AlphaOmega

They haven't done them at the Super Regionals, so I'm not sure they'll be doing them this time around. I really wish they would, but I understand why they aren't.

What a weekend! Congratulations to Hebron for their victory! Y'all's show was undeniably incredible. Congrats to the rest of the finalist bands. Making finals at BOA San Antonio is crazy hard, and you should all be proud of yourselves! Now onto 6A State! Students doing both State and Nats this week, take today to rest up. This week is going to be jam packed, but I promise, it will be the best week of your lives thus far. Students doing just Nats, also rest up, and maybe take Monday and Tuesday to catch up on school. I've been to Grand Nats three times, once as a spectator and twice as a performer. I'll post my advice and a recommended packing list on the Nats forum.

I've always noticed that Round Rock peaks right at the end of the season. Because they're doing State and Grand Nats they probably don't have much rehearsal time left, but I've seen schools get a lot done during those Nats ICC rehearsals. You're right, though. Those kids really can play!

We're almost done with this one. Congrats to all the bands who competed yesterday and today! Good luck to the finalist bands as they go to retreat soon. This has been a crazy weekend.

Someone else above made some really great points about both shows. CTJ tends to do more stand and play while Hebron plays hard stuff on the move more. It'll be interesting to see which the judges prefer.

Regarding RR and Johnson, I think so too.

I'm really anxious to see the prelims recap. I'm curious how far out Round Rock and Johnson were from finals. Pearland and Coppell were nowhere near my radar (I guess I should pay attention to DFW and Houston a little more). I'd be interested to see if Rouse goes to Grand Nats in the coming years. They've been on fire!

Texas bands going: Marcus, CTJ, Reagan, Vista Ridge, FloMo, Woodlands, Round Rock. That's seven. And all of them are probably going to make finals. Non Texas bands who have historically made finals in recent years: Homestead, Dobyns-Bennett, William Mason, Avon, Carmel, Blue Springs, Broken Arrow, Marian Catholic (though not since 2017 if I remember correctly), O'Fallon Township, Wando, Castle. Now let's get this on one list... Marcus Homestead CTJ Dobyns-Bennett Reagan William Mason FloMo Avon Woodlands Carmel Round Rock Blue Springs Vista Ridge Broken Arrow Marian Catholic O’Fallon Township Wando Castle So that's eighteen bands who all have the capability to make finals. Seven of them are from Texas. If we took the seven Texas bands out, the eleven remaining bands who are strong enough to make finals will all make it, including one other band. In 2019, six Texas bands went, and all six made finals. There’s a chance that will happen again. I kind of feel bad for the other bands who’d make finals if the Texas bands didn’t go. I want to feel proud, but at the same time it's getting absurd. This will probably be the craziest Grand Nats we've ever had. Good luck, y'all.

My personal predictions (based on their past history and how they've been doing this season) Locks: CTJ Reagan Vandegrift Vista Ridge Cedar Park Leander Rouse (they're impressively climbing up!) Marcus Hebron Bubbles: Bowie Cedar Ridge Woodlands Round Rock Keller Westlake BOA San Antonio has always been a bloodbath, especially in the last five or six years. Good luck to all the bands competing. Just remember to have fun. I feel like it's getting harder and harder to do that.