BOA Waco Preview
“Why?” That’s a question you’ll hear from many Texas bands, and they all know the answer. Because Waco. BOA returns to Waco for the fourth season in a row, being held at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium this year. This contest consists of almost entirely UIL 5A bands, meaning many bands not used to being in the spotlight will get their chance to shine. Here is the full schedule (all times CT):
7:45 - Waco H.S., TX
8:00 - Meridian H.S., TX
8:15 - Georgetown H.S., TX
8:30 - Pieper H.S., TX
8:45 - McKinney North H.S., TX
9:00 - Richland H.S., TX
9:15 - Granbury H.S., TX
BREAK
10:00 - Douglas MacArthur H.S., TX
10:15 - Argyle H.S., TX
10:30 - Hendrickson H.S., TX**
10:45 - Jack C. Hays H.S., TX
11:00 - Burleson H.S., TX*
11:15 - Memorial H.S., TX*
11:30 - McCallum H.S., TX
11:45 - Lovejoy H.S., TX
BREAK
12:45 - Burleson Centennial H.S., TX**
1:00 - Liberal Arts and Science Academy, TX**
1:15 - Birdville H.S., TX
1:30 - Roma H.S., TX*
1:45 - M.G. Johnson H.S., TX**
2:00 - Bastrop H.S., TX
2:15 - Rouse H.S., TX**
BREAK
3:00 - Midlothian H.S., TX**
3:15 - Colleyville Heritage H.S., TX**
3:30 - Aledo H.S., TX**
3:45 - Leander H.S., TX
4:00 - A&M Consolidated H.S., TX
4:15 - The Colony H.S., TX
4:30 - #16 Cedar Park H.S., TX**
4:45 - EXH. Baylor University Golden Wave Band
* Denotes returning group
** Denotes returning finalist
There are lots of exciting bands here who are attending their first BOA Regional ever. Waco (TX) is the first of these groups, kicking off the day as the only truly local program in competition. Right after them is Meridian (TX), with a tiny 9-12 enrollment of 100 (not only BOA Class 1A but also UIL Class 1A), the first-ever school of that size in Texas to attend a BOA Regional. Next, one of the two new Comal ISD schools, Pieper (TX), which currently only has grades 9-11 on campus, will be attending their first regional, and going on right after them is McKinney North (TX), which had a stunning bronze medal finish at 5A Area B last weekend. In the next block, the eight-time 3A/4A state champion Argyle (TX) performs alongside Lovejoy (TX), both at their first-ever BOA competition. The final band making their BOA debut isn’t until the last block with A&M Consolidated (TX), who qualified for the 5A State Marching Contest last year.
Two Texas bands attending BOA Grand Nationals this year are Hendrickson (TX) and Moe and Gene Johnson (TX), both of whom were at this regional last year. BOA Midland Champion Johnson is not one of the many 5A programs in attendance, they are skipping 6A Area (and, by extension, State) to go to this competition, and it will be their last BOA before their trip to Indianapolis. On the other hand, Hendrickson will also be attending the BOA San Antonio Super Regional next weekend.
Three Leander ISD programs will be here as well, including the defending Champion #16 Cedar Park (TX) and defending Silver Medalist #25 Rouse (TX), but this year they will be joined by Leander (TX), who did not attend this regional in 2021. Other returning finalists include Colleyville Heritage (TX), Aledo (TX), Burleson Centennial (TX), Liberal Arts and Science Academy (TX), and Midlothian (TX). They are going to face resistance from some of the new faces mentioned above, but also other strong 5A programs such as Richland (TX), Jack C. Hays (TX), McCallum (TX), Roma (TX), and The Colony (TX).
In some ways, this is our first taste of what the UIL 5A competition could look like next year on the state level after the 2022-2024 UIL realignments. With many newcomers and up-and-coming programs, this contest will surely satisfy. Also, a newcomer to this contest is me, as I will be on-site at BOA Waco for my first time doing coverage for GEM, so feel free to come and say hi!
Aaron Blackley is one of the original contributors for General Effect Media. Despite being young and fresh out of college, he has a vast knowledge and passion for the marching arts and has worked alongside the likes of HornRank as a ranker and moderator as well as the TxBands.com liveblog team since summer 2021. He can be found on Twitter as @GEMAaronB.