville

Mt. Zion Marching Music Games-Mt. Zion, IL
A: Atwood-Hammond is coming off a strong performance last week at EIU, and based on they won this class last year, they should take the win. Our Pick: Atwood-Hammond
AA:Lincoln and Effingham should be really close, just like last year. We are going to go with Effingham though. Our Pick: Effingham
AAA: University did really well at Morton 3 weeks ago, and giving that time to clean…should be spectacular this week. Our Pick: University High School
GC: University, with a win in 4A, should take GC as well. Our Pick: University High School

Washington Marching Panther Festival-Washington, IL
Parade
A: Streator has had good parades at this show in the past, and should triumph over the 1A competition. Our Pick: Streator
AA: Canton won AA last year in parade back when Eureka was in AA. They should easily handle it again this year. Our pick: Canton
AAA: Eureka turned out an amazing parade last week at Olympia, losing overall to Bloomington by around 1 point. If they do the same as last week, they should do good here, but watch out for Dunlap as well. Our Pick: Eureka
AAAA: Pontiac beat everyone last year in the top class at Washington, and should do the same this year. Our Pick: Pontiac

Field
A: Most of the bands that have beaten Streator in the past at this competition have moved up a class, so this should go to Streator. Our Pick: Streator
AA: Based on Canton’s scores in previous years, and based on seeing both LaSalle Peru and Tri-Valley’s show already this year, Canton should have no problem winning 2A. Our Pick: Canton
AAA: Joliet West has had the strongest scores out of all the 3A bands thus far in the season, and posting a better score than IVC at Pontiac, they should win 3A, but don’t be surprised if Eureka gives them a run for their money. Our Pick: Joliet West
AAAA: Pontiac won this show last year and should do fairly well again this year…but they might not have the power to overtake IVC, it will be close, but our tip goes to IVC. Our Pick: IVC
GC: With combined parade and field scores in a 50/50 split, this could go to either Pontiac or IVC. IVC should post a large enough deficit to take the win. Watch out for a 3A band to come close, if not take the win. Our Pick: IVC

Marching Mustangs Music Bowl-Downers Grove, IL
A: Providence Catholic and Oak Lawn were both in action last week at St. Rita last weekend. However, neither had a really good run of our show. Thornwood competed a few weeks ago, and also did not have a really good run. However, we look for Thornwood to win it. Look for Oak Lawn to challenge for the title. Our pick: Thornwood
AA: Performing earlier in the evening will not have an impact on this class. This class has some fairly solid bands, and this will be another fight to the finish. Alan B. Shepard had a pretty good showing last weekend, even though they finished a good 10 points behind Morton. Wheaton Warrenville South won their class several weekends ago at Wheaton North, and Stagg finished 4th in their class. Look for Wheaton Warrenville South to win this class. Our pick:Wheaton Warrenville South
AAA: This class will come down to a battle between Lincoln Way Central and Lemont. LWC won their class last weekend, but lost Grand Champion to Morton. We feel that that loss last week will convince them this week. Also, Muscatine could be a dark horse in this class. Our pick: Lincoln Way Central
GC: Winning AAA will also ensure that LWC wins the Grand Champion here. Our pick: Lincoln Way Central

Prospect Knight of Champions-Mt. Prospect, IL
A: Another great class of bands is here at Prospect. Cancelling their home competition might be hard for Watseka, but they are our pick to win this class. Our pick: Watseka Community
AA: This class will come down to whomever has the cleanest show at this particular point in time. At Naperville Central, Wheaton North and Sandwich were .35 apart, and Fremd was right there with them. This should be an exciting class, and we predict that it will be very close. Our pick: Wheaton North
AAA: This is a class that won’t be that close on paper. Lincoln Way East should walk away with this class. Our pick: Lincoln Way East
GC: Winning AAA will also allow LWE to win Grand Champion. Our pick: Lincoln Way East

Marengo Settler’s Days-Marengo, IL
Parade
A: Last year, Richmond-Burton won this class. However, they are not present this year. Our pick goes to the band that finished second in this class last year. Our pick: Evergreen Park
AA: Sandwich is going to have a very busy weekend. Field and Parade at Marengo and Field at Downers Grove. That being said, we think that Sandwich is going to win this parade. Our pick: Sandwich
AAA: Last year in parade, Wheeling absolutely blew everyone out of the water, scoring a 95.9. We expect them to do more of the same this year. Our pick: Wheeling
Field:
A: This class should be a fight for class champion honors. Johnsburg won it last year, and we think they’ll do it again this year. Our pick: Johnsburg
AA: Sandwich should easily walk away with this class. Our pick: Sandwich
AAA: With the addition of Oak Creek (WI) to this class, they should make it interesting. However, we still think Wheeling will take top honors in this class. Our pick: Wheeling
GC: Winning both parade and field will go a long way towards Wheeling winning another Grand Champion trophy here. Our pick: Wheeling

Robinson Marching Maroons Band Festival-Robinson, IL
C: Last year’s champion is not competing in this event this year. However, the second place band is. Our pick: Lawrenceville
B: Same exact competitors are in this class as last year. We don’t expect the results to be any different. Our pick: Casey-Westfield
A: Edwardsville and East Richland are both having very good seasons thus far. Our pick this weekend goes to E-ville. Our pick: Edwardsville

Join us next weekend as we predict U of I, Metamora, and Lincoln Way.