Area D 4A

[titancoaster]

Ok, so I know we don't know many details about this contest (who for sure will be competing and more importantly how many will advance), I thought I'd make a place for us to discuss all of the bands in 4A Area D.

So, I know it is early in the season and all eyes are on Dripping Springs and Cedar Park, but I'd like to point out that on Saturday Lake Travis High School beat Dripping Springs at USSBA Central Preview. I think we may have found our dark horse for Area D. I watched their video and I think they well earned a high placement at USSBA and are working hard to earn a bid to state. This just makes a difficult area even tougher.

[Bandlover]

I think you are right, I was at the contest, did not get to see Lake Travis but did get to see Dripping Springs which was an amazing show. Lake Travis has shown up in a big way; if you can top the show I saw Dripping Springs put on then you can top anything that is out there. Very interesting.

[longhornsax]

Just a quick analysis of how many will advance - had last year been a 4A state year, 26 bands would've been eligible to advance to area, meaning 5 would've advanced. Now of course that's based off of region results from a non-state year, so there's no telling how this year will differ, but the rough estimate is there.

[TEXTrumpet]

It looks like this area will only be sending four. Things are about to get very interesting...

[takigan]

  TEXTrumpet said:

It looks like this area will only be sending four. Things are about to get very interesting...

 

I think you're right. Here's a list of bands I have that have made 1s in Area D

 

 

Region 12

 

New Braunfels - Canyon

Clemens

Smithson Valley

 

Region 18

 

Connally

Crockett

Dripping Springs

Hendrickson

Hays

LBJ

Lehman

McCallum

 

 

Region 26

 

Cedar Park

Cedar Ridge

Hutto

Lake Travis

Marble Falls

Rouse

Vandegrift

Vista Ridge

 

 

 

The only Region from D who's results I don't have yet are Region 8, but they should be made public soon. The thing is... only 19 bands so far have made 1's and there are only 6 4A High Schools attending Region 8.....All 6 of them (Corsicana, Bryan-Rudder, Killeen, Waco, Waco-Midway and University) will have to make 1's in order for Area D to advance 5 bands and I just don't see that happening.

[drummerjoe]

Well it looks like Area D is decided then. Congrats to Cedar Park, Vandegrift, Lake Travis and Dripping Springs (My prediction is in that order)

[TxRaider13]

  drummerjoe said:

Well it looks like Area D is decided then. Congrats to Cedar Park, Vandegrift, Lake Travis and Dripping Springs (My prediction is in that order)

 

 

I wouldn't count out LBJ, Hays, Connally, Hendrickson, or Vista Ridge all are proven bands that have made state. You may be right but I wouldn't just count these schools down and out

[Xenon]

  TxRaider13 said:

I wouldn't count out LBJ, Hays, Connally, Hendrickson, or Vista Ridge all are proven bands that have made state. You may be right but I wouldn't just count these schools down and out

 

 

Connally was even 2nd at 4A State just two times ago!

[aaron067]

  Xenon said:

Connally was even 2nd at 4A State just two times ago!

 

Connally was still 5A two years ago.

[Xenon]

  aaron067 said:

Connally was still 5A two years ago.

 

By "two times ago" I meant two 4A States ago. Connally was 2nd at 4A State in 2007.

[drummerjoe]

  TxRaider13 said:

I wouldn't count out LBJ, Hays, Connally, Hendrickson, or Vista Ridge all are proven bands that have made state. You may be right but I wouldn't just count these schools down and out

 

Well for this year, I've personally seen Vandegrift, Cedar Park, Dripping Springs and Lake Travis perform incredible shows. All four of those schools are having incredibly good years, so I expect them to make it. Plus Lake Travis has the incredible incomparable Sir Lance Brightwell; they're a shoo-in for the win.

[bonepit06-07]

  drummerjoe said:

Well it looks like Area D is decided then. Congrats to Cedar Park, Vandegrift, Lake Travis and Dripping Springs (My prediction is in that order)

 

 

Its funny that you automatically assume that these 4 bands are going to make it.. This is Area D where NOTHING is guaranteed or locked.. for example: Connally and Hendrickson have been the most consistent bands in this area over the past 4 State years, they 2 of the best programs in the State.. trust me they know how to get it done...

 

2nd at State in 07 was prolly the best moment ever.. this are not biast opinions, I have very familiar with the bands in the area.. There are soo many great programs that I still believe it is wide open.

[takigan]

The only lock I see is Cedar Park. They're the only band that has been consistent enough in the past and this season to place that much confidence in. Vandegrift has been all over the place in rankings for the past 2 seasons....Regardless of their win over Cedar Park at Vista Ridge, there's no way they could be a lock at a high-stakes contest like this. Lake Travis has only recently begun to prove their mettle and they're going up against Connally and Hendrickson; both very consistent bands that have advanced to state in recent years.....one slip from Lake Travis could see them placing 5th or 6th and their recent successes being nothing more than a flashpoint.

 

I also agree that CP, Vandy, Lake Travis and DS are the surest bets for predictions, but I don't see them as locks that make the contest a shutout before it's even begun.

[drummerjoe]

  bonepit06-07 said:

Its funny that you automatically assume that these 4 bands are going to make it.. This is Area D where NOTHING is guaranteed or locked.. for example: Connally and Hendrickson have been the most consistent bands in this area over the past 4 State years, they 2 of the best programs in the State.. trust me they know how to get it done...

 

2nd at State in 07 was prolly the best moment ever.. this are not biast opinions, I have very familiar with the bands in the area.. There are soo many great programs that I still believe it is wide open.

 

You really can't compare this year to any other year. In 07, Cedar Park wasn't 4A and Vandegrift wasn't around. And didn't Connally also have some redistricting? They became 5A for a while and are 4A once more. I'm basing my predictions off what I've seen this year from each of the schools, and you are basing your's off of what these schools have done in the past. I wonder which would be more reliable.

 

 

  takigan said:

The only lock I see is Cedar Park. They're the only band that has been consistent enough in the past and this season to place that much confidence in. Vandegrift has been all over the place in rankings for the past 2 seasons....Regardless of their win over Cedar Park at Vista Ridge, there's no way they could be a lock at a high-stakes contest like this. Lake Travis has only recently begun to prove their mettle and they're going up against Connally and Hendrickson; both very consistent bands that have advanced to state in recent years.....one slip from Lake Travis could see them placing 5th or 6th and their recent successes being nothing more than a flashpoint.

 

I also agree that CP, Vandy, Lake Travis and DS are the surest bets for predictions, but I don't see them as locks that make the contest a shutout before it's even begun.

 

Vandegrift literally wasn't around until just recently, and this is the first year you can consider as a determinant of what they can put out there. So far, I've only seen good things from them, so I can only expect great things from them. Dripping Springs, on the other hand, consistently performs great shows. Lake Travis is having one heck of a year, so I do admit they are the ones I am most nervous about. If any one of those four don't make it, I'd expect it to be Lake Travis. I still believe them to be the more likely option than either Hendrickson or Connally, though.

Edited October 24, 2011 by drummerjoe

[longhornsax]

Yikes! Some disappointing results from region 12 with only 3 bands advancing from a region that usually has 5-6 1's. A lot of 1-2-2's in there. Any results from region 8 yet? If not, although unlikely, it is POSSIBLE for those 6 bands to get ones, if unlikely. Wouldn't count on it though.

 

Assuming there are 4 bands advancing, i will not deny that the 4 aforementioned bands are the obvious front runners, but they are FAR from locks, if we are to look at this history of this contest.

 

Traditionally, the results of earlier contests in the season have hardly had any correlation to the results of this contest, at least when it comes to the placement of the top bands. Dripping Springs always comes out of the gate strong, but it seems that everyone catches up when it comes to this contest. Even in '09 when they won state they placed 1st at state, they were 3rd in this contest in prelims, and tied with Hendrickson for first in finals after being a solid 8 points ahead of them at Westlake, very similar to this year. I think you can pretty much throw out all previous results for judging this one, because it's gonna be a slugfest. Lets just be real here, UIL judges are rarely consistent as we have seen in the past at this contest, and this year, they probably won't be, and to say something totally blasphemous they probably shouldn't be. These bands are all performing at such a high level, that I would be amazed if these judges could agree on a consistent top 10. There's gonna be some 2-9-4 music scores and 2-8 visual scores. I can guarantee that. And I REALLY hope we can just skip the part where everyone complains about this and just accepts that these bands really are THAT close.

 

With that and mind, again, I agree there are favorites in this contest. I agree with Brandon in that CP is about as close to a lock as you can be at this contest, with Vandy a close second. I don't see a Spicer-directed band choking in this situation, but until you prove yourself at this level of competition, you can't consider them a lock.

 

The next 2 spots I think can go to 5 bands that I think have a legitimate chance of making it out of here. Not that others don't stand a chance, but it's an uphill battle for them. Those being Dripping Springs, Lake Travis, the obvious choices, and then Hendrickson, Connally and Vista Ridge, who I think have the UIL system figured out. Hendrickson hasn't missed state finals since '03 and Connally hasn't missed 4A finals since '01! Vista managed to take the last advancing spots in both of its last 2 trips to area. How can you count these bands out?

 

Really unfortunate that this area will most likely only get 4 spots. Hoping to make it our there for finals. Should be exciting!

 

 

[Jo Ann]

  drummerjoe said:

Well for this year, I've personally seen Vandegrift, Cedar Park, Dripping Springs and Lake Travis perform incredible shows. All four of those schools are having incredibly good years, so I expect them to make it. Plus Lake Travis has the incredible incomparable Sir Lance Brightwell; they're a shoo-in for the win.

 

The incomparable Sir Lance Brightwell is the best!!!

[slw13]

This is an absolutely brutal Area....which is going to have some bands feeling very sad at the end of the day Saturday. Its very unfortunate that it looks like only 4 bands are going to get to go to state. Redistricting really had an impact on this area. Two years ago Cedar Park, Connally, and Vista Ridge were 5A bands; also, Vandegrift was just getting started. With Lake Travis improving significantly this year it really makes it hard to decipher who will still be standing at the end of the day. Schools who have been to state over the last 4 years from this area include (please correct me if I am wrong): Cedar Park (in 5A), Vista Ridge (also in 5A), Dripping Springs (defending 4A champions), Connally (missed 5A state by 1 point last time around if I am not mistaken, but last time in 4A finished 2nd in state), Hendrickson, Hayes (I think McCallum also perhaps made it, but I may be thinking of another year). With the ascension of Vandegrift, and the improvement of Lake Travis, IMHO there are 8-9 bands that are probably worthy of representing this area at state, and only 4 slots. If past history is any indicator all 4 bands who emerge from this area will probably place in the top 10 at state. I think someone on another forum suggested that some of the bands that don't make it out of this area probably could also be top 10 bands at state. Amazing. Good luck to all at this contest. I expect to see some great shows from all of these bands, and I will be feeling sad for those who don't make it.

[Bandlover]

Its hard to look at the performances of these bands and try to find one that really stands out; they are all great. it will be the smallest details that decide who will advance; the judges will be looking for perfection.

[longhornsax]

The schedule - http://www.uilmusicregion26.com/pdf/marching/4A.2011.pdf

[Thomas]

  longhornsax said:

Yikes! Some disappointing results from region 12 with only 3 bands advancing from a region that usually has 5-6 1's. A lot of 1-2-2's in there. Any results from region 8 yet? If not, although unlikely, it is POSSIBLE for those 6 bands to get ones, if unlikely. Wouldn't count on it though.

 

Assuming there are 4 bands advancing, i will not deny that the 4 aforementioned bands are the obvious front runners, but they are FAR from locks, if we are to look at this history of this contest.

 

Traditionally, the results of earlier contests in the season have hardly had any correlation to the results of this contest, at least when it comes to the placement of the top bands. Dripping Springs always comes out of the gate strong, but it seems that everyone catches up when it comes to this contest. Even in '09 when they won state they placed 1st at state, they were 3rd in this contest in prelims, and tied with Hendrickson for first in finals after being a solid 8 points ahead of them at Westlake, very similar to this year. I think you can pretty much throw out all previous results for judging this one, because it's gonna be a slugfest. Lets just be real here, UIL judges are rarely consistent as we have seen in the past at this contest, and this year, they probably won't be, and to say something totally blasphemous they probably shouldn't be. These bands are all performing at such a high level, that I would be amazed if these judges could agree on a consistent top 10. There's gonna be some 2-9-4 music scores and 2-8 visual scores. I can guarantee that. And I REALLY hope we can just skip the part where everyone complains about this and just accepts that these bands really are THAT close.

 

With that and mind, again, I agree there are favorites in this contest. I agree with Brandon in that CP is about as close to a lock as you can be at this contest, with Vandy a close second. I don't see a Spicer-directed band choking in this situation, but until you prove yourself at this level of competition, you can't consider them a lock.

 

The next 2 spots I think can go to 5 bands that I think have a legitimate chance of making it out of here. Not that others don't stand a chance, but it's an uphill battle for them. Those being Dripping Springs, Lake Travis, the obvious choices, and then Hendrickson, Connally and Vista Ridge, who I think have the UIL system figured out. Hendrickson hasn't missed state finals since '03 and Connally hasn't missed 4A finals since '01! Vista managed to take the last advancing spots in both of its last 2 trips to area. How can you count these bands out?

 

Really unfortunate that this area will most likely only get 4 spots. Hoping to make it our there for finals. Should be exciting!

 

My predictions for Area D:

1. Cedar Park

2. Vandegrift

3. Dripping Springs

4. Vista Ridge/Connally/Hendrickson/Lake Travis/Hays (in no order)

Edited October 25, 2011 by Thomas

[T.Stechnij]

YEAH. I am competing in Area D.

We used to think we had a little bit of a chance. Maybe if we try really hard we'll get that fifth spot! But when only twenty-two made it me so sad.

 

From seeing most of these bands I can not agree more with the general prediction. I really do wish there was a fifth spot so we could see Connally and Hendrickson brawl it out. The got eighth and ninth at Vista Ridge prelims and swapped in finals.

 

Is LBJs show worth mentioning? I know they got state a couple years back.

[drummerjoe]

  Jo Ann said:

The incomparable Sir Lance Brightwell is the best!!!

 

He is the greatest, most skilled, simply beautiful man in the world of modern percussion.

[drummerjoe]

  longhornsax said:

The schedule - http://www.uilmusicregion26.com/pdf/marching/4A.2011.pdf

 

My finals guess, in no particular order:

 

Cedar Park

McCallum

Cedar Ridge

Hays

Lake Travis

Dripping Springs

Connally

Vista Ridge

Hendrickson

Vandegrift

 

Of those 10, the advancers:

 

1. Cedar Park

2. Vandegrift

3. Dripping Springs

4. Lake Travis

[Cole]

  drummerjoe said:

My finals guess, in no particular order:

 

Cedar Park

McCallum

Cedar Ridge

Hays

Lake Travis

Dripping Springs

Connally

Vista Ridge

Hendrickson

Vandegrift

 

Of those 10, the advancers:

 

1. Cedar Park

2. Vandegrift

3. Dripping Springs

4. Lake Travis

 

In My opinion i think your right and wow cedar park performs first from the website tat was linked from the uil region 26 website

[buzz]

Although I'm sure a lot of you guys know what you are talking about.... if you haven't seen ANY of these shows, especially the ones that may not be as well known, then you shouldn't be making predictions based upon the results of past years or whether or not a band has "state experience" or "momentum from past years". Just because X band got Y place in Z year, this is 2011 and several "unknown" bands have REALLY stepped it up this year!

 

Back on track...

 

We can all guess the finalists, but I really hope that the judges are ready for that third block in pre-lims with Connally, followed by Vista Ridge, followed by Hendrickson, with Vandegrift later on... that's a tough block!

 

Finals isn't anyone's game, but it will come down to how well everyone performs. An off/bad run from even one band could drastically shift the results.

 

I'm telling my kids that even though we may not make it, MAKE SURE that we make judges regret not being able to send us. If we can accomplish that, then I think we've done our job.

Edited October 25, 2011 by benzein