All Age Corps 2024 Standings

[N.E. Brigand]

My understanding is that the highest score as of Aug. 4 will be used to determine order for All Age Championships on Aug. 10. There are three classes within All Age Class, based on size: World Class, Open Class, and A Class. Corrections and all other feedback is most welcome!

At the end of the Week 1 (though June 30):
1. Reading Buccaneers (w) 76.95 (Shelton, June 29)
2. Bushwackers (w) 74.45 (Shelton, June 29)
3. Hawthorne Caballeros (w) 74.30 (Shelton, June 29)
4. Connecticut Hurricanes (w) 68.10 (Shelton, June 29)
5. Fusion Core (o) 66.30 (Shelton, June 29)
6. Sunrisers (a) 64.20 (Shelton, June 29)
7. Govenaires (a) 54.95 (Madison, June 29)

Corps yet to compete:
- Cincinnati Tradition [o] (Mason, July 2)
- Atlanta CV (w) (Lexington, July 6)
- Rogues Hollow Regiment (o) (Whitewater, July 6)
- Skyliners (a) (Clifton, July 13)
- Columbus Saints (a) (Bellbrook, July 19) *
- White Sabers (o) (Landisville, July 20)

*The Saints had been on the schedule for Mason tomorrow, but elsewhere on the web, I read that they had to pull out because some licensing rights have not yet been secured.[/a]

[N.E. Brigand]

At the end of the Week 2 (though July 7):
1. Reading Buccaneers (w) 76.95 (Shelton, June 29) *
2. Cincinnati Tradition (o) 74.95 (Mason, July 2) **
3. Bushwackers (w) 74.45 (Shelton, June 29) *
4. Hawthorne Caballeros (w) 74.30 (Shelton, June 29) *
5. Rogues Hollow Regiment (o) 72.70 (Whitewater, July 6) **
6. Connecticut Hurricanes (w) 68.10 (Shelton, June 29) *
7. Fusion Core (o) 66.30 (Shelton, June 29) *
8. Sunrisers (a) 64.20 (Shelton, June 29) *
9. Govenaires (a) 54.95 (Madison, June 29) ***

Corps yet to compete:
- Atlanta CV (w) (Newman, July 9) ****
- Skyliners (a) (Clifton, July 13)
- Columbus Saints (a) (Bellbrook, July 19)
- White Sabers (o) (Landisville, July 20)

*next show: Clifton, July 13
**next show: Brunswick, July 20
***next show: Mankato, July 9
****Atlanta CV had been scheduled to debut on July 6, but the Lexington show was rained out.

[N.E. Brigand]

At the end of the Week 3 (though July 14):

1. -- 85.85 Reading Buccaneers (w) (Clifton, July 13) ***
2. -- 84.00 Bushwackers (w) (Clifton, July 13) ***
3. -- 81.95 Hawthorne Caballeros (w) (Clifton, July 13) ***
4. -- 77.75 Connecticut Hurricanes (w) (Clifton, July 13) *****
5. -- 76.65 Atlanta CV (w) (Newman, July 9) ****
6. -- 74.95 Cincinnati Tradition (o) (Mason, July 2) *
7. -- 73.65 Fusion Core (o) (Clifton, July 13) ***
8. -- 72.70 Rogues Hollow Regiment (o) (Whitewater, July 6) **
9. -- 70.80 Govenaires (a) (Ankeny, July 14) ******
10. -- 70.05 Sunrisers (a) (Clifton, July 13) *****
11. -- 66.40 Skyliners (a) (Clifton, July 13) ***

Corps yet to compete:
- Columbus Saints (a) (Bellbrook, July 19)
- White Sabers (o) (Landisville, July 20)


*next show: Bellbrook, July 19
**next show: Brunswick, July 20
***next show: Landisville, July 20
****next show: Birmingham, July 26
*****next show: Mount Olive, July 27
******next show: Chamlin, July 31

[N.E. Brigand]

At the end of the Week 4 (though July 20 -- there are no shows on July 21):

All Age - World Class
1. -- 87.95 Reading Buccaneers (Landisville, July 20) ***
2. -- 85.30 Bushwackers (Landisville, July 20) ***
3. -- 85.05 Hawthorne Caballeros (Landisville, July 20) ***
4. -- 77.75 Connecticut Hurricanes (w) (Clifton, July 13) ***
5. -- 76.65 Atlanta CV (w) (Newman, July 9) **

All Age - Open Class
1. -- 83.25 Cincinnati Tradition (Brunswick, July 20) ****
2. -- 77.95 White Sabers (Landisville, July 20) *
3. -- 77.40 Rogues Hollow Regiment (Brunswick, July 20) ****
4. -- 76.00 Fusion Core (Landisville, July 20) ***

All Age - Class A
1. -- 70.80 Govenaires (Ankeny, July 14) *****
2. -- 70.05 Sunrisers (Clifton, July 13) ***
3. -- 69.10 Columbus Saints (Bellbrook, July 19) ****
4. -- 67.00 Skyliners (Landisville, July 20) ******

An alumnus of Rogues Hollow Regiment and Columbus Saints sitting near me at Brunswick said that RHR was Class A this year, but I can't find confirmation of that.

*next show: Syracuse, July 23
**next show: Birmingham, July 26
***next show: Mount Olive, July 27
****next show: Orrville, July 28
*****next show: Champlin, July 31
******next show: Rochester, August 3

[N.E. Brigand]

At the end of the Week 5 (though July 28):

All Age - World Class
1. -- 91.30 Reading Buccaneers (Mount Olive, July 27)*****
2. -- 89.85 Hawthorne Caballeros (Mount Olive, July 27)*****
3. -- 87.85 Bushwackers (Mount Olive, July 27)*****
4. -- 82.775 Atlanta CV (Atlanta, July 27)
5. -- 81.85 Connecticut Hurricanes (Mount Olive, July 27)***

All Age - Open Class
1. -- 85.35 Cincinnati Tradition (Orrville, July 28)*
2. -- 82.35 White Sabers (Mount Olive, July 27)***
3. -- 79.30 Rogues Hollow Regiment (Orville, July 28)***
4. -- 76.00 Fusion Core (Landisville, July 20)*****

All Age - Class A
1. -- 70.85 Sunrisers (Mount Olive, July 27)***
2. -- 70.80 Govenaires (Ankeny, July 14)**
3. -- 69.10 Columbus Saints (Bellbrook, July 19) (most recent score is 67.75 on July 28)****
4. -- 67.00 Skyliners (Landisville, July 20)***

*next show: Centerville, July 30
**next show: Champlin, July 31
***next show: Rochester, August 3
****next show: Evansville, August 3
*****next show: Downington, August 4

Bold indicates a corps with no further competitions until All Age Finals on August 10.

[N.E. Brigand]

Jul 29, 2024 0:26:21 GMT -6 N.E. Brigand said:

At the end of the Week 5 (though July 28) ...
1. -- 91.30 Reading Buccaneers (July 27)
2. -- 89.85 Hawthorne Caballeros (July 27)
3. -- 87.85 Bushwackers (July 27)

Comparing to the past twenty seasons, these were the top three scores at two weeks before championships (i.e., in mid-August) and those corps' Prelims/Finals scores at championships:

2023
Reading Buccaneers: 92.20 >>> 97.70/99.00
Hawthorne Caballeros: 90.90 >>> 95.25/97.00
Bushwackers 86.05 >>> 91.20/92.20

2022
Reading Buccaneers: 90.65 >>> 96.88/97.60
Hawthorne Caballeros: 91.60 >>> 96.33/96.73
Bushwackers: 84.60 >>> 92.53/94.60

(I'm skipping 2021 because I'm not sure an all-virtual season is comparable. And there were no shows in 2020.)

2019
Reading Buccaneers: 91.65 >>> 96.50/98.23
Hawthorne Caballeros: 90.05 >>> 93.93/95.20 (Finals: 3rd)
Bushwackers: 84.85 >>> 90.33/91.63 (5th)
(Prelims and Finals were on the same day this year.)

2018
Reading Buccaneers: 86.95 (C-5) >>> 97.83/98.00
White Sabers 86.20 (C-3) >>> 92.10/91.74 (7th)
Fusion Core 86.05 (C-3) >>> 93.10/92.88 (4th)

2017
Reading Buccaneers: 93.45 >>> 98.28/98.93
Hawthorne Caballeros: 90.25 >>> 94.40/94.38 (4th)
White Sabers: 89.85 >>> 92.78/93.38 (5th)

2016
Reading Buccaneers: 93.75 >>> 97.03/97.25 (2nd)
Minnesota Brass: 91.65 >>> 95.55/96.95 (3rd)
Cadets2: 90.90 >>> 97.68/97.95 (1st)

2015
Reading Buccaneers: 91.70 >>> 97.23/97.58
Hawthorne Caballeros: 91.05 >>> 95.20/94.88 (4th)
Minnesota Brass: 90.90 >>> 94.98/95.40 (3rd)

2014
Hawthorne Caballeros: 92.60 >>> 96.85/96.53 (T-2nd)*
Reading Buccaneers: 92.55 >>> 95.95/97.55 (1st)
Minnesota Brass: 92.35 >>> 96.40/96.53 (T-2nd)
*Caballeros were penalized one point at Finals for stepping over the front boundary line, which dropped them to third place.

2013
Minnesota Brass: 94.15 >>> 96.70/96.65 (2nd)
Reading Buccaneers: 93.95 >>> 97.98/98.43 (1st)
Hawthorne Caballeros: 91.80 >>> 96.18/96.98 (2nd)

2012
Reading Buccaneers: 92.95 >>> 98.50/99.03
Minnesota Brass: 91.35 >>> 95.80/96.23
Hawthorne Caballeros: 89.90 >>> 94.83/94.78

2011
Minnesota Brass: 94.25 >>> 97.73/98.35
Reading Buccaneers 93.00 >>> 97.43/97.45
Connecticut Hurricanes 91.95 >>> 94.30/94.35 (4th)

2010
Reading Buccaneers: 93.40 >>> 97.50/98.26
Minnesota Brass: 93.22 >>> 95.56/97.23
Connecticut Hurricanes: 92.30 >>> 94.35/95.34 (4th)

2009
Minnesota Brass: 93.64 >>> 94.88/97.59 (2nd)
Empire Statesmen: 92.64 >>> 92.76/96.20 (3rd)
Hawthorne Caballeros: 92.13 >>> 92.61/94.24 (5th)

2008
Reading Buccaneers: 93.24 >>> 98.14/97.91
Empire Statesmen: 91.43 >>> 96.01/95.06 (3rd)
Minnesota Brass: 91.01 >>> 95.11/96.51 (2nd)

2007
Reading Buccaneers: 93.59 >>> 97.39/98.31
Empire Statesmen: 92.13 >>> 95.56/95.65 (3rd)
Hawthorne Caballeros: 90.93 >>> 96.66/96.65 (2nd)

2006
Reading Buccaneers: 92.79 >>> 97.28/97.24
Empire Statesmen: 92.50 >>> 96.96/96.95
Bushwackers: 91.44 >>> 95.36/95.64

2005
Reading Buccaneers: 93.58 >>> 97.48/98.45
Bushwackers: 92.11 >>> 95.00/94.74 (3rd)
Empire Statesmen: 91.55 >>> 94.41/95.23 (2nd)

2004
Syracuse Brigadiers: 90.95 >>> 95.58/96.19 (2nd)
Empire Statesmen: 90.59 >>> 96.86/96.51 (1st)
Hawthorne Caballeros: 90.46 >>> 94.89/95.10 (4th)

2003
Syracuse Brigadiers: 91.95 >>> 95.94/96.08 (2nd)
Hawthorne Caballeros: 90.34 (C-3) >>> 97.44/97.38 (1st)
Empire Statesmen: 90.19 >>> 95.53/95.81

2002
Syracuse Brigadiers: 93.90 >>> 96.65/98.60
Empire Statesmen: 91.90 >>> 94.90/96.75
Reading Buccaneers: 91.10 >>> 94.00/95.55

I rounded these to the nearest one-hundredth of a point. A note reading "C-3" or "C-4" means that corps' score was not two weeks but three or four weeks before championships. Before doing any averages, I've adjusted those four instances to estimate what that corps' score would have been if they had competed two weeks out.

A key point is that because the all-age corps perform mainly on weekends, and sometimes skip a weekend, one rained out show or weekend off can skew the rankings in a big way. I would also note that until quite recently, a number of all-age corps would sometimes have shows on both the Saturday and the Sunday of a given weekend, doubling their chances of getting a helpful score.

Historically, the top three scores two weeks before championships are:

1. average 92.89, median 93.32 (range: 90.65-94.25) -- compare to 2024 Buccaneers at 91.30.
2. average 91.60, median 91.71 (range: 87.31-93.95) -- compare to 2024 Caballeros at 89.85.
3. average 90.08, median 90.92 (range: 84.60-92.35) -- compare to 2024 Bushwackers at 87.85.

We are five weeks out from what had been the all-age championship weekend from 1967 to 2023. So either the scoring curve has been adjusted to lower expectations, or the corps figured out how to make the new schedule mostly work for them: these scores are in the low end of the historical range, but they're in it.

Next the question is: how much are the corps likely to improve over the next two weeks, and what does it mean that there are only Finals with no Prelims this year? On average, the 60 examples listed above improved 0.64 points between Prelims on Saturday and Finals on Sunday. Even in 2019, when both events were held on Saturday because of the threat of severe weather on Sunday, the top corps improved by more than that. (All that said, it appears to me that it was likelier in DCA than in DCI to see a top corps' score drop between Prelims and Finals. And for what it's worth, my quick impression is that Caballeros seem to struggle at championships relative to other corps.) I'm not sure how corps are planning to rehearse for a Saturday morning championship. I thought the performances in the 2019 Prelims were shaky compared to what I'm used to (Prelims on Saturday afternoon-evening, Finals on Sunday evening). Have they set aside rehearsal time on Friday?

These are the average increases in score at Prelims for the corps who held the top three scores two weeks earlier:

1. average 4.21, median 4.30 (range 1.24-6.23) -- foretells 2024 Buccaneers at 95.5.
2. average 3.93, median 4.15 (range 0.12-6.27) -- foretells 2024 Caballeros at 93.8.
3. average 4.33, median 4.24 (range 0.48-7.93) -- foretells 2024 Bushwackers at 92.2.

In other words, a step down from previous years. Of course it won't be that straightforward. Bushwackers beat Caballeros earlier this season. It may happen again this Sunday in Downington. And maybe the corps have made adjustments for this new model that will get them closer to their historical averages.

[N.E. Brigand]

At the end of the Week 6 (though August 4), these are the highest scores achieved by each corps:

All Age - World Class
1. -- 92.30 Reading Buccaneers (Downington, August 4)
2. -- 90.25 Hawthorne Caballeros (Downington, August 4)
3. -- 89.05 Bushwackers (Downington, August 4)
4. -- 86.10 Connecticut Hurricanes (Rochester, August 3)
5. -- 82.78 Atlanta CV (Atlanta, July 27)

All Age - Open Class
1. -- 85.35 Cincinnati Tradition (Orrville, July 28) (most recent score is 83.90 on July 30)
2. -- 84.90 White Sabers (Rochester, August 3)
3. -- 83.00 Rogues Hollow Regiment (Rochester, August 3)
4. -- 79.10 Fusion Core (Rochester, August 3)

All Age - Class A
1. -- 77.25 Sunrisers (Rochester, August 3)
2. -- 76.20 Govenaires (Champlin, July 31)
3. -- 73.80 Skyliners (Rochester, August 3)
4. -- 69.10 Columbus Saints (Bellbrook, July 19) (most recent score is 67.50 on August 3)

The inagural DCI All Age Championships are Saturday morning, and I believe the corps will perform in the reverse order of the list above.

[N.E. Brigand]

Aug 4, 2024 20:55:27 GMT -6 N.E. Brigand said:

At the end of the Week 6 (though August 4), these are the highest scores achieved by each corps...

The inaugural DCI All Age Championships are Saturday morning, and I believe the corps will perform in the reverse order of the list above.

And that is indeed the show order on Saturday, with two *short* intermissions (one between each of the divisions). Get your food before the show starts, if possible.

Next year the number of corps in All Age class probably will be about the same, but obviously they want to grow it, so if they stay in Indianapolis, this event will have to start even earlier.

- - - - - - - - - -
Given that the All Age corps draw much more from a local base, I wonder if the new schedule, with the season concluding on the second weekend of August rather than Labor Day weekend, advantages some corps over others depending on where they're located. I was very surprised two years ago to learn, while attending the DCA championships in Rochester, that students in New York don't the school year until after Labor Day. But that also means that school there continues until well into June (a glance at the Rochester schools calendar shows that next year the last day is June 25). Mind you, New York may be a bad example. Most of the top New York corps -- e.g., Empire Statesmen, Syracuse Brigadiers, Long Island Sunrisers, New York Skyliners, Rochester Crusaders -- were already gone or mere shadows of their past selves before this year. (The White Sabers, who scored from 88 to 93 in all but one of the previous nine seasons, might yet reach the lower number this year.) Are there other states where school starts that late? And of course, states where school starts and ends earlier may benefit from this calendar. Or maybe, because the corps are weekends-only, it doesn't make much difference.

Something else to bear in mind is that the All Age corps this year are on new sheets (to them), and it may take time for them to adjust.