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What did y'all think of Dripping Springs? I thought they were pretty strong. I was also very impressed with Hays for making finals and beating out some very good 5A's.

As an unbiased outsider, I'm thinking it'll be down to Dripping Springs, Cedar Park, Vandegrift, and Vista Ridge. After viewing all their shows and considering their are still weeks until state, I think it's safe to say the winner will be from Area D. All of these shows are very clean and well balanced especially for this time of season. In fact, I think this year is even stronger for Area D than 2011 was.

That link lists the caption award winners from the prelims but not from finals and I would love to see those results!

the link posted further up on this page has all caption awards. The link lists the caption award winners from the prelims but not from finals.

Amazingly, these four bands were not just from the same area but from the same district! Makes Friday night halftime pretty competitive!

I really think this just showcases the disparity in judging between the Westlake Marching Festival and UIL. There are always changes from contest to contest due to differences in judges, weather, band improvements, program additions, etc. The assertion that there is a particular, ongoing disparity between the Westlake Marching Festival and UIL cannot be made based upon only one year's results. I think the Area D results this year (and in 2011) just highlight how tight the competition is among the bands from this area. That being said, I was shocked to see that Anderson and Round Rock did not at least advance to area finals. Compare the 2011 Westlake Marching Festival results and the placement order at Area D: (Due to Rain only prelim scores were counted and no finals were conducted. Scores are for the AAAA & AAAAA) Finals 95.025 Bowie, Austin 93.250 Round Rock 88.525 Anderson, Austin 87.125 Dripping Springs 86.925 Lake Travis 86.750 Sanda Day O'Connor, SA 86.125 Hendrickson,Pflugerville 85.450 Connally, Pflugerville 84.000 Leander 80.675 Dawson 80.176 Vista Ridge 78.325 New Braunfels 75.675 Georgetown 71.65 Akins, Austin 71.525 Clark, SA 67.550 Temple 57.725 Shoemaker, Killeen In Area D 4A competition 3 weeks later, these were the final results: 1. Dripping Springs 2. Lake Travis 3. Cedar Park 4. Vandegrift 5. Hendrickson 6. Connally 7. Vista Ridge 8. Hays 9. Cedar Ridge 10. Canyon

I believe that the high schools in Lubbock, El Paso, etc., would say that travel cost is a factor. How many "bands in this state" compete at Indianapolis or St. Louis? A very small number of programs can afford that type of trip. Our band only leaves the state once every four years and that is for an optional trip. In this tight economy, both for school districts and families, it would be difficult to imagine the cost of state marching contest every year. Our school volleyball team is amazing this year and hoping to make it to state. Is it fair that they have that chance every year instead of every other year? I don't know but I do know that they only take up one school bus for travel and our band takes 5 plus equipment trailers! As a band parent who happens to have a large family (immediate and extended), I have to say that I am relieved that state is only every other year. Even though we lived closed enough to not need hotel rooms in order to attend the state marching contest last year, the admission price alone was a hardship. I do not begrudge UIL for needing to charge at the door but I am just glad that my lean family budget doesn't have to take a hit like that again this November. Have you noticed at contests this fall that the bands hoping to qualify for state seem to have more props, flags, costumes, even uniforms? Can you imagine how much that would add up if they competed for state every year? Uh oh, that comment might start getting into the "props vs no props" debate and that belongs in a different thread.... We would not trade the amazing experience of band for our children but it does come at great sacrifice with the instruments, lessons, etc. We are very thankful and proud to be part of a program that has amazing parent support and great fiscal responsibility by the directors!!!

2011 Area D Prelims 1- Dripping Springs 2- Hendrickson 3- Vista Ridge 4- Connally 5- Lake Travis 6- Vandegrift 7- CEDAR PARK 8- Hays 9- Cedar Ridge 10- Canyon 2011 Area D Finals Placement 1- Dripping Springs 2- Lake Travis 3- Cedar Park 4- Vandegrift 5- Hendrickson 6- Connally Cedar Park jumped pretty far but not from 9th or 10th! Area D was an intense competition last year with 4 bands from the same district battling it out and qualifying for state. (All four bands from district 25-4A went on to make finals at state.)

Region IV, District 26???? 5A....

Congratulations to Hendrickson for being right in the mix of Area D after moving up from 4A! After seeing some of these 5A bands at Westlake, I don't think LT will be that high up in the pack, though, but they may prove me wrong. (Westlake Festival Results: 1- Round Rock 2- Dripping Springs 3- Anderson 4-Sandra Day O'Connor 5-Hendrickson 6-Vista Ridge 7-Judson 8-Lake Travis 9-Conally 10-Wagner 11-New Braunfels

Sorry but Dripping Springs was never on the schedule for BOA San Antonio as they will be in Duncanville that weekend

Can anyone tell me where I can find the breakdown of scores? The kids were talking about something tonight regarding some surprises if captions had been announced at Finals and I would like to see the scores myself. I can't find anything on the Westlake website. Thank you.

I have not seen anything official but we heard through the band that DS was second in prelims also. From what I heard, RR was in the 95 range for their prelim scores while everyone else was 90 and below. It does make for interesting analysis when you see the flip-flopping of placements between BOA Conroe and Westlake for bands like Hendrickson and Dripping Springs. While I am, admittedly, biased, the combination of new GE, the white pants/shoes, and musicianship truly made for a memorable performance. I have seen this show every time they have performed and I would definitely say that it improved dramatically in the last week. It never hurts to come in 9th for some motivation either since the majority of these kids have never known a placement that low in their entire time in marching band! All that being said, it was a nail-biter of a competition because the shows were beautiful and I continue to be amazed by the discipline and talent on display in these bands.

Westlake Finals Placements: Connally Dripping Springs-2nd Wagner -10th New Braunfels - 11th Vista Ridge Judson Hendrickson -5th O'Connor Anderson -3rd Round Rock-1st Lake Travis - I was distracted in the middle of the announcements but this is what I remember!