After a very successful first weekend, we are on rather quickly to the second weekend of the competition season. More bands begin their competitive season this week, including Marian Catholic, Lincoln-Way Central, just to name a few. We have a good deal of competitions this weekend, so let’s get right to it!
Concord Marching Invitational: Elkhart, IN
Class C: Pretty good class. Fairfield, Plymouth, and NorthWood are all very good bands. We think Plymouth will take this one.
Class B: Northridge or Goshen? That’s the question everyone here has been pondering. Our pick: Goshen
Class A: This class is also killer. Lincoln-Way North, Penn, and Lake Central, who is a multi-time Grand National semifinalist. We think Lake Central will take it, with LWN running a close second.
Murphysboro Drums at Appletime: Murphysboro, IL
Class A: Johnston City is coming off a pretty good showing last year at ISU. We think they’ll repeat as A Champions here. Anna-Jonesboro could make it close again. Our pick: Johnston City
Class AA: Mater Dei is coming off a very good performance last week at O’Fallon, but we feel their early performance time will hurt them this week. Look for Potosi to steal this class. Our pick: Potosi
Class AAA: Waterloo is a 2-time defending champion in this class. We don’t think that will change this time around. Our pick: Waterloo
Grand Champion: Waterloo
Dwight Harvest Days Parade and Field Show: Dwight, IL
Class B: Sandwich is our pick for this class. Special shout out to Peotone who is competing for the first time. Our pick: Sandwich
Class A: Should be a good fight between Streator Township and Marengo. Our pick: Streator Township
Class AA: Hinsdale South
Grand Champion: Streator Township
Tiger Ambush Classic:
Class A: Salem and DeSoto have gone back and forth over the past couple of years splitting this class. We think Salem will win it this year. Our pick: Salem
Class AA: Mehlville had a good performance last week at Belleville East, and we think that will carry over here. Our pick: Mehlville.
Class AAA: Effingham had a great performance last week, winning their class, and we feel that momentum will carry over to this week. Granite City has a great and difficult show, but we think Effingham will have a better performance and win this class.
Class AAAA: A good class here, with Rockwood Summit, Normal West, O’Fallon, and Francis Howell Central. We think O’Fallon will come through and win their first competition in 3 years. Our pick: O’Fallon
Grand Champion: O’Fallon
Morton Pumpkin Festival: Morton, IL
Class A: Not really a tough class to pick. Our pick: Pekin
Class AA: Good class here. Downers Grove South is coming off of a class title last week in Roselle. United Township debuts their 2010 production here. We think Downers Grove South will continue their early success and win this class. Our pick: Downers Grove South
Class AAA: Another fantastic class. Macomb is always a good band, Limestone is here, and Bloomington is riding high after their ISU finals placing last year. We think Bloomington will take it, with Limestone not far behind. Our pick: Bloomington
Grand Champion: We think Downers Grove South will win here.
Wheaton North Falcon Band Festival: Wheaton, IL
Class 1A: This class will come down to either Argo or Alan B. Shepard. We think Alan B. Shepard will take it. Our pick: Alan B. Shepard
Class 2A: Lincoln-Way Central starts their 2010 season here. We think they’ll start it off right with a class title. Our pick: Lincoln-Way Central
Class 3A: This is an extremely difficult class to pick. Lake Park and Marian Catholic open their 2010 competitive seasons here, and Lincoln-Way East continues theirs. We think Marian Catholic will take this class, even though they will be dirty and unfinished, probably. Our pick: Marian Catholic
Grand Champion: Marian Catholic