Rubisco

And before I forget, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE GUARDS THIS SEASON! It has been an absolute pleasure getting to watch all of you grow the past few months. I'm bummed we have to wait another year, but I look forward to seeing everyone out there on the marching field this summer and/or fall. ❤️

Technically, for scores at the top, never. But in 1985, back when the highest class was Independent Open, Erte and State Street won with 95.05s. But scores are all very much relative to the eras in which they were produced. Skills are fast-evolving in this activity. And, as you are certainly aware, with the addition of "standard setting" Box 6 on the sheets, there's gonna be a bit of downward pressure at the top each new season. This year's 100 is next year's 98. That's just a logical outcome of the way the sheets are written.

I just watched it on high-cam again after watching it on multi. They seemed nearly perfect on multi, so I wanted to confirm. They were also nearly perfect on high cam. A truly stellar run!

They were SO good! And Origins had an absolutely amazing performance! I feel like they may find themselves in medalist contention in a couple years, or less.

Darn near perfection from Avon! A couple of drops, but nothing too big. The overall effect is so outstanding. And it's easily the cleanest show of the night! I think many guards could learn a thing or two about movement from them. So clean and expressive!

Oh my gosh, these Arcadia performers are fierce! Also, the makeup and costuming are very creepy and I love it. 😂 So full of character, this entire show.

The Woodlands was spectacular. Just out of this world talent. The difficulty is through the roof and the hands were mostly very clean, too. The show is pure poetry.

Tarpon doing Tarpon! It's very literal, very maximalist, and very entertaining! The performers are rockstars!

"It can't be done, and that is salvation." Full body goosebumps from that moment in Carmel's show. Obviously this is a team that understands poetry. Very rare in this activity.

Fishers will always be one of my favorites this season. Just a really lovely production. Oh my gosh, these Carmel costumes are so gorgeous! 🤩 And the hands are so clean on these catches so far!

Yeah, El Dorado is another one like Kiski. They're coming for the top dogs. Very expressive, very impressive breadth of talent. When I look at this show from upstairs, at the overall aesthetic, I see "blood in the water." These kids perform like they smell blood in the water.

Kiski, Kiski, Kiski. Watch out, future SW medalist contenders, this guard is coming for you! I love the wobbling topsy-turvy stairs, how the performer's penché atop them becomes an upside down split. 😂

Warren Central's approach to design doesn't typically connect with me, and I don't think this year is an exception, but the performers totally slayed!

I had to go back and check as well. I think because I'm watching on multi the lights being out for Miamisburg wasn't as obvious. Overall, it didn't seem like their best run. Lots of individual errors in this performance, but they still communicate that wonderful, ethereal quality through the choreo, all those smoothly connected phrases. Very challenging skills, also.

I like how Miamisburg's helpers have lights in their shoes. Appropriate. 😂 Watching them set up now. Bellbrook was pure elegance. Obviously very reminiscent of Avon's 2021 production.