September 14, 2011
Predictions for the weekend of September 17th
Filed under: — Dan Balash @ 10:09 am

We have a very busy weekend this week!  9 in-state shows, in all corners of the state.  Let’s get right to them!

Note: We do not predict out of state shows that Illinois bands compete at, unless it is either  a BOA show, or we recognize a fair amount of the competing bands there.  Also, we do not predict the parade portion of competitions.

Murphysboro Drums at Appletime: Murphysboro, IL

1A: Massac County should edge out a win here over Sparta

2A:Mater Dei should have no problems getting their first season win here.

3A: Will Waterloo win this class and Grand Champion for the fourth year in a row? We think so.

 

Tiger Ambush Classic: Edwardsville, IL

Class A – Salem beat Winfield by 13 and 8 points in 2008 and 2009 respectively at this event.  Wesclin did well at Belleville and tends to be more along the scoring edge with Salem and Northwest.  Their early performance time hurts – and they follow a good Collinsville.  Toss up between Northwest and Salem. with Wesclin in 3rd.  We’ll give Northwest the nod.
Class AA – Mehlville will win by 2+ points.  Hillsboro 2nd.  Wild card is Collinsville.  They perform very early.  We think this will cost them a place, and they’ll end up 3rd.
Class AAA – Granite City will beat Effingham.  Effingham had a nice showing at MEMC – but GC will be a little stronger.  It won’t be a blowout – but a couple points probably.  Effingham 2nd – Timberland and Seckman will battle for 3rd – they have been separated by less than a point the last 2 years at this show.
Class AAAA – O’Fallon will run away with it.
Grand Champ – O’Fallon

Washington Parade and Field: Washington, IL

1A: ROWVA and Farmington have already performed once this year, while this will be Tri-Valley’s first show of the year. However, Tri-Valley has traditionally been strong in their class early in the season, so we will go with them. Our Pick: Tri-Valley
2A: Again, this early in the season, it is tough to tell…but Eureka has also been strong at this show in years past. Our Pick: Eureka
3A: Look for a close one between Pontiac and Dunlap…both programs have been on the rise the past couple of years. But we will go with last years Grand Champion. Our Pick: Pontiac
4A: Normal West already has one Grand Champion trophy. Look for them to build on that success against Galesburg and Joliet West. Our Pick: Normal West
GC: With no parade this year at Washington, the GC trophy will be decided soley on the field show, giving the edge to the 4A winner. Our Pick: Normal West

 

Watseka Marching Band Invitational: Watseka, IL

1A: Tough to call 1A here so early in the season. All three bands should be around the same score, making this a close finish. Our Pick: Hoopeston Area
2A: This one will be extremely close between Danville and Paxton-Buckley-Loda, could go either way. Our Pick: Danville
GC: Grand Champion will be the 2A winner. Our Pick: Danville

 

Morton Pumpkin Invitational: Morton, IL

1A
Though we have yet to see Eureka perform this season, based off of last year’s successes, we believe they will take this class.  Our pick: Eureka

2A
After a strong showing last week, Pekin is certainly a contender, but we expect Geneseo to prevail.

3A
Lincoln-Way East should handily defeat the competition here today and doing so will also net them a Grand Champion trophy.  The real fight here is for 2nd and 3rd, with Macomb, Bloomington, Limestone Community and Rock Island all having a legitimate shot.  That is too close to call.

 

A.A. Stagg Jamboree: Palos Hills, IL

Class 1A: With most of these bands in their first week of competition we think that Reavis will come in third, Grant Community in second, and Glenbrook North will grab this class.

Class 2A: Both with good showings at Lake Park last week, we think Downers Grove South will take 3rd followed by Wheeling in 2nd.  In the first week of competition, Lincoln-Way North looks to take the class.

Class 3A: Again with most of these bands in their first week of competition, we are basing our predictions off of history.  We think Minooka will take 3rd, Romeoville 2nd, and Marian Catholic will win the class, as well as Grand Champion.

 

North Knights Marching Festival: Grayslake, IL

3 bands are in competition here.  We think Rolling Meadows will take top honors, followed by Grayslake Central, and Dwight D. Eisenhower in 3rd.

 

Dwight Harvest Days Parade and Field Show: Dwight, IL

As of this writing, we have no classes of any of the bands competing.  We do apologize.  We think Hinsdale South will win the field show, and, as they’re competing in the parade as well, Grand Champion.

 

Wheaton North Falcon Marching Band Festival: Wheaton, IL

Class A: Both Alan B. Shepard and Johnsburg begin their 2011 competitive seasons here.  Chesterton started theirs last week, and put up a respectable number.  We think they’ll win this class, with Alan B. Shepard close behind in 2nd.  Our pick: Chesterton, IN

Class AA: This is a good class.  Victor J. Andrew, Naperville Central, Glenbard West and Downers Grove all competed last week at Lake Park, and everyone else begins here.  We think Victor J. Andrew will prevail here with Downers Grove South 2nd, and Lincoln-Way Central 3rd.

Class AAA: Lockport should win this class handily.  The real fight here is for 2nd between Neuqua Valley and Fremd.  We think Neuqua Valley will be 2nd, and Fremd 3rd.

Grand Champion: Victor J. Andrew continues their successes from last week, and wins Grand Champion here.

 

Best of luck to all bands this week!

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