TWHSParent

Yes I do. You and your daughter as I recall. Quick flight to Detroit. Weren't we even in the same hotel? I think you mentioned seeing me at breakfast when I was talking with some band parents from Iowa.

TWHS has never finished higher than 4th at UIL state. Ever. Would be great to finally beat that, but the competition is sooooo tough....

Yep - the retreat and awards ceremony is extra long for Grand Nationals, so somewhere around 1 am for completion would be about right. Then the walk back, etc. Sleep will be in short supply that night! (I remember those trips - I'm going to watch the bands then head back to my hotel and watch the awards from bed.)

Be aware that Sunday morning at the Indianapolis airport tends to be VERY busy, so plan accordingly!

While I may not be able to attend San Antonio any more, if I was to do so I would absolutely do this package again. Best experience in the Alamodome for band watching!

Now that I live about 1.5 hours from Indianapolis, I'll be driving there on Thursday and will be cheering on all the bands!

The bands that have scored 96 or higher at San Antonio Super: Marcus (4 times) Hebron (4 times) Ronald Reagan (3 times) Flower Mound (2 times) The Woodlands (2 times) Vandegrift (2 times) Claudia Taylor Johnson (1 time) 18 total times. Marcus first did it in prelims and finals of the 2007 contest, then again in 2012 finals. The other 15 times have been since 2017. 8 of the scores placed 1st, 5 placed 2nd, and 3 placed 3rd. The other 2 were in prelims. 1 97.6 Vandegrift 2023 Finals 1st 2 97.3 Ronald Reagan 2019 Finals 1st 3 97.2 Flower Mound 2024 Finals 1st 4 96.75 Hebron 2022 Finals 1st 5 96.7 The Woodlands 2023 Finals 2nd 6 96.625 Claudia Taylor Johnson 2017 Finals 1st 7 96.6 Flower Mound 2018 Finals 1st 8 96.5 The Woodlands 2022 Finals 2nd 9 96.4 Ronald Reagan 2018 Finals 2nd 10 96.4 Vandegrift 2019 Finals 2nd 11 96.275 Marcus 2023 Finals 3rd 12 96.225 Hebron 2022 Prelims 13 96.2 Marcus 2007 Finals 1st 14 96.2 Marcus 2007 Prelims 15 96.15 Hebron 2024 Finals 2nd 16 96.1 Marcus 2012 Finals 1st 17 96.05 Hebron 2018 Finals 3rd 18 96 Ronald Reagan 2022 Finals 3rd

That year we stayed in San Antonio from Saturday (San Antonio Super) through UIL finals. So while it was a moderately early morning for UIL prelims, it wasn't as challenging as it could have been from a schedule perspective.

I am likely to attend this year. Living 1.5 hours away from Indianapolis has this benefit at least!

Now that I live about 1.5 hours from Indianapolis, I'll most likely attend pretty much every year. So I should be there in 2024 (as I was in 2023).

Made it to Lucas Oil just as PCEP went on, so was able to catch TWHS in person. Visual was great. The uniforms pop against the field. Music was well done. Overall strong performance.

6:45 p.m. – Class AA: Argyle H.S., TX 7:00 p.m. – Claudia Taylor Johnson H.S., TX 7:15 p.m. – Westlake H.S., TX 7:30 p.m. – Round Rock H.S., TX 7:45 p.m. – Cedar Park H.S., TX 8:00 p.m. – Leander H.S., TX 8:15 p.m. – Wakeland H.S., TX 8:30 p.m. – Bridgeland H.S., TX 8:45 p.m. – Marcus H.S., TX 9:00 p.m. – Rouse H.S., TX 9:15 p.m. – Ronald Reagan H.S., TX 9:30 p.m. – L.D. Bell H.S., TX 9:45 p.m. – Vista Ridge H.S., TX 10:00 p.m. – Vandegrift H.S., TX 10:15 p.m. – The Woodlands H.S., TX 10:30 p.m. – Class A: Krum H.S., TX

Short answer is yes, the scoring is that much different. As a start, music performance at UIL is 4/7 judges (~57%), at BOA it is 20% with Music Ensemble and Music Individual averaged for that 20%. Then you have GE judges (2 for Music and 1 for Visual) that are each 20% of the score, which UIL doesn't really account for, although the design judge has some overlap. So just some of the differences which can impact the placements between UIL and BOA.

Absolutely, however all streaks do end. Is this the year? I think it is the most possible this year than it has been for at least 10 years. I like the show, but it is missing a spark the ones I would rank higher have. I don't see an Eagle for them this year based off this performance, but they will be right there at the top. I think 4th right now. Good bet? Probably not -they'll adjust the show over the next few weeks so by Grand Nationals it will be awesome.

I haven't been to Indy for a few years (2019 was the last time). I found this map of downtown https://www.icclos.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/downtown-indy-skywalks.pdf There are quite a few things around the skywalk (which is a great thing if it is really cold). Circle Center Mall has shopping, and there are many restaurants around, including in many of the downtown hotels. There are some museums and the Indiana state capital in the vicinity. So I don't have any specific recommendations, but there is plenty to choose from.

My wife was watching the computer screen over my shoulder last night and made a comment about how she really liked their drill. I completely agree - well designed and executed.

I don't mean "safe" in a negative way. To me "safe" means designing to what UIL rewards, and it is safe because Texas bands do that type of design all the time. They will still do well in BOA (obviously), but it won't knock off the top shows with a BOA focus.

They have their best show for several years - not "safe" like some of their recent shows. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Flower Mound was too "safe" with this show to knock off Hebron at a BOA contest. I'm not surprised they took visual. They are focusing on UIL, and I think it shows. This Flower Mound show will be a beast for UIL state.

Not just finals, but top half. You guys have a great show!

Not directly, no. It can, however, impact other areas (timing, performance) that would impact the scores.

Foster was AAA at Shenandoah this past weekend. So likely to be there here as well.

Finals Schedule 7:30 p.m. – Oak Ridge H.S., TX 7:45 p.m. – Stephen F. Austin H.S., TX 8:00 p.m. – Foster H.S., TX 8:15 p.m. – Cypress Woods H.S., TX 8:30 p.m. – Seven Lakes H.S., TX 8:45 p.m. – Wylie East H.S., TX 9:00 p.m. – Clear Brook H.S., TX 9:15 p.m. – Dawson H.S., TX 9:30 p.m. – Cy-Fair H.S., TX 9:45 p.m. – Friendswood H.S., TX 10:00 p.m. – Klein Oak H.S., TX 10:15 p.m. – College Park H.S., TX

Finals Schedule 7:30 p.m. – Weslaco H.S., TX 7:45 p.m. – Del Rio H.S., TX 8:00 p.m. – Robert Vela H.S., TX 8:15 p.m. – PSJA Early College H.S., TX 8:30 p.m. – Edinburg North H.S., TX 8:45 p.m. – Gladys Porter Early College H.S., TX 9:00 p.m. – Roma H.S., TX 9:15 p.m. – Pioneer H.S., TX 9:30 p.m. – Edinburg H.S., TX 9:45 p.m. – John B. Alexander H.S., TX 10:00 p.m. – Pieper H.S., TX 10:15 p.m. – United H.S., TX 10:30 p.m. – Port Isabel H.S., TX (In Exhibition)

Finals Schedule 7:30 p.m. – Midland H.S., TX 7:45 p.m. – Frenship H.S., TX 8:00 p.m. – Randall H.S., TX 8:15 p.m. – Loveland H.S., CO 8:30 p.m. – Lubbock-Cooper H.S., TX 8:45 p.m. – Colleyville Heritage H.S., TX 9:00 p.m. – Permian H.S., TX 9:15 p.m. – Mustang H.S., OK 9:30 p.m. – Robert E. Hendrickson H.S., TX 9:45 p.m. – Sachse H.S., TX 10:00 p.m. – Braswell H.S., TX 10:15 p.m. – Clovis H.S., NM 10:30 p.m. – Class A: Greenwood H.S., TX

I can definitely see the cosplay!