Marchguy

Our band was one of those early groups! I recall seeing multiple bands retrieve shoes from the field (mud) after their performances that day. I also remember watching the poor maintenance guy try to run the paint machine through the mud to try and reline the field during the competition. Those were the good ol' days!

As a director, I can honestly say that consistency matters more to me than the method. Band size, school size, "hybrid" model - if we could just use the same system across the state, I believe a lot of directors would breathe a sigh of relief. Same for the judges sheets. We don't ask our football or volleyball teams to play by different rules each week. Why should marching bands be classified and evaluated by different standards based on where they are performing? I would be extremely happy if contest hosts could come to some sort of agreement that provides consitency in classification, judging sheets and scoring. Competition Suite seems to gaining more traction with local competitions - that's good. Ease of access and consitency means more usable data for directors and students. Maybe if we can get consistent classification and judging FIRST - a true statewide system/championship could be more easily adopted.

I performed that mornring. I had a trombone solo and my slide got stuck in second position - made for an interesting performance to say the least. If my memory is correct, our band was the last band to perform before they shut everything down. It was windy, cold and sleeting at times. Several of our band members had to be treated at the medical tent after we performed. As an adult now, I can't believe they ever let the competition start outdoors - although the weather may have been getting worse as the day progressed.....

Pontiac Schedule - 9/13/25 Class A 3:45 St. Joseph Ogden 4:00 Herscher 4:15 Watseka Class B 5:00 Streator 5:15 El Paso-Gridley 5:30 Prairie Central 5:45 University 6:00 Coal City Class C 6:30 Alan B Shepard 6:45 Bloomington 7:00 Joliet West EXH 7:15 Pontiac

Washington Afternoon Session Results (from memory - so don't be surprised if some are wrong!) 1A 1. Watseka 2. Farmington Central 3. Dwight 4. Olympia 2A 1. Richwoods 2. Monmouth-Roseville 3. Rock Falls 4. Tri-Valley 3A 1. Eureka 2. Metamora 3. Pontiac 4A 1. East Peoria 2. Dunlap 3. United Township 5A 1. Champaign Central 2. Joliet West

IMBC Website has been updated to: 2A 3A 1A 5A 6A 4A

U of I has been rotating classes within the 1A-3A and 4A-6A blocks for several years. I am a little shocked to see this myself.... However, as a director from a 1A school, I am beyond excited to have my students get a chance to perform for a full crowd. It has been great the times that 1A has been last in the morning session - I can't imagine what it will feel like if 1A is the last session of the day!

U of I will be October 25 per save the date email sent today

They did not. I read somehwere the Big Ten football schedule for 2025 isn't coming out until JUNE - so I don't seehow they can set a date before that schedule is released.

Class 1A 1. Mater Dei - 74.100 (Music & GE) 2. Watseka - 70.975 (Visual) 3. Hoopeston - 63.575 4. Maroa-Forsyth - 63.400 5. ROWVA - 62.350 6. Tri-Valley - 61.750 7. Blue Ridge - 54.950 8. Okaw Valley - 54.850

Danville Results: Class 1A 55.30 - Dwight (Perc, Winds) 50.90 - St. Joseph-Ogden (Guard) 49.00 - Heritage Class 2A 66.90 - Mt. Carmel (Perc, Winds) 63.90 - Watseka (Guard) 60.65 - Hoopeston 59.75 - El-Paso 55.95 - Casey-Westfield 54.45 - Ridgeview Class 3A 68.05 - Urbana (Winds) 66.05 - Herscher (Guard) 64.25 - Paxton-Buckley-Loda (Perc) Class 4A 80.10 - Mahomet-Seymour (Winds, Perc, Guard) 71.05 - Champaing Central GC - Mahomet Seymour

Danville Results: Class 1A 55.30 - Dwight (Perc, Winds) 50.90 - St. Joseph-Ogden (Guard) 49.00 - Heritage Class 2A