TexasStrangers

As of 10/19 10 Bands have qualified for Area C (7 Open and 3 Military) Region 10 - Anahuac/Kirbyville/Orangefield/Warren/Woodville (Warren/Woodville were not at Area last year) Region 21 - Arp/Winona (Both were not at Area last year) Military - Buna, West Rusk and Troup. Schools that were at Area last year that did not qualify were East Chambers, Kountze, Tatum (made it to Area Finals) There are 9 bands left to perform on Wednesday in Region 3. There are 20 bands left to perform on Tuesday in Region 4. If all 29 bands make it (shot in the dark) that would be 39 total bands with 7 spots going to state. This week Area C needs a minimum of 25/29 bands to qualify in order to take 7 to state which I don't see happening. I think it will be greater than 20 but less than 25.

I don't see how you can say they are going to win the Gold based off of that competition. Yes, the Redwater show last night was a great show and I think capable of winning another medal. Yes, they beat Mineola at the beginning of the year but I don't put a lot of stick in the first competition of the season due to shows not being ready and lots of changes that still have to happen. Redwater did the same thing last year beating Mineola at the first competition of the season only to have Mineola come back and win Area and then win State. It's not how you start the year, it's about the journey of going to competitions week after week to better your show and make changes that need to happen in order to finish strong. How did they Redwater really expose Mineola's weakness? I think bands expose their own weaknesses not the other way around. The Mineola Color Guard is the best in the business and beat Redwater earlier in the year and has dominated pretty much everywhere they have gone. Yes, Redwater has a great sound and a good percussion group and I think it's just too close to call right now between Mineola and Redwater. I can see it going either way. Mineola has gotten a lot better every week and is beating 4A/5A schools in areas that went to State last year. I think the dust will settle a little bit on the November 1st when we get to see all the 3A bands together at Area in Whitehouse and a little preview of what State could look like to make a better judgment on who and what.

Not to be negative but I don't see it getting to 35. I think it will end up being 6 and will be no more then that for a long time. I think there will be some schools either moving up to 5A or a couple of schools will get drawn back to Area B next year.

Scores Open - Group I 1 South Hills High School 84.600 2 North DeSoto High School 77.800 3 Many High School 76.800 Open - Group III 1 Mineola High School 86.300 2 Haughton High School 81.600 Open - Group V 1 West Monroe High School 85.000 Open - Group IV 1 Brandon High School 86.500 2 Parkway High School 83.600

Yup, 33 right now. Gotta get to 35 to take 7 to state. They had 7 last year but with only 2 left it's gonna be tight. Tarkington is left and made it last year but Shepherd who is also left did not last year. So, if the Area stays at 33 or adds 1 that will only give 6 to State which is gonna be tough..tough..tough..

Mineola won their Group in Bossier City and also took home all the Caption Awards. They place 1st Overall in Percussion and Guard and finished 2nd Overall and went up against several bands that were a lot bigger then them.

So, if more then 20 but less then 25 it will be Top 4 Go to State, if 25 then it will be 5. Either way 10 will go to Area Finals.

darn, well that changed quickly.

Region 3 goes off on Saturday

Yup, it's not good if you are a 5A School and you are getting beat by 3A and 4A schools every week.

I'm sure you have not feasted your eyes on the current champs Mineola.

Yup, so far weather looks great. A nice high of 75 and a low of 52

It's gonna be a long long day in Lindale on the 25th for Area.

Preston Crownover Stadium at Parkway High School 4301 Panther Dr Bossier City, LA 71112 Schedule 11:00 am North DeSoto High School Stonewall, LA Group I 11:15 am Many High School Many, LA Group I 11:30 am South Hills High School Fort Worth, TX Group I 11:45 am INTERMISSION 12:15 pm Mineola High School Mineola, TX Group III 12:30 pm Haughton High School Haughton, LA Group III 12:45 pm West Monroe High School West Monroe, LA Group V 1:00 pm Brandon High School Brandon, MS Group IV 1:15 pm Parkway High School Bossier City, LA Group IV

I saw Aubrey at Royse City this past Saturday. It was a good show but nothing to get excited about. They got beat by 3A Mineola and Sulphur Springs and it wasn't even close.

Great post and very interesting information you presented. I have attended several Area Competitions and also several State Championships and you make a valid argument but I would also point out that really hasn't been many bands who can made an argument about moving up so much. Almost every single Area/State Competition I have been you can see the gap between Bottom Half and Top Half. In fact the scoring is not even close in several instances.

I think you make a sound argument on how many of the bands down south have challenges when the Area Competition is so far away. This is a problem in 3A Area C as well with some bands driving all the way from the coast to Whitehouse which for some is 3-4 hours at least. I think there will be some tweaks in UIL next year with some schools moving up/down and some Areas might get redrawn a little bit. I don't think you are going to see massive changes though. I do wish Area was not in the same place every year and maybe in a rotation with 2-3 other spots. I know sometimes it's hard to find a place to host because many of the schools that could host an Area Competition don't want to the hassle.

Wanted to throw this in here, Area C Forecast right now for Saturday October 25th is 79 with temps in the mid 50s in the evening for finals. A big difference from all the rain from last year. Things can still change though.

This area I think the top 4 spots are on lock with Mineola, Redwater, Atlanta and Winnsboro. The other two spots I could see a battle between Commerce (beat Whitesboro at BOA) and maybe Orangefield. I was hoping Quitman could be in the mix as they always seem to be the alternate to state but it's gonna take 30 in order to get 6 to state. I believe 30 qualified last year which allowed 12 to go to finals and 6 to state. I know earlier this year they had a UIL meeting where it was discussed that if for every school that places in the Top 3 in that Area would get an additional school to go to the state which if that would have passed Area C could have been taking 9 to state instead of 6 (Mineola/Atlanta/Redwater 1/2/3) . However, I can't remember if that discussion was rejected or table for next year. It's hard to say who has a leg up. I'm still trying to figure out how Winnsboro beat Redwater at Mineola and then beat Atlanta at Mt. Pleasant. It concerns me that Winnsboro or Atlanta did not win any of the caption awards. I think if Redwater can do well then it's gonna be a close race between Mineola and Redwater because Mineola almost beat Sulphur Springs at Royse City who many people are thinking their show is a Top 3 4A Show this year. If Atlanta beats Redwater then it's gonna be another real close one this year I think.

Man, looking at those scores I have no idea what that one judge saw in Denison putting them 1st. I guess he went Rogue which happens from time to time.

NL show is not finished. They did Royse City before going to Celina and when they finished at Royse City they still had 1:15 on the clock. NL still has another 30 seconds of show to put in.

I really don't understand why small bands even go to BOA anymore.

Accurate Division 2 Final Results 6th Prairieland 5th Aubrey 4th Sunnyvale 3rd Paris 2nd Mineola 1st Sulphur Springs Outstanding Color Guard = Mineola Outstanding Percussion = Paris (Mineola was 2nd) Outstanding Drum Majors = Mineola Sulphur Springs with a great show and a serious threat this year. I think the bigger story that came out of this is how Mineola almost beat Sulphur Springs. I think 3A got put on notice tonight.

Here is the accurate Prelim Results because I was there and it was hot and for some crazy reason Drum Retreat was delayed over and hour and fifteen minutes. Class 3A Guard/Percussion/Drum Major/Band = Mineola Class 4A Guard/ Drum/Band = Sulphur Springs Class 4A Percussion = Paris Class 5A Guard/Percussion/Drum = Highland Park Class 5A Band = Lakeview Class 6A Guard/Percussion/Drum/Band = North Forney

Contest is confirmed to be a Division 2 and a Division 1 . Division 2 will be 3A/4A and Division 1 will be 5A/6A Winnsboro pulled out. James Martin pulled out and North Lamar will be there but is leaving to go Celina right after for the the rest of the day. Preliminary Contest Schedule North Lamar High School (4A) 10:15 AM Prairiland High School (3A) 10:30 AM Judges Break Mineola High School (3A) 11:00 AM Sunnyvale High School (4A) 11:15 AM Paris High School (4A) 11:30 AM Caddo Mills High School (4A) 11:45 AM Judges Break Aubrey High School (4A) 12:45 PM Sulphur Springs High School (4A) 1:00 PM Terrell High School (5A) 1:15 PM Garland Lakeview Centennial High School (5A) 1:30 PM Anna High School (5A) 1:45 PM Highland Park High School (5A) 2:00 PM Garland Naaman Forest High School (5A) 2:15 PM Judges Break Crandall High School (5A) 2:45 PM Texarkana Texas High School (5A) 3:00 PM West Mesquite High School (5A) 3:15 PM North Garland High School (6A) 3:30 PM North Forney High School (6A) 3:45 PM Royse City High School Exhibition 4:00 PM Drum Major Retreat 4:30 PM Final Contest Schedule Division 2 Finalist 6:15 PM Division 2 Finalist 6:30 PM Division 2 Finalist 6:45 PM Division 2 Finalist 7:00 PM Division 2 Finalist 7:15 PM Division 2 Finalist 7:30 PM Division 2 Retreat 7:45 PM Division 1 Finalist 8:15 PM Division 1 Finalist 8:30 PM Division 1 Finalist 8:45 PM Division 1 Finalist 9:00 PM Division 1 Finalist 9:15 PM Division 1 Finalist 9:30 PM Division 1 Finalist 9:45 PM Division 1 Finalist 10:00 PM Division 1 Retreat 10:15 PM