October 25th:

• Greater St. Louis Marching Festival (HTML Schedule): Our Pick: Prospect – With an impressive show having a Russian theme, and a very well-written, well-performed drill, Prospect looks to dominate this contest of mostly St. Louis-area bands. But don’t rule out hometown favorites like Francic Howell North.
• Illinois State Invitational – Normal: Special Coverage

October 19th:

• Sandwich Competition (PDF Schedule): Our Pick: Coming soon – More info coming soon on this contest next THURSDAY.

October 14th:

• Illini Marching Festival – Champaign: Special Coverage
• Marching Redbird Festival – Metamora: No Info available yet, probably coming soon.
• Arthur Marching Contest: No Info available yet.

October 12th:

• Stagg Jamboree Marching Contest: No Info available yet.
• Marengo Settler’s Days Competition (Text Schedule): Our Pick: Wheeling – Thanks to Marengo’s director for this info. Wheeling won this Sunday contest last year, and looks to be in a strong position to do it again. Also returning are 2002 Class A champs Dwight and AA champs Sycamore.

October 11th:

• Atwood-Hammond Marching Contest: No Info available yet.
• Echoes off the River – Alton (Text Schedule): Our Pick: Normal West – Normal West has a powerfully emotional show that won them the Grand Championship at Danville earlier this year, but we’ll have to see if they can overcome being first performer in class and being in foreign territory in Alton.
• Mahomet-Seymour Marching Contest: No Info available yet.
• Marching Mustangs Music Bowl – Downers Grove (South) (HTML Schedule): Our Pick: Marian Catholic – Marian won here last year, but has a history of not coming to contests at the last minute. If Marian chooses not to come, look for Joliet West or Davenport Central (IA).
• Olympia Spartans Invitational Marching Fest: No Info available yet.
• Phantom Regiment Marching Fest – Machesney Park (Harlem HS) (Website/Band List): Our Pick: Metamora – First year for this contest, so we’ll see how it goes. Bands from all over the state are coming to this one.
• Prospect Knight of Champions – Mt. Prospect (Text Schedule): Our Pick: Victor J. Andrew – This could be the most exciting contest of the week, and the most up in the air. But Andrew has a solid reputation as a leader in Illinois Marching Band, though they may be down this year compared to last. In all honesty, this one could go any way.
• Western Illinois University – Macomb (PDF Schedule): Our Pick: Naperville Central – The Marching Redhawks got second overall at Geneseo and first in AA at Wheaton North, but should look out for Galesburg. Galesburg’s strength is parading, so we’ll see if that can translate into a win on the field. Also, don’t completely rule out Macomb, Dunlap, and Pontiac in 3A.

October 4th:

• Chicagoland Marching Fest – Wheeling (Schedule – PDF Format, page 3): Our Pick: Prospect – Prospect has already had an impressive showing this season, beating Lake Park at the BOA Pontiac Regional. At this one, their closest competition looks to come from either Lincoln-Way Central or V. J. Andrew. Prospect is also the last competing band on the night.
• Southern Illinois University (Schedule): Our Pick: O’Fallon – O’Fallon is one of the historically best bands in the Metro-East area, and looks to have a dominating presence at Southern this year. The Marching Panthers have already captured Grand Champion awards this season at Murphysboro and the St. Louis 4th of July parade. But don’t discount anyone at this contest.
• Eastern Illinois University (Schedule): Our Pick: Lincoln-Way East – The Griffins should vastly overpower the other bands at this contest, which features mostly non-Chicago Suburb schools. We would pick Alton or Danville as runners-up, but don’t think this one will be too close.
• Washington (IL) Marching Fest : No information on this contest was available at press time.

September 27th:

• Wheaton North Invitational (Schedule): Our Pick: Marian Catholic – Talk about a band with a history of excellence! The only thing that might bring Marian down would be a lack of a complete show on the field, as they usually don’t have all of it ready to perform. If the judges don’t like that, look to Lincoln-Way East or Victor J. Andrew as possible spoilers. The addition of an artificial turf at this contest should be interesting.
• McKendree College Preview of Champions (Schedule): Our Pick: Bellville East – We picked Bellville East, but this competition has been rained out. So we’ll never know who would have won…
• Danville Viking Invitational: Our Pick: Illinois Valley Central – IVC has won this contest many times, although were absent from it last year. They dominated the competition at Pekin, and hope to do the same here. But look out for Dunlap, who already beat IVC in a parade earlier this year (and is going to this contest after McKendree got rained out). Little about this competition is known yet: If you know more, please send us an e-mail.
• Mt. Zion Marching Braves Invitational: Our Pick: ??? – Little about this competition is known yet: If you know more, please send us an e-mail.

September 20th:

• Lake Park Lancer Joust (Schedule): Our Pick: Lake Park – Perennial powerhouse Lake Park has won their own competition many a time, including last year, and this year looks to be no different. Possible other competition includes Victor J. Andrew and both Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way East.
• Pekin Dragon Classic (Press Release): Our Pick: Illinois Valley Central – In recent memory, IVC has only missed winning the Pekin competition once (in 2001, when they didn’t attend!). The Grey Ghosts look to dominate this one with their “Cajun” show, with last year’s runner-up Joliet West at the Lancer Joust.
• Geneseo Field Show (Schedule): Our Pick: Dunlap – Dunlap won Class AA here in 2000, but was disappointed with a third place finish in 2001. After skipping a year, the Eagles look ready to take on this year’s competition, and have lucked upon the last competition spot of the evening in class 4A. But look out for Normal Community, who is performing last in 3A.
• O’Fallon/Mater Dei Metro-East Competition: Our Pick: Jefferson City (MO) – Honestly, information on this competition is a little thin, but we know that Jefferson City hopes to defend last year’s Grand Champion title. On the Illinois side, look for Bellville East, Murphysboro, and Newton. This year’s contest will be at Mater Dei HS due to renovations at usual host O’Fallon HS.