2024 WGI Discussion Thread

[Rubisco]

Avon over Carmel by just over a point at their IHSCGA contest tonight. Avon with a 78. 😮

That's a massive score. I wonder if they'll go undefeated this season, although it's hard to tell with all the shows in various stages of completeness. I think Avon's show concept, Voila, has lots of potential for fun visual ideas, like big reveals and whatnot. Easy to digest thematically as well.

Carmel also got a huge score. Their show is Memento Mori, which is probably the most intriguing theme in the class. For those who don't know, a memento mori is a reminder of death. Thematically, this seems in line with Carmel's prophetic marching show from the fall.

[LeanderMomma]

Avon’s show is très magnifique. 😘  Just wow.  Their performance level already is insane and they definitely deserved that score they were awarded yesterday.  I declare Victory in Dayton for Voilà!  

I am in love!!!  😍😍 

[LeanderMomma]

Carmel is brilliant as well. This show is very different from what I expected from them!  Could be a tight race at the top by April. 

[Bad.robot]

  On 2/4/2024 at 7:03 AM, Rubisco said:

😍🤩😘

I wonder if Grand Oaks will remain in A after WGI Houston. The entire guard seems to be doing above class skills. Cypress Woods and Katy both do a fair number of above class skills as well, but I think Grand Oaks stands out by how seamlessly they connect their phrases with movement. It's very fluid for your typical A guard. Anyway, it's a wonderful show, regardless of where it ends up.

Katy is giving me Tony Hawk's Pro Skater vibes, and I love it. 😂 There is no question about the performers' identity.

Cypress Woods indeed has not suffered at all from the director transition. Is this a chimney sweep show? I love the aesthetic.

Clear Brook's floor probably isn't done. This doesn't seem like the final look for their show. Too much black all over the place. The kids, however, spin and toss and move among the best in this class. I agree that the overall vibe feels similar to last year's show. It has a sultry kind of feel.

I haven't watched the others. I still need to finish up the January ones. 😭

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Cypress Woods’ show is indeed about chimney sweeps. It’s is called “My Day Will Come.”

[packwick]

  On 2/4/2024 at 7:03 AM, Rubisco said:

😍🤩😘

I wonder if Grand Oaks will remain in A after WGI Houston. The entire guard seems to be doing above class skills. Cypress Woods and Katy both do a fair number of above class skills as well, but I think Grand Oaks stands out by how seamlessly they connect their phrases with movement. It's very fluid for your typical A guard. Anyway, it's a wonderful show, regardless of where it ends up.

Katy is giving me Tony Hawk's Pro Skater vibes, and I love it. 😂 There is no question about the performers' identity.

Cypress Woods indeed has not suffered at all from the director transition. Is this a chimney sweep show? I love the aesthetic.

Clear Brook's floor probably isn't done. This doesn't seem like the final look for their show. Too much black all over the place. The kids, however, spin and toss and move among the best in this class. I agree that the overall vibe feels similar to last year's show. It has a sultry kind of feel.

I haven't watched the others. I still need to finish up the January ones. 😭

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def less dead air b/w the phrases w/ grand oaks, agreed. not sure whether it'll be promoted. steering committee worked in mysterious ways last yr. questionable how they saw it fit to promote jordan but not dobyns-bennett, unless db just happened to get way better at the very end of the season to win their class by 3 points.

at least jordan seems like they could possibly have a comeback this season. glad to see that.

[packwick]

tarpon world is great. actually i think i like the perf a little more than the design. kinda early to tell. newspaper show.

timber creek was fab a couple weeks ago in A. that girl who does the catch under the grand battement, is that class appropriate?!! lol. don't think they're going to Dayton.

[packwick]

should have specified that's the ffcc timber creek, not the Texas one that's in open.

[MadHornist]

  On 2/4/2024 at 7:03 AM, Rubisco said:

Clear Brook's floor probably isn't done. This doesn't seem like the final look for their show.

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Clear Brook will be unveiling the rest of their floor props in the coming weeks.  

[LeanderMomma]

I’m a little concerned about Johnson after their score at TCGC Akins today (56.2). What a roller coaster winter guard and marching band can be!

[Tubalord11]

  On 2/11/2024 at 3:41 AM, LeanderMomma said:

I’m a little concerned about Johnson after their score at TCGC Akins today (56.2). What a roller coaster winter guard and marching band can be!

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Is this Buda or CTJ? 

[LeanderMomma]

  On 2/11/2024 at 6:01 AM, Tubalord11 said:

Is this Buda or CTJ? 

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Buda. I just hate to see them struggling. 😢

[Tubalord11]

  On 2/11/2024 at 6:11 AM, LeanderMomma said:

Buda. I just hate to see them struggling. 😢

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Me too  Ik they had a pretty rough marching season, which was Very surprising seeing how good they have been recently, I’m not super informed in the guard area but hopefully everything is alright 

[J-Mike16]

This has nothing to do with WGI, but I hate seeing Lumberton not achieving what they used to back in pre-covid years. Both guards had the 2 lowest scores out of any division at TCGC Langham Creek. I really hope that they thrive in the rest of the season. Hoping one of these years, they jump into WGI, as their director has WGI experience.

[Rubisco]

  On 2/11/2024 at 3:41 AM, LeanderMomma said:

I’m a little concerned about Johnson after their score at TCGC Akins today (56.2). What a roller coaster winter guard and marching band can be!

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I saw that. Hopefully they can turn things around.

Flower Mound has started out their season strong, with around a 70 at their NTCA contest tonight. I hope they keep pushing and make it into finals at Dayton.

Looking at local circuit scores from around the country, I'm thinking that the Scholastic World class is going to be quite competitive this year. Many units in the class are performing considerably better than last season. Of course, we won't know for sure until WGI starts up next week.

That said, while the class is looking more competitive top to bottom, at the very top, in the fight for gold, SW isn't looking very competitive at all, with Avon beating Carmel by 3 points today at the Brownsburg IHSCGA contest. 81 to 78. Tarpon also scored a 78-something at their FFCC contest. So, the fight for 2nd through 4th could be interesting...

For Avon, it's a return to pre-pandemic form. At Zionsville on Feb 9th 2019, they scored an 80 and Carmel got a 77. A bit of deja vu here. We'll see if Avon goes on to get an 85 next week and posts the highest SW score ever at Dayton again like they did in 2019.

Looking forward to WGI!

[Tubalord11]

DALLAS REGIONAL THIS SATURDAY🥳🥳🥳🥳

[Rubisco]

Here's Tarpon Springs from yesterday.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p3tmj9GaYmM&pp=ygUMVGFycG9uIGd1YXJk

They've brought back the musicians and are broadcasting "news" on TV in real time. I'm getting Coppell 2023 vibes from these cameramen. Also Carmel 2004, for those old enough to remember that marching show. Super high energy and fun. Lots of 6s and rolls. It's another crowd pleaser. I think I would agree that the performers are a bit stronger than the show itself, at least from a staging perspective. It's a little scattershot looking. I get "random acts of color guard" vibes pretty frequently, sort of like the 2022 show. But then the performers are killing it, so...

Definitely a medal contender!

[LeanderMomma]

  On 2/11/2024 at 7:19 AM, Rubisco said:

in the fight for gold, SW isn't looking very competitive at all, with Avon beating Carmel by 3 points today at the Brownsburg IHSCGA contest.

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I saw that!  I think Avon is in it to win it and there ain’t nobody gettin close. At least not anyone from Indiana. 😉

[LeanderMomma]

  On 2/11/2024 at 7:42 PM, Rubisco said:

Here's Tarpon Springs from yesterday.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p3tmj9GaYmM&pp=ygUMVGFycG9uIGd1YXJk

They've brought back the musicians and are broadcasting "news" on TV in real time. I'm getting Coppell 2023 vibes from these cameramen. Also Carmel 2004, for those old enough to remember that marching show. Super high energy and fun. Lots of 6s and rolls. It's another crowd pleaser. I think I would agree that the performers are a bit stronger than the show itself, at least from a staging perspective. It's a little scattershot looking. I get "random acts of color guard" vibes pretty frequently, sort of like the 2022 show. But then the performers are killing it, so...

Definitely a medal contender!

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They look great as usual, and so did their other two guards. At least the little bit I saw on Instagram seemed to show that the A guard is doing well, and the middle school guard in particular looks fantastic too!

[Rubisco]

  On 2/11/2024 at 8:11 PM, LeanderMomma said:

I saw that!  I think Avon is in it to win it and there ain’t nobody gettin close. At least not anyone from Indiana. 😉

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Well, Carmel definitely seems to have an uphill battle to overtake Avon, unless that 3 point gap was mostly a penalty. That said, I'd still predict them for a medal, seeing as they haven't placed off the podium since 2009.

Also, if it's an uphill battle for Carmel, it's probably an uphill battle for everyone else. Tarpon is great and the crowd will be putty in their hands again 😆, but I'm not getting gold medal vibes from the show yet. TWHS' very incomplete show in that January clip gave me mixed vibes. Parts of it were wonderful, other parts it just didn't seem like anything all that interesting was happening, plus the dirt. Unfortunately, we probably won't see their final product until Austin, since Houston isn't being streamed.

I'm also curious about Arcadia. I'm not sure they've competed in California yet.

[J-Mike16]

  On 2/12/2024 at 5:01 AM, Rubisco said:

I'm also curious about Arcadia. I'm not sure they've competed in California yet.

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I was very impressed with Arcadia last year. I am very curious about them this year.

[packwick]

  On 2/12/2024 at 5:01 AM, Rubisco said:

Unfortunately, we probably won't see their final product until Austin, since Houston isn't being streamed.

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honestly u probably won't be missing much at Houston. they're typically very tortoise-y compared to the other worlds. 8 hr rule and whatnot. usually don't experience a score spike until Austin. last yr at H-town they didn't even match Avon's score from the week before.

nowww some of the Houston As on the other hand may make a splash right away in the Nats rankings, like Grand Oaks and CyWoods, i think they're both going to Dayton.

i don't think Friendswood is doing Dayton this yr, but they're prob the frontrunner in open after making finals last yr. def also curious to see what Clear Brook looks like w/ a more complete package.

also Origins World should be strong right away. always a treat.

verrry sad to see just now that Third Coast has withdrawn from Dayton. Houston needs a strong IW guard like Cypress Independent and Code Black. revivals are needed!!!

[Rubisco]

  On 2/12/2024 at 9:08 PM, packwick said:

verrry sad to see just now that Third Coast has withdrawn from Dayton. Houston needs a strong IW guard like Cypress Independent and Code Black. revivals are needed!!!

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Yes, definitely!

Still a bit bummed we won't be getting a Houston stream, but Dallas and Avon should hold me over until Austin.

[Tubalord11]

GOOD MORNING everyone!!! It's finally the start of the WGI season, and I will be doing my best to cover the Dallas regional, both today and tomorrow via Flomarching. I'm not trying to make this form a million pages long, and with the huge amount of programs, I'm gonna put a few schools into one post, but I want to cover as many of these amazing guards as I can! Good luck to everyone competing today, getting into finals, especially for all the SA groups is going to be so tough, with their being 20 spots in finals and 48 groups in the class in prelims! 

[Tubalord11]

Keller Central: amazing opening group! Circle show with plenty of individual and group moments, a couple rifle drops, however the GE was very high, and the girls were moving so well coordinated with each other, great and very expressive flag work, great job KC! 

Marshall-Shattered: This has to be the best 7 member guard I've ever seen! Their male soloist was killing it, and the theme was conveyed throughout. great body work, they were just running it down! I would love to get to see that again tomorrow, amazing job Marshall! 

Aledo-Flowers: great talent throughout this program! The theme is a little hard for me to understand, but the girls did great! Really love the flag work, some very hard and well executed saber/rifle moments. Great work Aledo! 

[Tubalord11]

Walnut Grove- What if I fly: Welcome to WGI Walnut Grove, and an incredible first showing! Very colorful and emotional performance, with so much going on throughout the show. Loved how the opener slowly introduced the guard, middle section very chaotic with much going on as our character is trying to find themselves, and then we finish with amazing and well-coordinated flag work as they find themselves soaring in the skies. This young group is already very talented and could see them as a top group very soon, great job WG! 

Mount Pleasant JV.A-power of music: great performance all around. Very expressive flag work in the start, with great solo moments throughout. Plenty of variation in the body work, and some wonderful expression of the theme, great job Mount Pleasant

Mckinney Boyd- how long before I'm dust: WOW!! Very impressive body work in the beginning leading into some very hard solo rifle work that they nailed! They are not only attempting but achieving some extremely difficult solo stuff. Very talented group that I think we will most defiantly be seeing again tomorrow. Blown away by how clean that was considering the difficulty of what they are trying to do. Wow Boyd, that was incredible!