UIL 4A AREA B 2025

[criscubes]

What are the predictions this year for this area? I noticed that every year before this, this area was almost always the first 4a Area put up, but this year Area C seems to have taken the spotlight. What were bands that surprised y'all?

[Tubalord11]

I think PC and CS gonna be 1&2 again

Krum better make it this year or ima riot 

[FormerWildcat]

Although people seem to see Area C as the hardest area for 4A, I definitely think B's the deepest. I would consider more than half of last year's lineup at least decent when a few years ago you'd be hard pressed to make that statement for a quarter of any 4A area's field. I think Panther Creek's two-year extended stay really motivated several bands to up their game: Stephenville and Aubrey in particular come to mind.

WAY TOO EARLY PREDICTIONS [Hopefully 12 bands make it to finals!]

1. Panther Creek

2. China Spring

3. Aubrey

4. Krum

5. Robinson

6. Alvarado

7. Gatesville

8. Stephenville

9. Kennedale

10. Brock

11. Godley

12. Springtown

Also in finals [even state with the right show] contention: Castleberry, Sanger, Lake Dallas, Southwest

[cheeto2401]

  On 4/23/2025 at 1:25 AM, FormerWildcat said:

Although people seem to see Area C as the hardest area for 4A, I definitely think B's the deepest. I would consider more than half of last year's lineup at least decent when a few years ago you'd be hard pressed to make that statement for a quarter of any 4A area's field. I think Panther Creek's two-year extended stay really motivated several bands to up their game: Stephenville and Aubrey in particular come to mind.

WAY TOO EARLY PREDICTIONS [Hopefully 12 bands make it to finals!]

1. Panther Creek

2. China Spring

3. Aubrey

4. Krum

5. Robinson

6. Alvarado

7. Gatesville

8. Stephenville

9. Kennedale

10. Brock

11. Godley

12. Springtown

Also in finals [even state with the right show] contention: Castleberry, Sanger, Lake Dallas, Southwest

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gatesville got 8th in state finals and this low 💔

[FormerWildcat]

  On 4/23/2025 at 1:48 AM, cheeto2401 said:

gatesville got 8th in state finals and this low 💔

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It's not unprecedented for a band to miss state after making finals the previous year: I'd use Cedar Ridge a couple of years back as a reference. Gatesville had cleanliness issues early in the season, although they did get it mostly fixed by area time. Perhaps I placed Gatesville one or two spots too low, but this area is super competitive. I believe any band that made the top 16 this past year has a real shot at making state with the right show design and performer execution. If Gatesville is able to improve on last year, they should be fine.

[J-Mike16]

  On 4/23/2025 at 1:25 AM, FormerWildcat said:

Although people seem to see Area C as the hardest area for 4A, I definitely think B's the deepest. I would consider more than half of last year's lineup at least decent when a few years ago you'd be hard pressed to make that statement for a quarter of any 4A area's field. I think Panther Creek's two-year extended stay really motivated several bands to up their game: Stephenville and Aubrey in particular come to mind.

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I feel like this would be an interesting topic to talk about on its own as we all have different opinions on which Area is considered to be the hardest, or most challenging. I am in no way saying Area B is "easy". Just compared to Area C, who has bands with State Championship titles, Finalist placements, State appearances, etc. Area B has less bands under the Area's belt with those accolades. (I counted 8 bands that have a history/reputation in the State world, and compare that to Area C with about 11 bands, just not quite there.)

Area B has a bunch of really good quality bands that are just starting to showcase themselves recently because of the re-alignment and the removal of the Region 25 bands but not what I would consider to be the deepest 4A Area lineup. Definitely top 2 or 3 though for sure. 

1st Predictions for Area B... State Advancers ONLY (for now)

1st - China Spring

2nd - Panther Creek

3rd - Gatesville

4th - Robinson

5th/Alternate - Aubrey and/or Krum

[TexasStrangers]

If you are in Area B this is your year to try and step up because I have a feeling in 2026-2027 some of the Area C schools will come back to Area B to try and round it out a bit more.j

I agree as well, several good bands in Area B but after the Top 3 it kind of drops. Sure, there could be some dark horses but until they get out in competition and take on some of the Area C's I don't see much changing here. 

[Gigger_Frog]

  On 4/28/2025 at 3:15 AM, TexasStrangers said:

If you are in Area B this is your year to try and step up because I have a feeling in 2026-2027 some of the Area C schools will come back to Area B to try and round it out a bit more.j

I agree as well, several good bands in Area B but after the Top 3 it kind of drops. Sure, there could be some dark horses but until they get out in competition and take on some of the Area C's I don't see much changing here. 

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Region 25 should be back in this area in 2026. Celina,Comunity, and Panther creek will most likely be moving upto 5a. that just leaves Farmersville,Van Alstyne, and Bonahm. Farmersville and Van Alstyne could easily take 2 of those state spots for the 2026 season

[TexasStrangers]

  On 4/28/2025 at 2:28 PM, Gigger_Frog said:

Region 25 should be back in this area in 2026. Celina,Comunity, and Panther creek will most likely be moving upto 5a. that just leaves Farmersville,Van Alstyne, and Bonahm. Farmersville and Van Alstyne could easily take 2 of those state spots for the 2026 season

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Isn't Celina getting a new high school and splitting into 2 high schools? I don't know if that would prevent the move to 5A. 

[Gigger_Frog]

  On 4/28/2025 at 11:41 PM, TexasStrangers said:

Isn't Celina getting a new high school and splitting into 2 high schools? I don't know if that would prevent the move to 5A. 

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They said they are planning to open the second high school around 2029-2031. they will probably move upto 5a this next go around. by that time maybe the uil will add a 7a

[TexasStrangers]

  On 4/29/2025 at 2:16 PM, Gigger_Frog said:

They said they are planning to open the second high school around 2029-2031. they will probably move upto 5a this next go around. by that time maybe the uil will add a 7a

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Oh, I thought they were building a new school last year with all the construction that was going on. 

[J-Mike16]

  On 4/30/2025 at 12:24 AM, TexasStrangers said:

Oh, I thought they were building a new school last year with all the construction that was going on. 

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That turned out to be not true.

[dfwhorn]

Prosper’s 4th High School, Richand looks like it will be beginning in 4A for most activities except likely football per the realignment page on uiltexas.org/alignments which means that they will likely be here in 4A area B if they advance to Area. Not sure if this changes anyone’s picks or not, but it doesn’t really seem like anyone’s mentioning it

[Tubalord11]

  On 5/13/2025 at 4:40 PM, dfwhorn said:

Prosper’s 4th High School, Richand looks like it will be beginning in 4A for most activities except likely football per the realignment page on uiltexas.org/alignments which means that they will likely be here in 4A area B if they advance to Area. Not sure if this changes anyone’s picks or not, but it doesn’t really seem like anyone’s mentioning it

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If they make it here, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them at state, especially if they are pulling from the other schools which I also haven’t thought of to much. Anyone have any info on which of the 3 they are pulling from? Regardless if not this year then next for sure, prob need a season to get things going but you never know 

[TenLostDogs]

  On 5/13/2025 at 5:08 PM, Tubalord11 said:

If they make it here, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them at state, especially if they are pulling from the other schools which I also haven’t thought of to much. Anyone have any info on which of the 3 they are pulling from? Regardless if not this year then next for sure, prob need a season to get things going but you never know 

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Wasn’t area B  only 1 or 2 bands away from getting a 6th spot for advancement to state?  We need a couple of more 1st divisions. This area needs at least 6. We don’t get those extra “free” state slots due to military bands like area C. 

[TexasStrangers]

  On 5/13/2025 at 7:55 PM, TenLostDogs said:

Wasn’t area B  only 1 or 2 bands away from getting a 6th spot for advancement to state?  We need a couple of more 1st divisions. This area needs at least 6. We don’t get those extra “free” state slots due to military bands like area C. 

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I think so, I think there was 28 bands there at AREA B. I believe the rules states that for under 20 bands at Area then 3 qualify for state and then for every 5 additional bands at AREA then you get an additional band to advance to state. So, 28 bands competing got you 5 bands advancing to state. If there would have been 2 more competing or 2 more military bands that advanced in their competition that would have pushed it to 30 and you would have gotten an additional band to go to state which this year would have been Krum.

Area C had only 24 bands competing but advanced 7 to state because Area C is very rich in military bands where as Area B military bands are very scarce or not very competitive. 

[dfwhorn]

  On 5/13/2025 at 5:08 PM, Tubalord11 said:

If they make it here, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them at state, especially if they are pulling from the other schools which I also haven’t thought of to much. Anyone have any info on which of the 3 they are pulling from? Regardless if not this year then next for sure, prob need a season to get things going but you never know 

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Here is PISD's feeder pattern. From the looks of it, mainly Rushing but also Mosely, which is the new one that's opening this year. Rushing could definitely be a good asset for Richland as a feeder though, and especially as a 4A this first year they could definitely be successful. I'm sure they'll probably be 5 or 6A once we get to realignment 2026 though.

[TenLostDogs]

  On 5/14/2025 at 10:36 PM, dfwhorn said:

Here is PISD's feeder pattern. From the looks of it, mainly Rushing but also Mosely, which is the new one that's opening this year. Rushing could definitely be a good asset for Richland as a feeder though, and especially as a 4A this first year they could definitely be successful. I'm sure they'll probably be 5 or 6A once we get to realignment 2026 though.

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This could be a positive for area B. Only 2 additional division 1s were needed to get 30 bands at area to add a state slot reaching 6 total vs 5 for last year. Richland should be an 1 hopefully. 1 additional band would then be needed to bring the total to 30 bands assuming similar results as last year. There is a program up 35 close to Oklahoma that fell short with a division 2 in 24 but made area in 23.

The door could be open for a 6th band potentially. There are bands that would be really hungry for that potential 6th spot at state.