Lone Star Preview 10/15: "Small Band"
It’s here. The week where a vast majority of UIL Region Marching Contests occur, most of them on Saturday. Because of this, there are very few local contests and a lot of UIL. Therefore, we're splitting this week’s preview into three articles: Big Bands (UIL 5A-6A) 10/15, Small Bands (UIL 1A-4A) 10/15, and All Bands 10/17-19. The 10/15 articles will both be coming out today, and then the 10/17-19 article will be posted on Sunday. So let’s kick off the craziest week of the year in Texas marching band with the many fantastic and underappreciated Small Bands across the state.
Starting on the border in South Texas, quite a few contests are going on: Region 11 1A-4A West (Veterans Memorial Stadium, Beeville), Region 11 2A-4A East (Wildcat Stadium, Corpus Christi), Region 15 West (La Joya ISD Stadium, La Joya), Region 15 East (Veterans Memorial Stadium, McAllen), and Region 28 West (Tiger Stadium, Mercedes). At the West Region 14 Contest, you have bands such as Three Rivers (TX), Goliad (TX), Odem (TX), Calhoun (TX), and the hosts A.C. Jones (TX), all of whom did not make state last year but have the potential to do so this year (or the next for 3A). Going to the East Region 14 Contest, there is a more extensive collection of State Qualifiers and even a Finalist in Calallen (TX), Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco (TX), Santa Gertrudis Academy (TX), and Alice (TX), along with Falfurrias (TX). Both Region 15 contests only have one Small Band at each, both of whom were State Finalists in 4A last year, with BOA McAllen finalist Hidalgo (TX) being at the East contest and Grulla (TX) at the West one. Down in Region 28, we have 3A State Qualifier Lyford (TX) along with 4A Area E Finalists Port Isabel (TX) and Raymondville (TX).
Moving north towards San Antonio, we have three contests: Region 11 (D.W. Rutledge Stadium, Converse), Region 12 (Heroes Stadium, San Antonio), and Region 29 (Farris Stadium, San Antonio). Region 11 hosts 2021 State Qualifiers Nueces Canyon (TX), Charlotte (TX), Jourdanton (TX), Natalia (TX), Hondo (TX), and also Area finalist Pearsall (TX). Hondo dropped from 4A to 3A after a very successful year being competitive in 4A, so they will be one to watch. At Region 12, we have State Qualifiers Yoakum (TX) and Navarro (TX), Area Finalist Randolph (TX), but also the two Comal ISD 4As in Davenport (TX) and Canyon Lake (TX). Finally, over at Region 29, we have 2021 2A State Finalist Harper (TX), 4A State Qualifier Fredericksburg (TX), as well as Blanco (TX).
Moving on up to Central Texas, we have three contests representing four regions: Region 8 4A-6A (Midway ISD Panther Stadium, Hewitt), Region 18/26 Joint 1A-4A (Buffalo Stadium, Giddings), and Region 32 2A-4A (Bulldog Stadium, Burnet). At Region 8, you can catch local rivals China Spring (TX) and Gatesville (TX), who went back and forth all season last year before they compete with each other at Area in a couple of weeks. Region 18/26 hosts 2A State Finalists Shiner (TX) and Weimar (TX), as well as bands such as Smithville (TX), Taylor (TX), and Thorndale (TX). Over to Region 32, we have 2A State Qualifier San Saba (TX), 4A State Qualifier Burnet (TX), and 3A Area Finalist Llano (TX).
As there are many Small Bands in West Texas, there are a lot of Region contests on Saturday, which I will split into two groups, the first being the Panhandle: Region 1 (Bivins Stadium, Amarillo) and Region 16 (Lowrey Field, Lubbock). At Region 1, there is an extensive collection of prestigious Small Bands, including 1A State Qualifiers Claude (TX), 1A State Finalist Booker (TX) (now 2A), 2A Area Finalist Panhandle (TX), an on-the-rise Amarillo Highland Park (TX) new to 2A, 3A mainstays Bushland (TX) and Canadian (TX), and then finally the three Canyon ISD bands Canyon (TX), Randall (TX), and the newest school West Plains (TX). Down in Lubbock, you can watch bands such as Shallowater (TX), Denver City (TX), Littlefield (TX), and Levelland (TX) in 3A and 4A, but also more recognizable names to those who follow Small Bands in Texas such as 2021 UIL 1A State Silver Medalist Whiteface (TX) and Finalist Crosbyton (TX), 2A State Silver Medalist Sundown (TX) and Bronze Medalist Plains (TX).
Moving further south into West Texas, we have four more contests: Region 6 South (San Angelo ISD Stadium, San Angelo), Region 6 West (Ratliff Stadium, Odessa), Region 7 North (Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls), and Region 7 South (Mineral Wells ISD Stadium, Mineral Wells). Starting with Region 6 West, we have a State Qualifier from 2A, 3A, and 4A in Forsan (TX), Crane (TX), and Pecos (TX) (who was also the BOA Midland Class A Champion last weekend). Moving south to San Angelo, be sure to look out for 1A State Medalist Irion County (TX) and State Qualifier Baird (TX), 3A State Qualifier Wall (TX), and performances from other bands such as Reagan County (TX) and local band Lake View (TX). Sticking with the south splits, we head east to Region 7 South, where 1A State Finalist Cross Plains (TX) and 2A State Finalist Cisco (TX) perform alongside Santo (TX), Eastland (TX), and Brownwood (TX). Up in Wichita Falls at the Region 7 North contest, some bands to look out for include 3A State Finalist Holliday (TX), 1A State Qualifier Knox City (TX), and also performances by Seymour (TX), Olney (TX), and Wichita Falls (TX) who is new to 4A.
Moving east into the area around Dallas-Fort Worth, we have two main contests with Small Bands: Region 2 (C.H. Collins Stadium, Denton) and Region 30 2A-4A (Porcupine Stadium, Springtown). Over at Region 2, you’ll be able to catch bands such as Alvord (TX) and Boyd (TX) performing alongside Pilot Point (TX), who missed 3A State Finals by one placement last year, as well as Sanger (TX) and Krum (TX) who are both having very successful seasons. In Region 30, many 4A bands have been very successful in UIL recently, such as Springtown (TX) and Kennedale (TX), alongside up-and-comer Alvarado (TX), who had an explosive start to their season, placing top 5 at the Midway Marching Preview over the likes of Granbury (TX) and China Spring. Also at this contest is a new 3A powerhouse Grandview (TX), who made history last year as they not only qualified for State for the first time but also made State Finals. One other 4A band receiving a rating in the DFW area is Panther Creek (TX) at Region 24, the newest Frisco ISD school. They’ve been having an incredibly successful season, beating 6A bands at local contests even though they only have freshmen and sophomores on campus.
Moving on to East Texas, there are two contests to keep an eye on, Region 10 (Port Neches-Groves ISD Stadium, Port Neches) and Region 21 (Lobo Stadium, Longview). At Region 21, we have Military State Champions Carlisle (TX) (1A/2A) and Lindale (TX) (4A), along with other military-style powerhouses such as Beckville (TX), Timpson (TX), West Rusk (TX), Troup (TX), Henderson (TX), and Carthage (TX). Representing corps-style are bands such as the 2A State Champion Tenaha (TX) and others, including Palestine Westwood (TX). Down on the gulf coast in Region 10, there is another healthy mix of military and corps-style bands, with the prominent military bands being State Finalists Buna (TX) and Vidor (TX). Those who are corps-style include Anahuac (TX) and Hardin (TX), but also regular Area Finalists and State Qualifiers such as Bridge City (TX), Lumberton (TX), and Little Cypress-Mauriceville (TX).
Continuing our way down the gulf coast and approaching where we started, we have one final contest: Region 13 South (Ricebird Stadium, El Campo). At this contest, there are 2021 State Qualifiers such as Ganado (TX) and Palacios (TX) alongside Area Finalists Industrial (TX), East Bernard (TX), Needville (TX), and Stafford (TX). Similar to Region 24 with Panther Creek, there is a brand new school in Region 17 in Alvin ISD, Iowa Colony (TX). As the sole Small Band representative of their Region, it will be worthwhile to keep an eye on how they do here.
That wraps up the first of three Region Preview articles for the week; stay tuned later today for the Big Band 10/15 Preview and then for the All Band 10/17-19 Preview on Sunday!
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.