Let's not forget that in a bubble with more then 15 bands (Cedar Ridge, Cedar Park, Coppell, Westlake, Westwood, Vista Murreta, Clear Brook, Lake Travis, John B. Alexander, Prosper, Keller Central, Oak Ridge, Timber Creek just to name a few) there is a lot of uncertainty with how bands are chosen. Ultimately when bands are so close to each other as they are here; it just comes down to what the judges see. Every one of the bands in the bubble are in the bubble because they have the ability to make finals. No one is doubting that. When all the dust settles though and bands are so close; it simply comes down to what the judges saw. When you have 14 bands to take, and ~25 that can make that top 14, these things just happen.It's not about which bands are "deserving" or otherwise, it's about how deep this competition is. If I'm being honest, if you score a ~90 at a regional there's absolutely no reason to say your band is "undeserving" of a finals slot. Unfortunately that's just not how this works. Many amazing bands can and did get left out. Not making finals isn't anything to be ashamed of. It can be really disappointing and pretty saddening, but its not a reflection of how good you are as a band. In some alternate reality, if the judges had just looked at different things this field could and probably would look different. I'm not saying that any of the bands that did make it in don't deserve to be in; quite the contrary. They are in because they are amazing; bar none. There are just far more amazing bands here then finals allows for, and that's why San Antonio is so infamous.
