UIL 5A State Marching Contest 2024 (Nov. 4-5)

[utee94]

Just got back from SA, what an amazing afternoon/evening.  Congrats to all the finalists, and to the Leander Three for sweeping the medals. I really like the Leander and Rouse shows and of course I'm very familiar with them.  But my favorite that is not from Leander ISD, is definitely Lone Star, such a pretty show with just beautiful moments.  I also really enjoyed Argyle and Aledo shows.

And of course my favorite that did not make Finals is still Lake Belton.

I'll be watching all of the above in the future, no doubt they'll continue to improve and impress.

[Regulators]

Now that the 5A contest is over, lets all go give some love to the 3A contest for tomorrow.

 

[bsk]

14 minutes ago, utee94 said:

And of course my favorite that did not make Finals is still Lake Belton.

Lake Belton showing you don't need a truckload of props to have a great show.

[SaxA36]

50 minutes ago, Atssbsax1 said:

Argyle would be the band to do it. They would have made 5a state the very first year they were a 5a but it wasn't a state year that time. The next year they were in a state spot prelims but unfortunately dropped down. This year they kept their spot from prelims to finals. Essentially, since Argyle has been a 5a only one run hasn't been state worthy which is unheard of. Also 4a to 5a is the biggest jump a band can make and Argyle made it look like it was nothing. Argyle will dethrone Cedar Park eventually.

try not to make it obvious you go to argyle challenge, level IMPOSSIBLE 

[notenthused1]

53 minutes ago, Atssbsax1 said:

Argyle would be the band to do it. They would have made 5a state the very first year they were a 5a but it wasn't a state year that time. The next year they were in a state spot prelims but unfortunately dropped down. This year they kept their spot from prelims to finals. Essentially, since Argyle has been a 5a only one run hasn't been state worthy which is unheard of. Also 4a to 5a is the biggest jump a band can make and Argyle made it look like it was nothing. Argyle will dethrone Cedar Park eventually.

Argyle didn't make state last year, getting 5th at area B. Not sure if that's what your trying to say lol, just super confused. However, Argyle is getting really good, really fast.  

[PercDad4Life]

As a percussion centric fan, something seems off with the final results.  Aledo Percussion jumped from 13th in prelims to 1st in finals.  That is a BIG jump for a group who has a stellar band but not normally in the discussion for percussion prowess.  

I get that subjectivity is always part of the scoring, but this raises some suspicion in my mind. Especially given that there was no change in band placements from prelims to finals.  The judging was pretty consistent, except for percussion. 

Does anyone else find this mildly suspect?

[Regulators]

1 minute ago, PercDad4Life said:

As a percussion centric fan, something seems off with the final results.  Aledo Percussion jumped from 13th in prelims to 1st in finals.  That is a BIG jump for a group who has a stellar band but not normally in the discussion for percussion prowess.  

I get that subjectivity is always part of the scoring, but this raises some suspicion in my mind. Especially given that there was no change in band placements from prelims to finals.  The judging was pretty consistent, except for percussion. 

Does anyone else find this mildly suspect?

You have a completely different set of judges for finals then what you had a prelims. So, it could be a result of tastes between the two j

[DrumLine]

Congrats to Lone Star on their best ever state finish as their progression continues to ascend at that level. And Area B … just wow All four make finals and place 4, 6, 7 and 10. Take a bow …

[lost]

I will very happily eat my words about what I said about Leander earlier! Way to go and jump Wakeland! Of course congratulations to Cedar Park for their seventh UIL state title in a row! What a dynasty.

[Samuel Culper]

2 hours ago, Atssbsax1 said:

Argyle would be the band to do it. They would have made 5a state the very first year they were a 5a but it wasn't a state year that time. The next year they were in a state spot prelims but unfortunately dropped down. This year they kept their spot from prelims to finals. Essentially, since Argyle has been a 5a only one run hasn't been state worthy which is unheard of. Also 4a to 5a is the biggest jump a band can make and Argyle made it look like it was nothing. Argyle will dethrone Cedar Park eventually.

I get it, you're an Argyle fan. And they are good, no doubt. But you are making a lot of suppositions and including a lot of conjecture.

Cedar Park has been doing this for a long time and they play with all of the really big boys in 6A and at Grand Nats, year in and year out. Rouse has been right there with them for the last few years and even they have been unable to unseat the king of 5A.

Yes, Cedar Park's string will end at some point, but claiming with any level of certainty who will dethrone them is just silly. Maybe it will be Argyle, but I think it's MUCH more likely to be either Rouse or a promotion to 6A.

[BandHypeDept]

1 hour ago, PercDad4Life said:

As a percussion centric fan, something seems off with the final results.  Aledo Percussion jumped from 13th in prelims to 1st in finals.  That is a BIG jump for a group who has a stellar band but not normally in the discussion for percussion prowess.  

I get that subjectivity is always part of the scoring, but this raises some suspicion in my mind. Especially given that there was no change in band placements from prelims to finals.  The judging was pretty consistent, except for percussion. 

Does anyone else find this mildly suspect?

I don't find it suspicious, but it's interesting. I guess it goes to show how much difference a different performance and different judge can make. I was surprised that the percussion were scored so low for prelims in comparison to their other rankings; I figured I must have missed a big hiccup.

I'm not sure about the percussion, but the Aledo band as a whole had a significantly cleaner run in finals than in prelims.

Overhearing discussion afterward, Aledo is THRILLED to have tied Wakeland. There has been some friendly rivalry there, but Wakeland has historically come out on top.

[Aquaflamma85]

31 minutes ago, Samuel Culper said:

Cedar Park has been doing this for a long time and they play with all of the really big boys in 6A and at Grand Nats, year in and year out. Rouse has been right there with them for the last few years and even they have been unable to unseat the king of 5A.

Yes, Cedar Park's string will end at some point, but claiming with any level of certainty who will dethrone them is just silly. Maybe it will be Argyle, but I think it's MUCH more likely to be either Rouse or a promotion to 6A.

This exactly, every 5A cycle theres been a band that people want or think is going to finally best Cedar Park at state. Highland Park, Wakeland and recently Rouse/Leander. But every time a band gets close, CP find a new level. A higher ceiling that allows them to leave little doubt why they have the most 5A state titles. And it'll continue to happen I believe until they move up to 6A or have a radical director change, because the last one didnt phase them one bit. Argyle is improving rapidly yes, but so is CP every year and it will take a lot for someone to dethrone them. 

[clarinote]

42 minutes ago, Aquaflamma85 said:

This exactly, every 5A cycle theres been a band that people want or think is going to finally best Cedar Park at state. Highland Park, Wakeland and recently Rouse/Leander. But every time a band gets close, CP find a new level. A higher ceiling that allows them to leave little doubt why they have the most 5A state titles. And it'll continue to happen I believe until they move up to 6A or have a radical director change, because the last one didnt phase them one bit. Argyle is improving rapidly yes, but so is CP every year and it will take a lot for someone to dethrone them. 

I mean, it could happen. Anything can happen. Cedar Park got 2nd in prelims in 2019, and if it was a state year in 2018, then they'd probably lose that year. Programs go through drastic changes all the time. Vista Ridge placed low throughout their 2017 season and won the state championship in 18. Cedar Park had a stretch of off years in 2018 and 2019. Heck, people also discuss Rouse as this powerhouse, even though they've only had success for a couple of seasons. CP has had a very impressive run of consecutive titles, but this title isn't just theirs set in stone for every year.