The big weekend of the ISU Championships is now upon us.  However, that is not the only show with us this weekend.  We also have shows at Mahomet-Seymour, Oblong, Pinckneyville, and Western Illinois.  Once again, we’ll be doing our ISU predictions individually, with whatever staff interested submitting picks.  Please remember, our predictions are for fun.  Best of luck to all bands this weekend!

Oblong Spooktacular: Oblong, IL

Pinckneyville Mardi Gras Field Show and Parade: Pinckneyville, IL

Class A: Okaw Valley looks to finish out strong here with a class championship.  Sparta will take 2nd, and Clopton, MO 3rd.

Class AA: Murphysboro gears up for Grand Nationals with another class championship here.  If the Westview competing in this class is the one from Tennessee, they’ll give Murphysboro a run, but they’ll pull it out.  Carterville will round out the top 3.

Class AAA:  We think Belleville West takes this class, with Northwest, MO 2nd, and Mascoutah 3rd.

Grand Champion:  Tough call here.  It will be close between Belleville West and Murphysboro, but we think Murphysboro will pull it out.

Mahomet-Seymour Marching Bulldog Festival: Mahomet, IL

Class A:  Good class here.  PBL and Hoopeston Area both have had good seasons, and both look to finish out strong here.  We think Paxton-Buckley-Loda pulls it out, Hoopeston 2nd, and LeRoy in 3rd.

Class AA: Monticello looks to finish off a great season here with a class championship.  We think they’ll do it, with Herscher 2nd, and Mt. Zion and Prairie Central battling it out for 3rd.

Class AAA: Another good class here.  This class could go to any of these bands, but we think A.A. Stagg will take it, with Thornwood placing a close 2nd, and Lakes Community a close 3rd.

Grand Champion: Another close call.  Monticello and Stagg have both had good seasons, with Monticello the bit better of one.  We think Monticello will take it.

State of Illinois Invitational Marching Band Championships:

Class 1A:

Mark: 1. Eureka, 2. IVC, 3. UHigh

Dan: 1. Eureka 2. UHigh 3. Illinois Valley Central

Paul:1. Herscher 2. Eureka 3. Illinois Valley Central

John: 1. Eureka 2. IVC 3. Herscher

Polls: 1. Eureka 2. Illinois Valley Central 3. Herscher

Class 2A:

Mark: 1. Morton, 2. Lincoln-Way West, 3. Limestone

Dan: 1. Morton 2. Lincoln-Way West 3. Limestone

Paul:1. Morton 2. Lincoln-Way West 3. Limestone

John:1. Morton 2. Lincoln-Way West 3. Limestone

Polls: 1. Morton 2. Lincoln-Way West 3. Limestone

Class 3A:

Mark: 1. Marian Catholic, 2. Lemont, 3. United Township

Dan: 1. Marian Catholic 2. United Township 3. Lemont

Paul: 1. Marian Catholic 2. Bloomington 3. Lemont

John: 1. Marian Catholic 2. Lemont 3. Normal West

Polls: 1. Marian Catholic 2. United Township 3. Bloomington/Lemont (tie.)

Class 4A:

Mark: 1. Plainfield North, 2. Lincoln-Way North, 3. Batavia

Dan: 1. Plainfield North 2. Lincoln-Way North 3. Batavia

Paul: 1. Lincoln-Way North 2. Plainfield North 3. Lincoln-Way Central

John: 1. Lincoln-Way North 2. Lincoln-Way Central 3. Romeoville

Polls: 1. Lincoln-Way North 2. Plainfield North 3. Romeoville

1A-4A Finalists:

Mark: Eureka, Morton, Marian Catholic, Plainfield North, Lemont, United Township, Lincoln-Way North

Dan: Eureka, Morton, Marian Catholic, Plainfield North, United Township, Lincoln-Way West, Lincoln-Way North

Paul: Herscher, Morton, Marian Catholic, Lincoln-Way North, Bloomington, Lincoln-Way West, Lincoln-Way Central

John: Eureka, Morton, Marian Catholic, Lincoln-Way North, Lemont, Lincoln-Way Central, Normal West

Polls: Eureka, Morton, Marian Catholic, Lincoln-Way North, Plainfield North, Lincoln-Way West, Lincoln-Way Central

Class 1A-4A “Potential Surprise Picks:”

Mark: Batavia, Limestone

Dan: Batavia, Rock Island

Paul: Lincoln-Way West beats Morton.

John: Romeoville

Class 5A:

Mark: 1. Lincoln-Way East, 2. O’Fallon, 3. Prospect

Dan: 1. Prospect 2. Lincoln-Way East 3. Victor J. Andrew

Paul:1. Prospect 2. Victor J. Andrew 3. Lincoln-Way East

John: 1. Prospect 2. Lincoln-Way East 3. Victor J. Andrew

Polls: 1. Prospect 2. Lincoln-Way East 3. O’Fallon

Class 6A:

Mark: 1. Lockport, 2. Lake Park, 3. Downers Grove South

Dan: 1. Lake Park 2. Lockport 3. Downers Grove South

Paul: 1. Lake Park 2. Downers Grove South 3. Naperville North

John: 1. Lake Park 2. Lockport 3. Naperville North

Polls:  1. Lake Park 2. Lockport 3. Downers Grove South

Class 5A-6A “Potential Surprise Pick”

Mark: DGS

Dan: Glenbrook South

Paul:Downers Grove South beats Lake Park

John: Downers Grove South

Class 5A-6A Finalists:

Mark: Lincoln-Way East, Lockport, Lake Park, O’Fallon, Prospect, Victor J. Andrew, Downers Grove South

Dan: Lincoln-Way East, Lake Park, Prospect, Victor J. Andrew, Lockport, Downers Grove South, O’Fallon

Paul:Prospect, Victor J. Andrew, O’Fallon, Lake Park, Downers Grove South, Naperville North, Lincoln-Way East

John: Prospect, Lake Park, Lockport, Lincoln-Way East, Victor J. Andrew, Naperville North, Warren Township

Polls: Prospect, Victor J. Andrew, Lake Park, Lincoln-Way East, Lockport, Downers Grove South, O’Fallon

Finals rankings:

Mark: 1. Marian Catholic  2. LWE  3. O’Fallon 4. Prospect 5. Lockport 6. Lake Park 7. VJA 8. DGS 9. Morton 10. LWN 11. Plainfield North 12. Lemont 13. UT 14. Eureka

Dan: 1. Marian Catholic 2. Prospect 3. Lincoln-Way East 4. Victor J. Andrew 5. O’Fallon 6. Morton 7. Lake Park 8. Lockport 9. Plainfield North 10. Downers Grove South 11. Lincoln-Way North 12. United Township 13. Lincoln-Way West 14. Eureka

John: 1. Marian Catholic 2. Lake Park 3. Lockport

Polls Champion: 1. 3A winner 2. 5A winner 3. 6A winner.