Weekend 4 of the competitive season is now here.  Let’s get right to the predictions!

Olympia Spartan Parade and Field: Olympia, IL

1A: Neither band in 1A have performed their field show yet this year, so class 1A is a total toss up. Our Pick: Rantoul
2A: Despite the rain, Uhigh had a pretty good showing at Pontiac last week, and should top top this class. However,  don’t be surprised if Lincoln sneaks into that top spot. Watseka should get 3rd. Our Pick: U-High
3A: Only 2 bands in 3A here. Dunlap and Prairie Central. Dunlap beat UT and Naperville Central last week at the Phantom show, and should do well here also. Our Pick: Dunlap
GC: After winning 3A, Dunlap should have no problem also taking GC. Our Pick: Dunlap

Marching Maroons Band Festival: Robinson, IL

C: Both Oblong and Lawrenceville met last week. Based on those results, Oblong should win this class. Our Pick: Oblong
B: East Richland scored very well last week at the Newton show, besting most of the other bands in this class. Mt. Carmel and Charleston should round out the top three in this class. Our Pick: East Richland
A: Newton had a great show last week, and should carry that on. Mascoutah and then Paris will round out this class. Our Pick: Newton
GC: Newton looks to be the strongest here, and should take Grand Champion. Our Pick: Newton

Prospect Knight of Champions: Mt. Prospect, IL

Class 1A:We are pretty sure that Lincoln Way West will win this class followed by Alan B Shepard in second, with Waukegan in 3rd. Our pick: Lincoln-Way West.

Class 2A: This being the largest class is probably the toughest to pick with some very good ISU bands here.  We think that third will go to Downers Grove South, 2nd to Lincoln-Way Central, and Victor J. Andrew will win this tough class.

Class 3A: Morton makes their Chicagoland debut here.  We expect that they will make a good showing, but John Hersey will win followed by Morton in 2nd, with Plainfield North in third.

Grand Champion:  John Hersey

Class 1A: Fairfield High School from Illinois competes for the first time ever here.  They’ll put up a good showing, but it won’t be enough to defeat Orchard Farm from Missouri.  Our Pick: Orchard Farm, MO

Class 2A: Even though they are on first, Carbondale will take this class with Ft. Zumwalt South in 2nd and Collinsville in third.

Class 3A: Metamora will take Class 3A  followed by Triad and Waterloo

Class 4A: Edwardsville will take Class 4A, followed by Belleville East in a close 2nd, and Effingham rounding out the top 3.

Grand Champion: Edwardsville

Great Lakes Invitational: Canton, MI

Flight IV: Only band here, so Hartford will take it.

Flight III: Again, the only band, so South Lake will win this class.

Flight II: Once again, the only band.  Our pick: Taylor Truman

Flight I: A very strong class.  Some MCBA State Finalists in Rockford, Walled Lake Central, and Livonia Franklin dot this class.  Our sources tell us that Rockford should win this class.  We’re going to go with Lincoln-Way North representing our state well again, with Rockford 2nd, and Walled Lake Central rounding out the top 3.

Grand Champion: Lincoln-Way North

Sage City Invitational: Monticello, IL

Class C/D: Good class to open up the competition.  Tri-Valley has been scoring well this season, and so has Atwood-Hammond.  Bement has been out once, and Blue Ridge makes their competitive debut of the season at this show.  We think Tri-Valley will win this class, followed closely by Atwood-Hammond, and Blue Ridge 3rd.

Class B: Paxton-Buckley-Loda and Shelbyville have met up once this season, with PBL coming out with Grand Champion honors.  Hoopeston Area starts their 2010 competitive season here.  We think Paxton-Buckley-Loda will win this class, followed by Shelbyville in 2nd, and Hoopeston Area in 3rd.

Class A/AA: Champaign Centennial and Mahomet-Seymour meet up here.  Seeing as how only CC has competed this year, we went based off of last year’s records.  We think Mahomet-Seymour will have a good showing and win here.

Grand Champion: Mahomet-Seymour
Bands of America Regional Championships: Kettering, OH

Class A: Bourbon County from Kentucky starts their defense of their back-to-back Class A National Championships.  They’ll win this class and make finals.

Class AA: North Hardin will win this class here, fending off a challenge from Bellbrook.

Class AAA: Paul Laurence Dunbar and Lincoln-Way East meet up here.  Will be a good battle, but we think Lincoln-Way East will pull it out.

Class AAAA: Centerville Jazz Band and Carmel go head to head here.  Carmel will fuel off of the regional championship from last weekend and win here.

Finals: Top 10 in no order, champion bolded: Carmel, Bourbon County, North Hardin, Lincoln-Way East, Bellbrook, Centerville, Mill Creek, Kings, Kettering Fairmont, and Paul Laurence Dunbar.

St. Rita Mustang Stampede: Chicago, IL

Class A:Brother Rice/St. Laurence looks to win a second class championship of the season here.  Argo could take it, but we think they’ll be 2nd.  Evergreen Park rounds out the top 3.

Class AA: Rolling Meadows is coming off a good showing last week at CMBF.  We think they’ll win this class, followed by the surprise of the season in Huntley, and T.F. South in 3rd.

Class AAA:  Marian Catholic will win here, followed by Oak Creek, Wisconsin (who always has a good show), and Romeoville in 3rd.

Grand Champion: Marian Catholic