Hello everyone!  Welcome to another season of Illinois Marching band coverage.  We’ll be providing predictions from now until Grand Nationals in mid-November.

A little bit about how we make our predictions:  First things first, we do this for fun.  Nothing should be read into these predictions.  The predictions are split up amongst the staff, and we each work on our own.  For the first couple weeks each season, we look at a band’s past record, their early-season tendencies, and the match ups.  As the season rolls on, we base our predictions on that season’s performance up to that point.

With that being said, let’s get to the first week of predictions!

A.A. Stagg Jamboree: Palos Hills, IL

Class A: Lakes Community and Elmwood Park start off the competition.  Elmwood Park also ends their competition season here.  We think Lakes Community will run away with this class.

Class AA:  A difficult class to predict for 2nd and 3rd.  Naperville Central will win this class pretty handily, with Oak Park/River Forest, Argo, and Glenbard West battling it out.  We think Oak Park/River Forest will take 2nd, and Glenbard West 3rd.

Class AAA: Romeoville and Huntley look to battle it out here for class champion.  We think Romeoville will win this class, with Huntley maybe rekindling some of the magic from 2010 and taking 2nd in this class, though not far behind.  Plainfield Central rounds out the top 3.

Grand Champion:  This will be close.  We think Romeoville will eke out a close win here, with Naperville Central in 2nd.

Washington Marching Panther Invitational: Washington, IL

Class 1A: This should be close between ROWVA and Watseka for first, but we’ll give the nod to ROWVA. Third place goes to Farmington.

Class 2A: Eureka should take their first season win here, but watch for Metamora to be in a close second. Lincoln should secure third place.

Class 3A:  A very close battle between Pontiac and Limestone, but given Pontiac‘s typically strong showings at this competition we believe they will take first. Pekin in third.

Class 4A: Morton will take first, but Normal West could be a very close second. Watch for Joliet West in third.

Grand Champion:  The winner of 4A takes today’s honor: Morton.

Lake Park Lancer Joust: Roselle, IL

Class A: Lincoln-Way West should win this class pretty easily.  Wheaton North in 2nd.

Class AA: This will be a fun class.  We think Victor J. Andrew will take the class, with Naperville North in 2nd, due to high General Effect scores.  Wheeling will round out the top 3.

Class AAA:Prospect and Lincoln-Way East consistently battle it out for top honors here and for Grand Champion in this class.  We think this year will prove no different.  Prospect will get the early season class championship with LWE 2nd, and Downers Grove South and Lockport battling it out for 3rd.  We’ll give it to Lockport.

Finalists:  Prospect, Lincoln-Way East, Lockport, Downers Grove South, Victor J. Andrew, Naperville North, Wheeling, Lincoln-Way West, Waubonsie Valley, and last, but not least, Lemont.

Grand Champion: Prospect will win for the third year in a row.  Lincoln-Way East will place 2nd, and Victor J. Andrew will round out the top 3.