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Post by ilikeguard on Jan 27, 2020 0:06:42 GMT -6
I made a prediction after finals last year, and I'm sticking to it. Ben Davis will be the first guard to be promoted mid-season to Scholastic World in many years. Their design last year was out of this world, and I still don't know how they weren't much closer to the medalists last season. They're incredibly talented and I can't imagine them finishing out this season in Open class. Wow!!!
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jan 27, 2020 9:59:52 GMT -6
@jeremiah I have something that I need you to fix with the WGI and FloMarching people. It’s been driving me crazy for two years now. Every time they list CTJ on the schedule for colorguard, they don’t capitalize Antonio in San Antonio. Every other SA area school has it capitalized correctly, but every single CTJ entry is listed as San antonio. It’s obviously in their system wrong and it just keeps repeating over and over. Dumb, I know, but it needs fixing!! Now back to your regularly scheduled programming. Edit: I just emailed WGI about it. We will see if I get any kind of response.
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jan 27, 2020 22:47:15 GMT -6
Well what do you know. They fixed it!
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Post by theclownemoji on Jan 27, 2020 22:52:27 GMT -6
Oh this show (BD 2019) was so underrated - it was so demanding on each performer. I’m unsure of where they got the recording of the woman reading the Dada manifesto, but she’s so compelling. I think I saw that BD scored a 74 this past weekend. I don’t think that your prediction is out of the question In other news, West Broward about 4-pointed everyone at their premiere (we get a pinball show this year!). Stoneman, Lyman, and Park Vista also all had fantastic showings as well. Also, Palm Desert Charter Middle School is already blowing us out of the water! I made a prediction after finals last year, and I'm sticking to it. Ben Davis will be the first guard to be promoted mid-season to Scholastic World in many years. Their design last year was out of this world, and I still don't know how they weren't much closer to the medalists last season. They're incredibly talented and I can't imagine them finishing out this season in Open class.
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Post by TXHillCountryBands on Jan 27, 2020 22:59:17 GMT -6
Well what do you know. They fixed it! San antonio thanks you! 😀🤘😀
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Post by WoodlandsMom4ever on Jan 28, 2020 7:37:53 GMT -6
Oh this show (BD 2019) was so underrated - it was so demanding on each performer. I’m unsure of where they got the recording of the woman reading the Dada manifesto, but she’s so compelling. I think I saw that BD scored a 74 this past weekend. I don’t think that your prediction is out of the question In other news, West Broward about 4-pointed everyone at their premiere (we get a pinball show this year!). Stoneman, Lyman, and Park Vista also all had fantastic showings as well. Also, Palm Desert Charter Middle School is already blowing us out of the water! I made a prediction after finals last year, and I'm sticking to it. Ben Davis will be the first guard to be promoted mid-season to Scholastic World in many years. Their design last year was out of this world, and I still don't know how they weren't much closer to the medalists last season. They're incredibly talented and I can't imagine them finishing out this season in Open class. Oh my word!! That’s a middle school!?!?!? 😲 that’s incredible!
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jan 28, 2020 13:03:55 GMT -6
Well what do you know. They fixed it! San antonio thanks you! 😀🤘😀
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jan 28, 2020 13:05:33 GMT -6
I posted an elementary school video last year from a California group. Even their elementary kids are better than some of our High School groups!!!! NO JOKE!
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jan 28, 2020 15:04:50 GMT -6
No it was a legit ELEMENTARY school!
I must have posted it on TxBands. Let me find it real quick.
Here ya go!
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Post by WoodlandsMom4ever on Jan 28, 2020 15:12:29 GMT -6
No it was a legit ELEMENTARY school! I must have posted it on TxBands. Let me find it real quick. Here ya go! 🤯 I was watching and I’m like this is so cute! And then they came out with the rifles... and were those Sabre’s? 😳🤯 Amazing!
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jan 28, 2020 15:19:00 GMT -6
Obviously they are doing something RIGHT in California when it comes to winter guard. That middle school group was just spectacular, and this elementary group I posted is well on their way to being simply outstanding in MS and HS!
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Post by srv1084 on Jan 28, 2020 15:28:53 GMT -6
They were absolutely robbed of the WGI Power Regional title last year. They were in first place after prelims and semis, and finished in 2nd at finals to a group that ended up finishing in 5th place at WGI finals.
The Palm Desert program is so fascinating to me. They have had a guard presence with WGI dating back to the 90s, but have never really made a major splash. Over the past couple of years, their guard program has seemingly transformed. They're known for their weapon-heavy full ensemble moments, even in the middle school. For those who aren't aware, they also have a middle school Junior Varsity guard of roughly the same size, and even they have won Regional A class titles at WGI regionals. The one thing I haven't been able to confirm is whether they have a high school junior varsity guard. It doesn't look like they do, which would be a bit strange to me as their high school guard is roughly 25-30 members but they have something like 50-60 members in the two middle school guards.
The high school guard has been in Scholastic Open the past several years, but haven't made their way to Dayton as far as I can tell. They elected to self-promote to world class this year, so we'll see how they do. All I know is this is an exciting program from top to bottom. I'm looking forward to seeing Palm Desert MS in Scholastic A class finals this year, unless they somehow become the first middle school in history to be promoted to Scholastic Open.
Last year's performance for those that haven't seen it.
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Post by indyguard on Jan 28, 2020 18:15:05 GMT -6
Ben Davis has always been consistently very good and their performers are excellent I don’t know that they’ll be promoted mid-season but I have a very good feeling they’ll medal this year and end up in scholastic world next year giving Indiana 7 world class guards. I made a prediction after finals last year, and I'm sticking to it. Ben Davis will be the first guard to be promoted mid-season to Scholastic World in many years. Their design last year was out of this world, and I still don't know how they weren't much closer to the medalists last season. They're incredibly talented and I can't imagine them finishing out this season in Open class.
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Post by srv1084 on Jan 28, 2020 18:21:30 GMT -6
Ben Davis has always been consistently very good and their performers are excellent I don’t know that they’ll be promoted mid-season but I have a very good feeling they’ll medal this year and end up in scholastic world next year giving Indiana 7 world class guards. They're certainly a favorite of mine. They've been bringing consistently unique shows to WGI for years now. Their "What were the Crows after?" and "Primitive Vibe of the Urban Tribe" shows were incredibly entertaining!
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Post by indyguard on Jan 28, 2020 18:36:03 GMT -6
I’m really interested to see how they’ll do at wgi Indy and see the standings with other open class groups afterwards. Open class is such an underrated class I’m excited to see what it’s like this year because last year was an amazing year for open class. Ben Davis has always been consistently very good and their performers are excellent I don’t know that they’ll be promoted mid-season but I have a very good feeling they’ll medal this year and end up in scholastic world next year giving Indiana 7 world class guards. They're certainly a favorite of mine. They've been bringing consistently unique shows to WGI for years now. Their "What were the Crows after?" and "Primitive Vibe of the Urban Tribe" shows were incredibly entertaining!
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Post by thewho on Jan 28, 2020 19:25:30 GMT -6
If I'm not mistaken, Ben Davis picked up the choreographer formerly at Lawrence Township (when they were in Open/World a few years ago) around 2015/2016 and really bloomed since then. You can even kind of chart his progress through the band shows since he's arrived. 2016 and 2017 were not shows one would look for choreography, but 2018 was a very movement-based show that Ben Davis pulled off pretty dang well (even if the concept itself wasn't that strong).
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2020 20:54:53 GMT -6
I’m excited to see some of the southern groups that are going to Dayton start getting into wgi comps after having been competing in SAPA for a couple months
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Post by thewho on Jan 29, 2020 8:28:09 GMT -6
Super excited to get out for IHSCGA New Palestine this weekend. I'll be out there for the A/Open/World groups:
Vincennes Lincoln High School Vincennes, IN A - Round 1 3:22 PM Columbus East Color Guard Columbus, IN A - Round 1 3:30 PM Westfield Varsity Westfield, IN A - Round 1 3:38 PM Avon A Avon, IN A - Round 1 3:46 PM Whiteland Varsity Whiteland, IN A - Round 1 3:54 PM Beech Grove Varsity Beech Grove, IN A - Round 1 4:02 PM Mooresville High School Color Guard Mooresville, IN A - Round 1 4:10 PM Owen Valley Varsity Guard Spencer, IN A - Round 1 4:18 PM Northeastern Damsels WG Fountain City, IN A - Round 1 4:26 PM Castle HS Winter Guard Newburgh, IN A - Round 1 4:34 PM Break 4:42 PM
Perry Meridian HS Winter Guard Indianapolis, IN A - Round 2 4:50 PM Ben Davis A Indianapolis, IN A - Round 2 4:58 PM New Palestine HS Winter Guard New Palestine, IN A - Round 2 5:06 PM Carmel HS A Guard Carmel, IN A - Round 2 5:14 PM Fishers A Guard Fishers, IN A - Round 2 5:22 PM Lafayette Jefferson Winter Guard Lafayette, IN A - Round 2 5:30 PM Franklin Central Winter Guard Indianapolis, IN A - Round 2 5:38 PM Muncie Central Winter Guard Muncie, IN A - Round 2 5:46 PM AIS Academy Guard Evansville, IN A - Round 2 5:54 PM One Light Danville, IN IA 6:02 PM Break 6:10 PM
Hamilton Southeastern High School Guard Fishers, IN O 6:18 PM Greenfield Central Greenfield, IN O 6:27 PM Greenwood Irish Guard Greenwood, IN O 6:36 PM Pendleton Heights HS Winter Guard Pendleton, IN O 6:45 PM Ben Davis HS Indianapolis, IN O 6:54 PM Zionsville Community High School Zionsville, IN O 7:03 PM
Break 7:12 PM
Fishers High School Winterguard Fishers, IN W 7:15 PM Warren Central Indianapolis, IN W 7:25 PM Carmel HS World Guard Carmel, IN W 7:35 PM Center Grove High School Greenwood, IN W 7:45 PM Avon HS World Avon, IN W 7:55 PM Inspire Indianapolis, IN IW 8:05 PM
Awards-Round 2 Reg A/A/Open/World 8:15 PM
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Post by drumcorpsgeek on Jan 29, 2020 15:54:09 GMT -6
We've got the first weekend of WGI CG this weekend.
WGI Corning Regional at Corning-Painted Post High School in Corning, NY.
Lineup
Scholastic Regional A (10:30am - 11:05am) Charles W Baker HS Homer HS Liverpool HS JV John C Birdlebough HS Central Square HS JV Jordan Elbridge HS
Break - 11:12am
Scholastic A (11:25am - 1:01pm) Baldwinsville HS Rome Free Academy Corning-Painted Post HS John C. Birdlebough HS Albany HS New Hartford HS Greater Johnstown HS Jordan Elbridge HS Mohonasen HS North Syracuse Central HS Central Square HS East Syracuse Minoa Central HS Liverpool HS
Break - 1:09pm
Independent A (2:05-2:45pm) 3rd Legend Oxford Academy Winterguard Gates Chili Independent Winter Guard Introspection Independent Winterguard Slippery Rock University Winter Guard
Break - 2:45pm
Scholastic Open (2:55pm-3:13pm) Arlington HS Phoenix HS
Independent Open (3:13pm-3:22pm) 3rd Legend
Break - 3:22pm
Scholastic World (3:30pm-3:40pm) North Syracuse Central HS
Independent World (3:40pm-3:50pm) The Brigadiers
Finals goes from 5:00pm-9:35pm
WGI San Antonio Regional at Canyon High School in New Braunfels, TX
Lineup
Scholastic Regional A (9:30am - 10:12am) - 3 ADVANCE Lehman HS JV - WITHDREW Earl Warren HS JV Ronald Reagan HS B Southwest HS McCollum HS Westlake HS (LA) Smithson Valley HS
Independent Regional A (10:19am-10:26am) - ALL ADVANCE Clements HS JV
Scholastic A Round 1 (10:40am-12:08pm) - 16 ADVANCE FROM SCHOLASTIC A Lee HS William Howard Taft HS New Braunfels HS Pioneer HS Winston Churchill HS Hays HS - WITHDREW Midlothian HS Westlake HS (TX) Cedar Park HS - WITHDREW Cedar Ridge HS Lampasas HS
Break - 12:08pm
Scholastic A Round 2 (1:00pm-2:20pm) San Marcos HS Veterans Memorial HS Heights HS Smithson Valley HS Vista Ridge HS Pflugerville HS Ronald Reagan HS A Melissa HS Edinburg North HS Westwood HS
Scholastic A Round 3 (2:35pm-3:55pm) Canyon HS Lehman HS - WITHDREW Friendswood HS Robert Vela HS John B. Connally HS Akins HS James Madison HS Clements HS Georgetown HS Edinburg HS
Break - 3:55pm
Scholastic Open (4:10pm-4:55pm) - ALL ADVANCE Hendrickson HS McNeil HS Ronald Reagan HS Earl Warren HS Medina Valley HS Leander HS
Independent Open (5:04pm-5:13pm) - ALL ADVANCE ORIGINS
Break - 5:13pm
Scholastic World (5:16pm-5:26pm) - ALL ADVANCE Claudia Taylor Johnson HS
Finals goes from 6:30pm-11:00pm
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jan 29, 2020 21:01:04 GMT -6
I’m definitely looking forward to this competition in New Braunfels, TX. I saw a lot of these guards last Saturday at Westwood High School and I’m ready to see some of the others!
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Post by propsquaddad on Jan 30, 2020 16:04:57 GMT -6
I’m definitely looking forward to this competition in New Braunfels, TX. I saw a lot of these guards last Saturday at Westwood High School and I’m ready to see some of the others! Scholastic A is going to be super competitive this year. Both in WGI and SNA in TCGC.
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jan 30, 2020 18:07:12 GMT -6
I’m definitely looking forward to this competition in New Braunfels, TX. I saw a lot of these guards last Saturday at Westwood High School and I’m ready to see some of the others! Scholastic A is going to be super competitive this year. Both in WGI and SNA in TCGC. I agree. The guards in Scholastic A have REALLY upped their game!
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Post by indyguard on Jan 30, 2020 21:34:53 GMT -6
I can confirm through sources from ihscga that fishers world will no longer be competing this weekend at new Palestine but their A guard will. Super excited to get out for IHSCGA New Palestine this weekend. I'll be out there for the A/Open/World groups: Vincennes Lincoln High School Vincennes, IN A - Round 1 3:22 PM Columbus East Color Guard Columbus, IN A - Round 1 3:30 PM Westfield Varsity Westfield, IN A - Round 1 3:38 PM Avon A Avon, IN A - Round 1 3:46 PM Whiteland Varsity Whiteland, IN A - Round 1 3:54 PM Beech Grove Varsity Beech Grove, IN A - Round 1 4:02 PM Mooresville High School Color Guard Mooresville, IN A - Round 1 4:10 PM Owen Valley Varsity Guard Spencer, IN A - Round 1 4:18 PM Northeastern Damsels WG Fountain City, IN A - Round 1 4:26 PM Castle HS Winter Guard Newburgh, IN A - Round 1 4:34 PM Break 4:42 PM
Perry Meridian HS Winter Guard Indianapolis, IN A - Round 2 4:50 PM Ben Davis A Indianapolis, IN A - Round 2 4:58 PM New Palestine HS Winter Guard New Palestine, IN A - Round 2 5:06 PM Carmel HS A Guard Carmel, IN A - Round 2 5:14 PM Fishers A Guard Fishers, IN A - Round 2 5:22 PM Lafayette Jefferson Winter Guard Lafayette, IN A - Round 2 5:30 PM Franklin Central Winter Guard Indianapolis, IN A - Round 2 5:38 PM Muncie Central Winter Guard Muncie, IN A - Round 2 5:46 PM AIS Academy Guard Evansville, IN A - Round 2 5:54 PM One Light Danville, IN IA 6:02 PM Break 6:10 PM
Hamilton Southeastern High School Guard Fishers, IN O 6:18 PM Greenfield Central Greenfield, IN O 6:27 PM Greenwood Irish Guard Greenwood, IN O 6:36 PM Pendleton Heights HS Winter Guard Pendleton, IN O 6:45 PM Ben Davis HS Indianapolis, IN O 6:54 PM Zionsville Community High School Zionsville, IN O 7:03 PM
Break 7:12 PM
Fishers High School Winterguard Fishers, IN W 7:15 PM Warren Central Indianapolis, IN W 7:25 PM Carmel HS World Guard Carmel, IN W 7:35 PM Center Grove High School Greenwood, IN W 7:45 PM Avon HS World Avon, IN W 7:55 PM Inspire Indianapolis, IN IW 8:05 PM
Awards-Round 2 Reg A/A/Open/World 8:15 PM
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Post by indyguard on Jan 30, 2020 21:36:42 GMT -6
Very excited to see the scholastic a guard shows this year it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out Scholastic A is going to be super competitive this year. Both in WGI and SNA in TCGC. I agree. The guards in Scholastic A have REALLY upped their game!
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Post by TeamIndiana on Jan 31, 2020 9:13:17 GMT -6
Super excited to get out for IHSCGA New Palestine this weekend. I'll be out there for the A/Open/World groups: Vincennes Lincoln High School Vincennes, IN A - Round 1 3:22 PM Columbus East Color Guard Columbus, IN A - Round 1 3:30 PM Westfield Varsity Westfield, IN A - Round 1 3:38 PM Avon A Avon, IN A - Round 1 3:46 PM Whiteland Varsity Whiteland, IN A - Round 1 3:54 PM Beech Grove Varsity Beech Grove, IN A - Round 1 4:02 PM Mooresville High School Color Guard Mooresville, IN A - Round 1 4:10 PM Owen Valley Varsity Guard Spencer, IN A - Round 1 4:18 PM Northeastern Damsels WG Fountain City, IN A - Round 1 4:26 PM Castle HS Winter Guard Newburgh, IN A - Round 1 4:34 PM Break 4:42 PM
Perry Meridian HS Winter Guard Indianapolis, IN A - Round 2 4:50 PM Ben Davis A Indianapolis, IN A - Round 2 4:58 PM New Palestine HS Winter Guard New Palestine, IN A - Round 2 5:06 PM Carmel HS A Guard Carmel, IN A - Round 2 5:14 PM Fishers A Guard Fishers, IN A - Round 2 5:22 PM Lafayette Jefferson Winter Guard Lafayette, IN A - Round 2 5:30 PM Franklin Central Winter Guard Indianapolis, IN A - Round 2 5:38 PM Muncie Central Winter Guard Muncie, IN A - Round 2 5:46 PM AIS Academy Guard Evansville, IN A - Round 2 5:54 PM One Light Danville, IN IA 6:02 PM Break 6:10 PM
Hamilton Southeastern High School Guard Fishers, IN O 6:18 PM Greenfield Central Greenfield, IN O 6:27 PM Greenwood Irish Guard Greenwood, IN O 6:36 PM Pendleton Heights HS Winter Guard Pendleton, IN O 6:45 PM Ben Davis HS Indianapolis, IN O 6:54 PM Zionsville Community High School Zionsville, IN O 7:03 PM
Break 7:12 PM
Fishers High School Winterguard Fishers, IN W 7:15 PM Warren Central Indianapolis, IN W 7:25 PM Carmel HS World Guard Carmel, IN W 7:35 PM Center Grove High School Greenwood, IN W 7:45 PM Avon HS World Avon, IN W 7:55 PM Inspire Indianapolis, IN IW 8:05 PM
Awards-Round 2 Reg A/A/Open/World 8:15 PM I thought Castle had moved to Open class. Did they move back down to A or do they have two competing groups (one in A and one in Open) and only the A group is competing?
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jan 31, 2020 12:51:36 GMT -6
I can't wait to see some of those guards in a few weeks on FloMarching!! Especially Avon and Carmel.
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Post by theclownemoji on Feb 2, 2020 13:15:40 GMT -6
[/quote]I thought Castle had moved to Open class. Did they move back down to A or do they have two competing groups (one in A and one in Open) and only the A group is competing? [/quote]
Castle self promoted to open a few years back. They moved back to A maybe two or three years ago.
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Post by srv1084 on Feb 2, 2020 13:55:09 GMT -6
I'm curious what others think about the current class structure. I feel pretty strongly that we need a fourth class in WGI, both on the percussion and guard side, but very much so on the guard side of the activity.
Last year there were 25 Scholastic A guards popping scores of 90+ at semi-finals. Five guards missed out on finals while achieving Box 5 scores. That's unbelievable. Most guard circuits already have additional classes, but it's usually to account for less seasoned guards competing below a standard "Scholastic A" level.
WGI increased Scholastic A finalists to 24 a few years ago (it seems like it's now back down to 20, which is also the max for other classes depending on participation numbers). That seems like an overly simplistic solution to a crowded field. I feel like they're at the point where they should simply add a class above the current Scholastic A level and below Scholastic Open.
On the percussion side of the activity, once or twice a decade WGI will go through a "mass promotion" to rebalance the classes. The argument is that they reevaluate the criteria for classes and determine that current participation is not in line with criteria resulting in a large number of mid-season promotions, but everyone sees through this. The reevaluation of criteria is a convenient solution to more evenly balance the number of units in the classes, which feels even more obvious when looking at the relative success of those units promoted. Sometime around 2009-2010, about 15 units were promoted - only one made semi-finals in PSO, and none made finals. Last year, approximately 10-15 were promoted to PSO - a few made semi-finals, and two made finals. Most of those units would have made finals in PSA class but had no success in PSO, so it makes me wonder if there is also a need for an in-between class on the percussion side as well. As a side note, many of those mid-season promoted units end up moving back down to PSA the following year given their lack of success or not being ready for PSO.
So after this long-winded post, I'm curious what others think. Is there a need for another class? Is the current system fine? What would be the pros/cons of doing so?
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Post by indyguard on Feb 2, 2020 21:40:31 GMT -6
I agree with you because scholastic A has gotten so big that now at just a regional competition (wgi Indy) this year they’re doing SA prelims are a whole separate school while doing prelims, semis, and finals while SO and SW just do prelims and finals at the main high school. I’m not sure how it would work with adding a class between SA and SO seeing that the average for wgi and local circuits is A, Open, and World so I don’t know how they would do that with the factor of local circuits but I agree that something has to be changed for SA because it is jam packed I'm curious what others think about the current class structure. I feel pretty strongly that we need a fourth class in WGI, both on the percussion and guard side, but very much so on the guard side of the activity. Last year there were 25 Scholastic A guards popping scores of 90+ at semi-finals. Five guards missed out on finals while achieving Box 5 scores. That's unbelievable. Most guard circuits already have additional classes, but it's usually to account for less seasoned guards competing below a standard "Scholastic A" level. WGI increased Scholastic A finalists to 24 a few years ago (it seems like it's now back down to 20, which is also the max for other classes depending on participation numbers). That seems like an overly simplistic solution to a crowded field. I feel like they're at the point where they should simply add a class above the current Scholastic A level and below Scholastic Open. On the percussion side of the activity, once or twice a decade WGI will go through a "mass promotion" to rebalance the classes. The argument is that they reevaluate the criteria for classes and determine that current participation is not in line with criteria resulting in a large number of mid-season promotions, but everyone sees through this. The reevaluation of criteria is a convenient solution to more evenly balance the number of units in the classes, which feels even more obvious when looking at the relative success of those units promoted. Sometime around 2009-2010, about 15 units were promoted - only one made semi-finals in PSO, and none made finals. Last year, approximately 10-15 were promoted to PSO - a few made semi-finals, and two made finals. Most of those units would have made finals in PSA class but had no success in PSO, so it makes me wonder if there is also a need for an in-between class on the percussion side as well. As a side note, many of those mid-season promoted units end up moving back down to PSA the following year given their lack of success or not being ready for PSO. So after this long-winded post, I'm curious what others think. Is there a need for another class? Is the current system fine? What would be the pros/cons of doing so?
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Post by flynnmac on Feb 2, 2020 21:42:25 GMT -6
I'm curious what others think about the current class structure. I feel pretty strongly that we need a fourth class in WGI, both on the percussion and guard side, but very much so on the guard side of the activity. Last year there were 25 Scholastic A guards popping scores of 90+ at semi-finals. Five guards missed out on finals while achieving Box 5 scores. That's unbelievable. Most guard circuits already have additional classes, but it's usually to account for less seasoned guards competing below a standard "Scholastic A" level. WGI increased Scholastic A finalists to 24 a few years ago (it seems like it's now back down to 20, which is also the max for other classes depending on participation numbers). That seems like an overly simplistic solution to a crowded field. I feel like they're at the point where they should simply add a class above the current Scholastic A level and below Scholastic Open. On the percussion side of the activity, once or twice a decade WGI will go through a "mass promotion" to rebalance the classes. The argument is that they reevaluate the criteria for classes and determine that current participation is not in line with criteria resulting in a large number of mid-season promotions, but everyone sees through this. The reevaluation of criteria is a convenient solution to more evenly balance the number of units in the classes, which feels even more obvious when looking at the relative success of those units promoted. Sometime around 2009-2010, about 15 units were promoted - only one made semi-finals in PSO, and none made finals. Last year, approximately 10-15 were promoted to PSO - a few made semi-finals, and two made finals. Most of those units would have made finals in PSA class but had no success in PSO, so it makes me wonder if there is also a need for an in-between class on the percussion side as well. As a side note, many of those mid-season promoted units end up moving back down to PSA the following year given their lack of success or not being ready for PSO. So after this long-winded post, I'm curious what others think. Is there a need for another class? Is the current system fine? What would be the pros/cons of doing so? I'd say you bring up a very good point with this post. With the fact that there are so many talented A Class guards & drumlines out there that aren't ready for open class quite yet, the new class would be a great transition class from A to Open.
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