Indianapolis SUPER Preview
Super Regional #2 of the Year!
The second of three Bands of America Super Regionals takes place this weekend in the stadium where Grand Nationals will take place just three weeks afterward! That's right: The Indianapolis Super Regional is upon us, and we’ll get a sneak peek of what may occur in just a few short weeks as several potential Grand National finalists take the field. This preview review will differ slightly from previously published articles as this is a Super Regional. With a total of 9 states represented by 84 bands, there are a lot of groups to try and cover! (EDITOR’S NOTE: For an explanation of the two panels, look at this article)
There are some natural highlights at this event: most notably, you’ll find the two bands that have consistently dominated this event in the past. Since this first became a Super Regional in 2011, only #4 Avon (IN) and #3 Carmel (IN) have won the Championship. You'd have to go back to 2008 to find a different champion! These two groups are the natural frontrunners again, and this will be the first meeting between the bands this season. Looking to spoil the action possibly will be #7 Blue Springs (MO), coming off a record score as runner-up at the BOA St. Louis Super Regional, finishing just behind 2021's Grand National Champion #2 Broken Arrow (OK) and claiming the Visual caption. They look to be sprinting full speed into their final contest of the season. Let’s dive a bit deeper into the tight races we’ll see this weekend…
FRIDAY
Panel 1
8:45 - Plainfield (IN)
9:00 - Pleasure Ridge Park (KY)
9:15 - Snider (IN)
9:30 - Wheaton North (IL)
9:45 - Bullitt East (KY)*
10:00 - Lafayette Jefferson (IN)*
10:15 - Northmont (OH)
10:30 - Greenfield Central (IN)*
10:45 - Scottsburg (IN)
BREAK
Panel 2
11:15 - Homestead (IN)**
11:30 - Decatur Central (IN)
11:45 - Floyd Central (IN)*
12:00 - Lewis Cass (IN)*
12:15 - Ben Davis (IN)*
12:30 - Hamilton Southeastern (IN)*
12:45 - Edgewood (IN)*
1:00 - Warsaw Community (IN)
1:15 - William Henry Harrison (IN)*
1:30 - Jasper (IN)*
1:45 - Westfield (IN)
BREAK
Panel 1
2:15 - Greenwood Community (IN)*
2:30 - Noblesville (IN)*
2:45 - Warren Central (IN)*
3:00 - Taylor (IN)
3:15 - Owen Valley (IN)*
3:30 - Beech Grove (IN)*
3:45 - Forest Park Jr./Sr. (IN)*
4:00 - Norwell (IN)
4:15 - Castle (IN)**
4:30 - Goshen (IN)**
BREAK
Panel 2
5:00 - Galesburg (IL)
5:15 - #23 Brownsburg (IN)**
5:30 - NorthWood (IN)*
5:45 - Orleans Jr./Sr. (IN)*
6:00 - Northview (IN)
6:15 - Terre Haute North Vigo (IN)*
6:30 - Union City (TN)
6:45 - Monrovia (IN)*
7:00 - Franklin Central (IN)*
7:15 - Jenks (OK)
7:30 - Terre Haute South Vigo (IN)*
BREAK
Panel 1
8:00 - Kickapoo (MO)
8:15 - Southport (IN)
8:30 - Franklin Community (IN)*
8:45 - Lawrence Township (IN)**
9:00 - #4 Avon (IN)**
9:15 - Center Grove (IN)**
9:30 - #3 Carmel (IN)**
9:45 - Western (IN)*
10:00 - Pendleton Heights (IN)*
10:15 - Columbia City (IN)*
10:30 - #24 Fishers (IN)**
10:45 - Lake Central (IN)
SATURDAY
Panel 2
7:15 - Plymouth (IN)
7:30 - Waukesha North (WI)
7:45 - Kennesaw Mountain (GA)
8:00 - Beavercreek (OH)*
8:15 - Union (OK)
8:30 - Springboro (OH)
8:45 - Kettering Fairmont (OH)*
9:00 - Todd County Central (KY)
9:15 - #17 William Mason (OH)**
Panel 1
9:45 - Central Hardin (KY)
10:00 - Collierville (TN)
10:15 - #7 Blue Springs (MO)
10:30 - Princeton Community (IN)
10:45 - Evansville North (IN)*
11:00 - Penn (IN)*
11:15 - Vincennes Lincoln (IN)*
11:30 - DeKalb (IN)*
11:45 - F.J. Reitz (IN)*
12:00 - Rock Island (IL)
12:15 - Evansville Central (IN)*
Panel 2
12:45 - Lafayette (KY)
1:00 - Lincoln-Way (IL)
1:15 - Centerville (OH)**
1:30 - Elkhart (IN)
1:45 - Henry Clay (KY)
2:00 - George Rogers Clark (KY)
2:15 - Grain Valley (MO)
2:30 - Franklin (TN)**
2:45 - Bremen (IN)*
3:00 - Camdenton (MO)
3:15 - Benjamin Bosse (IN)
3:30 - EXH. Missouri State University Pride Marching Band
*denotes returning group
**denotes returning finalist
Right on their heels of our anticipated medalists will be #17 William Mason (OH) in their first significant competitive performance of the season. They'll use this contest as a springboard on their journey to Grand Nationals this year. Also in hot pursuit will be #24 Fishers (IN) and #23 Brownsburg (IN), both very much in the mix of making Grand National Finals last year. Earlier this year, #23 Brownsburg placed 2nd at the BOA Louisville Regional, only behind #3 Carmel.
Let's try to break down some of the highlights in each class. Multiple powerhouses in every class will be fighting for both a shot at finals as well as class placements during preliminary performance. Beginning in 4A, while you'll still have the likes of previously named bands that aren't named #7 Blue Springs (we'll circle back to them shortly), you still have some big names that'll be looking to play upset. Groups like Centerville (OH), Homestead (IN), Lincoln-Way Community (IL), and Jenks (OK), all of whom have either won a BOA Regional or made Grand National Finals in the past four years! This list would not be complete without at least mentioning Union (OK), Center Grove (IN), and Lawrence Township (IN), all necessary to mention due to their history and continual prowess in moving the activity forward.
In Class 3A, #7 Blue Springs is looking to stay comfortably in front of the game, but you have Castle (IN) seeking to play spoiler. Other groups, like the reigning Kentucky 5A Champion Lafayette (KY) and Kennesaw Mountain (GA), are also looking to keep pace and medal in Class. But I wouldn't look past groups like Goshen (IN), Westfield (IN), and perhaps even Beavercreek (OH) to make a solid case to place. These shows have already made BOA Regional finals earlier this year with some tremendous performances so far.
Class 2A is looking to be quite the pitched battle! Grain Valley (MO), who just made BOA St. Louis finals last week, took the AA title there and is eager for it here. Camdenton (MO), last year’s Iowa Regional Champion attending their first BOA event of the season, will also be in the running for the AA title. From the homefront, currently vying for the Indiana Class B State title as well as AA here, will be Jasper (IN), Northview (IN), Greenwood Community (IN), Greenfield-Central (IN), and Evansville North (IN). Except for Evansville North, each of these schools has faced each other a number of times, always within a point of one another. Expect to see some kind of photo finish again here -- but that's not all we have in this class. We'll also get a chance to see the highly acclaimed Franklin (TN), NorthWood (IN), and Western (IN), who will each not go quietly into that good night.
Rounding out our Class competition is A. We will get a nice spectrum of styles from several smaller Indiana school groups. Some of these schools have won a Class Championship before, such as Forest Park (IN), Edgewood (IN), and Lewis Cass (IN). Other regulars to the BOA scene include Monrovia (IN) and Union City (TN), who will be making the trip up from Tennessee. Additionally, bands like Princeton (IN), Vincennes Lincoln (IN), and Scottsburg (IN) will be participating in a BOA event for the first time in years -- or sometimes ever.
The morning may start early, and the evening end late, but every band here is looking to put on quite the show this weekend that'll create quite the buzz. As one of those lovely indoor regionals, expect the stadium to be an even 72-ish, while the outdoor temperature on Friday and Saturday should stick to the low 70s (though you’ll definitely want a sweater for an evening if you run cold). The bands here, though, are sure to bring the heat.