All Activity

I got a few Seven Lakes: Great show last year and I think they’ll build off of that and return for an even stronger season. Forney: My current favorites to win Area C. I think they’ll take advantage of the chaos happening in Area C and hopefully challenge for finals at state. Braswell: Probably one of my favorite shows last season. If they were in any other area, I think they make state. Hopefully they can break through this time. LD Bell: They’ve been cycling threw off years and on years for the last decade. I’m hoping they lick their wounds and come back swinging in Area B Round Rock: Not sure if “dark horse” is the correct term for them as we all know they’re good. I’m just hoping for a little extra from them seeing as this is a grand nats year for them.

I don’t know if it matters much, but I saw somewhere that LT hired a new director for their percussion and The Colony is currently looking for a new assistant band director, do you think that would change anything at all?

I think Bridge City will still be in the state discussion as well, i honestly just forgot about them for a minute in my last post lol, but i'd still consider them to be in state level as well.

I think Walnut Grove is gonna have a crazy season. I don’t know about state yet, but considering how fast Rock Hill got good, I’m gonna say they make it in the next 3 years, if they stay 5A at least. And as everyone else has said, watch out for Braswell. Them and McKinney

I like your thoughts. However, do you think Bridge City will fall out of the state discussion after placing 3rd at this area last year?

I think Celina, Sulphur Springs, North Lamar, and Farmersville are probably the obvious choices in my opinion, I think between the 4 Farmersville I see a lot of growth in that program that could happen. From there, I think Lumberton will make state as well. Another good choice that I think could place pretty high in the Area level more than likely the top 3 After that, the 7th and maybe the 8th in my opinion I think could be a couple bubble people. Possibly like I mentioned before with the right execution and a good show, Community and Van Alstyne could be some guys to look out for, but I think Pleasant Grove, Paris, and Canton will also be in that discussion, and I think they could also perform to that state level. I definitely have to go to a game or contest or find some way to watch these guys because I think this will be a good area contest as a lot of finalists here could definitely have their shot at state in this area. I'm excited to see how it turns out

So in your opinion, which groups are in the state discussion? Of course, leaving out the obvious ones.

Van Alstyne and Community are both 1 good show away from being in State discussion, keep an eye out on those two guys, it could be a good season for this area

I believe that Fossil ridge can score higher in my opinion, probably 7th or 6th still early prediction

My Dark Horses have to be McKinney HS and also SLC. These two bands put up a fight last year and I’m ready for them to take the next step.

Per the calendar of V.R Eaton H, they may only be performing in prelims for this contest. Not entirely sure if it is final. From their calendar it says: "Our plan is to march Prelims only so that students who choose may still participate in Homecoming." Might or might not change some of yalls predictions, just wanted to make you guys aware

This drumline contest will be held at the HEBISD Pennington Field in Bedford, TX

You're right about North probably, this is just based on mainly my views on the shows as a whole, not on BOA which I probably should've done lol. I think with that in mind North will probably be lower, maybe around where Walnut grove and Burleson Cen10 area at this moment. I think with that in mind I can probably consider those bubble guys mentioned. I think that especially in North Dallas there will be an underdog in general. With the right execution, I think WG Reedy or LE can benefit a bit from the BOA scoring and sneak into finals, but at the moment who knows what'll happen. I think once we get a full week and we get through the first and second contest weeks (probably after McKinney finals) ill get back to this prediction.

Here’s what I’m thinking for the moment: 1-2: Coppell/Wakeland Obviously the two biggest bands here. Honestly anything could happen between these two. In my opinion I could see Coppell just barley sneaking away with it but it just depends on how GE packed their show is 3-5: Prosper/Braswell/SLC At the moment I see this mostly being a battle between Prosper and Braswell. These two were really battling it out at area J. Of course SLC is my Dark Horse riding into the season so I’m also high on them. 6-9: Wylie/KC/McKinney/McKinney North I think the biggest question is where Wylie and McKinney North will fall. These two are the ones with the head director changes (edit, sorry I forgot about KC) so it could really mean anything. Also I do have McKinney up here, they did only miss Finals last year by only two spots and I could see them doing well. 10-12: Forney/Burleson Centennial/Rockwall I think the biggest one to look out for out of these three would be Burleson Centennial. They could be anywhere on this spectrum and it could get wild. Also I do have Forney and Rockwall battling it out, of course Forney missed Bedford Finals by one last year and Rockwall shocked everyone at Finals. On the bubble: Burleson Centennial, Forney, Rockwall, McKinney North, Walnut Groove, Rick Reedy, Little Elm. Of course it’s a little early to be predicting these things but this is my mind set for the moment

Idk about North in 5th. They had a great year last year but they didn’t even make finals here last year. Not saying it’s impossible, but probably 12th-10th range. Here’s what I’m thinking 1. Coppell/Wakeland 2. Wakeland/Coppell 3. Prosper 4-6 random order-Braswell, SLC, Wylie 7. McKinney 8. Forney 9. Keller Central 10. Burleson Centennial 11. McKinney North 12. Rockwall Still obviously waiting on some other groups but I’d imagine it’ll be most of these bands, at least rn

My two picks are 7L and MG Johnson. Clear upward trajectories over the past few years and very intriguing shows for this upcoming season. I also second Braswell! Other than those... I could see Midlothian, Clear Lake, and Liberty making some noise this fall!

With the 2025 band season starting to approach, who do you think will be a dark horse of this year? Almost like how Braswell was where they just kinda underdogged their way up to 5th in J last year, who do you guys think that will be for this upcoming season?

Very early predictions 1 Wakeland 2 Coppell 3 Prosper 4 Braswell 5 McKinney North 6 SLC 7 Burleson Centennial 8 McKinney 9 Wylie 10-12 One of these bubble people below Bubble people: Keller Central Forney Walnut Grove Rockwall Reedy Little Elm I think Liberty wins AA and Whitesboro wins A and they'll do their exhibitions at finals. These results will obviously change once we get a full list and I'll make another one once we get that full list because who knows what will happen with adds or drops For the guys that havent done BOA recently (at least to my knowledge, feel free to let me know of anything wrong), heres what I think their classes will be using 3/4 of their 2024 UIL enrollments from last Feb: Greenville 1219.5, will likely be on the fence of AA and AAA leaning towards AA Little Elm 1897.5, might be on the fence of AAA and AAAA but very leaned towards AAAA Melissa 1321.875, most likely AAA Rick Reedy 1643.25, most likely AAA

Duncanville stands as one of the most unique programs in Texas history. It’s good to hear they’re alright.

Has Celina released there show yet?

Predictions for now: Wakeland Lone Star Argyle North Lebanon Reedy Walnut Emerson Liberty See below Finalist bubble: Heritage Liberty The Colony Independence Melissa This contest will be pretty interesting as always, I'm excited to see if Emerson and Melissa's world guards will help with their performance. I hope so because those guys have a lot of potential. In the short term I don't think North will be affected just yet by the staff change, but give it a couple years. Makes me wonder if you'll see any new guys go to state (Reedy or Walnut Grove????) in these next few years. Gotta represent the 380 growth spurt well at state lol. But either way I'm excited to see how this turns out, and theres a lot of ways this contest can go this year. I think Emerson will make finals. but there will be a lot of people fighting to be the last ones into finals this year at prelims I think

Cant wait to see TC and Mansfield battle it out once again. Also you put down highland park twice

I think considering the size of the area they definitely could. US bands did or still does a comp here and there were around 20+ bands in prelims. It might be a little tight like you said but other than the distance for Sherman and Denison this would be a lot easier for a lot, especially considering like half the area are Frisco schools. just saw it’s got a 12,000 seats compared to 10,000 at Melissa so def enough room

Pretty sure it be back at Melissa

It would be nice but I don't think they have enough space to hold it...