Anthony V

If you're using NFHS, you'll be able to find it here: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/uil-schools-austin-tx

Pieper's energy was pretty solid throughout. Congrats on a good run at state for the first ever senior class of Pieper HS!

In the past couple hours I was only able to watch part of McKinney North and then Richland. This is a great season for both of these groups. Neither are letting size dictate their sound output or musical presence. Both shows are a blast. McKinney North had not been on my radar until this season, but I will definitely be looking for them in the future.

CH's drill is fun.

Speaking as a Richland alum: I will always be over-the-moon to see great results from Richland. This is the manifestly the best Richland has been since 2016, and I sincerely hope they get very soon to the level of competitivity they were in 2005 and 2007. I personally think it is possible within the next year or so. That said, what I have been less excited to see lately is hype that approaches the level of cringe. I have zero authority here, but I would kindly ask alum, parents, fans, &c., to consider whether their support for Richland on a public forum is constructive to the conversation. If your point has already been made, indeed made several times, I promise you that insisting upon your point will not augment other persons' perceptions of Richland -- but will in fact deteriorate them. For better or worse, people will generally remember the negative interactions better than they will positive interactions. If Richland is your home team -- whether as an alum, parent, fan, &c. -- I think it makes more sense to let future results do the insisting. I'm pretty sure they'll get here soon enough.

In the quick recap format, that's: 1. Burleson Centennial (Visual, GE, Perc) 2. Aledo (Music, CG) 3. Colleyville Heritage 4. Sachse 5. JJ Pearce 6. Chisolm Trail 7. Burleson 8. Brewer 9. Summit 10. Timberview Also, some notes: - I watched all of finals and was not particularly surprised with any of the placements. - Burleson moved up a place in finals (over Brewer). - Sachse moved up a place in finals (over JJ Pearce). - I have seen Timberview, Summit, Brewer, and Colleyville Heritage several times this season, and think that they have all made great progress. I feel that Timberview and Brewer have achieved the most self-improvement of those groups. - Regarding Burleson Centennial, Aledo, Colleyville Heritage, and Richland in looking forward to Area F: I think that right now Burleson Centennial and Aledo are competitive with one another. I'm having a hard time seeing how Colleyville Heritage surges upward and into that mix, but perhaps there is something my unpaid, non-professional eyes and ears are not understanding. Richland's exhibition performance felt pretty flat in terms of energy, and I think if they were ranked they would have been in the top five, at most being competitive with Colleyville Heritage. On the other hand, Richland, to my ears, very clearly had the best winds sonority. If energy is what they lacked, I don't see how they couldn't be competitive with any of Burleson Centennial, Aledo, and Colleyville Heritage.

I'll be there for finals. I'll also try to post prelims results here.

I wanted to point out how Aledo, Burleson Centennial, and Colleyville Heritage will be at the BISD contest this Saturday. (Richland will also, but will be in exhibition.) Several other potential finalists for 5A Area F will be at this contest, too.

As of 8/17/23 per the website: Aledo HS Azle HS Byron Nelson HS Coppell HS (JV) Forney HS Fossil Ridge HS Haltom HS James Martin HS Keller Central HS Keller HS Krum HS L.D. Bell HS Marcus HS Saginaw HS Southwest HS Stephenville HS Timber Creek HS Trinity HS W.E. Boswell HS Wakeland HS Finals will be really stacked, maybe more than ever at this contest.

All 3 music judges had Birdville in 5th place. This the strongest they've been musically in a while.

I don't understand the Legacy piece quite yet. How the judges would interpret Azle's approach was perhaps from the beginning a bit of a wildcard draw. Comparing prelims placement might help here. I do think the top 4 is certainly within the range of reasonable, especially once those two other pieces are accounted for.

To add to the complexity, Birdville's run was really locked in. I don't see why it couldn't compete with Burleson Centennial or Legacy tonight. I would be surprised if they're top 4, though. Top 4 seems right now to be something like Aledo, Azle, Summit, and Colleyville Heritage. After that, Burleson Centennial, Legacy, Birdville, and Midlothian are competitive, with Richland and then Brewer trailing a bit. Those are my undereducated guesses at rankings.

My guess for finalists, no particular order: Azle Colleyville Heritage Burleson Centennial Richland Summit Midlothian Legacy Birdville Aledo One of: Brewer, Cleburne, Burleson I think the top 5 is filled out right now by Azle, Colleyville Heritage, Burleson Centennial, Summit, and Aledo.

I don't blame you. I think I'm turning into a lobster - maybe for a long time!

I wanted to second the comment on Midlothian. They held together pretty well and are much improved since BISD last week. They might be tangling with bands in the 5-7 range.