BOA Iowa Preview
BOA Cedar Falls at the UNI Dome is dead.
From its ashes has risen the BOA Iowa Regional, located roughly two hours away by car in Waukee, Iowa at Northwest High School. It’s 40 hours if you got the whole band together and marched from one to the other, which is what Google Maps must have assumed I was planning on doing when it gave me the walking distance time rather than driving time. 15 bands from across the Upper-ish Midwest will be in attendance, representing the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, and South Dakota, but mostly Iowa and Nebraska. The move from Cedar Falls to Waukee has made this regional far more accessible to Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas groups, though being a relatively new regional has kept BOA Iowa out of the minds of many Midwest band directors, who instead opt for more familiar local contests. Both previous champions thus far have failed to return to the contest. The good news: there is a 100% chance of a first-time BOA Iowa champion this weekend. Let’s talk about our contenders!
Notably absent are many heavy hitters from past seasons, such as Blue Springs, Camdenton, Grain Valley, Marian Catholic, Morton, and Rosemount. On the flip side, returning for the third consecutive year is Independence, an up-and-coming force within Class A, as well as Lincoln and Lincoln-Way who are well-known to the marching arts world. Here’s the full schedule:
(All Times CT)
11:45 AM - Lincoln (SD)
12:00 PM - Omaha Burke (NE)
12:15 PM - Bellevue West (NE)*
12:30 PM - Dowling Catholic (IA)*
12:45 PM - Millard South (NE)*
1:00 PM - Blue Valley Southwest (KS)
1:15 PM - Bellevue East (NE)*
1:30 PM - Grand Rapids (MN)
BREAK
2:30 PM - Davenport Central (IA)*
2:45 PM - Rock Island (IL)
3:00 PM - Blaine (MN)
3:15 PM - Lincoln-Way Community (IL)
3:30 PM - MOC-Floyd Valley (IA)
3:45 PM - Northwest (IA)*
4:00 PM - Independence (IA)*
4:15 PM - EXH. University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band
*Denotes returning group
Iowa is a fairly small regional this year, but nonetheless an exciting one. The (barely) morning block begins with a late addition of Lincoln (SD), a consistent Regional and Super Regional finalist, as well as a consistent Youth In Music finalist. Lincoln is expected to once again bring a well-made, entertaining product to the field. Challenging them for the gold medal is Lincoln-Way (IL), an incredibly successful group that can also claim the titles of finalist at the Regional and Super Regional level, though we haven’t seen them in Bands of America competition as steadily as Lincoln - more on that later. Omaha Burke (NE) returns after a hiatus from BOA, followed by Bellevue West (NE), another past Regional and Super Regional finalist. Dowling Catholic (IA) and Millard South (NE) continue our morning block into the afternoon. Blue Valley Southwest (KS) returns to Iowa after taking the 2021 season off. Finishing up the first block are Bellevue East (NE) (the same Bellevue as Bellevue West) and Grand Rapids (MN), one of two bands from the chilly far north of Minnesota.
After an hour-long break, we return with veteran attendee Davenport Central (IA), one of only a few bands with an unbroken attendance streak. Rock Island (IL) continues the second block, making their first appearance at this regional. Blaine (MN) represents the other MN band here at Iowa, also in their first appearance at Iowa after previously attending Youth In Music. Following is the ever-anticipated Lincoln-Way, gearing up for a packed season that includes Grand Nationals in November. MOC-Floyd Valley (IA) surges in next, one of two bands seeking the Class A title. Northwest (IA), our host, competes next, returning after competing in Cedar Falls last season. Independence (IA), in their third consecutive year, returns to the Iowa regional, hoping to once again claim a top-half spot in finals as they qualified for in prelims in 2021, but did not attend. They’ve been the undefeated Class A champion so far, and claim the final performance spot of the judged competition.
Those watching from home who can manage to pry their attention away from BOA Austin on Saturday will surely not be disappointed; although we’re looking at an arguably less high-stakes competition up here in Iowa, each group in attendance will be putting up a fight. With only 15 bands in attendance, this fight is not for the right to participate in Finals- all 15 bands will be moving on- but rather a battle for a performance order advantage, hoping to cement their spot in the upper half and potentially claim a Bands of America Regional medal. Just as in the past two years of this regional, we’ll also see a first-time BOA Regional Champion. While Lincoln-Way is heavily favored to come out on top on Saturday, veteran fans of the game will tell you that it’s anyone’s competition, and that’s sure to light a fire underneath Lincoln, as well as every other group in attendance.
Hattie Bartlett is an experienced marching arts content creator making her writing debut with GEM. As a former member of the color guard, she has traveled across the country covering events with WGI and Box5, as well as informally commentating via HornRank. Hattie is currently on staff at the University of Missouri as a field photographer and communications intern. She can be found on Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok as @ilikeguard.