Lone Star Preview 10/22
This weekend in the Lone Star State, we have 15 UIL Area Contests in 5A and 3A, as well as a handful of local contests. None of the Area contests this weekend lead to qualification for state, so for many of these programs, this is the last competition of their season. So, without further ado, let’s hop right into the action.
Let’s start things off in West Texas, where there are two 5A and one 3A Area Contests. Given the vast space covered by the region and the lack of state qualification on the line, 5A has split the regions into East and West contests. UIL 5A Area West only consists of Region 22, which is all of the El Paso bands; with only twelve bands qualifying and nine in attendance, this will be a one-round contest. The 2021 State Qualifiers J.M. Hanks (TX) and Horizon (TX) are the most notable bands. Parkland (TX), one of the up-and-coming stars in El Paso, and Canutillo (TX), who got their first 1 rating at Region for the first time in recent memory, will also ensure this contest is interesting despite the split. Out East, qualifiers from Regions 1, 6, and 16 battle it out in Lubbock, another one-and-done contest with twelve qualifiers and eleven attendees. The only 2021 State Qualifier out here is Lubbock-Cooper (TX), but Amarillo (TX) is having a solid year and could give them a run for their money. Down in 3A, one of the most competitive contests at the top is taking place with 2021 State Qualifiers Crane (TX), Clyde (TX), Bushland (TX), and Wall (TX). All within five ordinals of fourth place were Canadian (TX), Shallowater (TX), Denver City (TX), and Littlefield (TX), so this contest is far from decided at the top.
Moving on east and staying in 3A, we have the Area B Contest, which had three of last year’s ten 3A State Finalists in Whitesboro (TX), Holliday (TX), and Howe (TX), along with other State Qualifiers Pilot Point (TX) and Commerce (TX). Bands such as Eastland (TX), known for their jazz program and 2022 Grammy Award Winning Music Educator Stephen Cox, could cause some mixups in the top five. Moving on up to 5A, we have three Area Contests. Starting in 5A Area B, with Wakeland (TX) ineligible due to a timing penalty at Region, a new Area Champion will be crowned, with the favorites being Frisco ISD schools and 2021 State Qualifiers Lone Star (TX) and Lebanon Trail (TX). Outside of these two groups, Independence (TX) is having a fantastic season, and Argyle (TX) is in their first year competing in 5A after years of dominance in 4A. Speaking of Wakeland, they signed up for the Duncanville Marching Invitational to fill the void of what was supposed to be their final competition of the season. Other bands here include BOA Finalists Waxahachie (TX) and Keller (TX), but also making the trip from West Texas are Permian (TX) and Canyon (TX). Moving on to 5A Area C, only nine bands are competing for seven finals spots because fifteen total bands qualified. State Qualifiers from last year in Forney (TX) and Poteet (TX) will be competing here alongside North Mesquite (TX), which is a new addition to 5A, and Mount Pleasant (TX), which is reaching newly attained high levels of performance this year. Finally, we have the 5A Area F Contest with 2021 State Qualifiers Aledo (TX), Colleyville Heritage (TX), and Summit (TX) alongside WGI Dayton Indoor Winds Scholastic World Silver Medalist Azle (TX) as well as Burleson (TX) who has seen recent success in Indoor Percussion. Out in East Texas, one of the most top-heavy Area Contests in the state with 2021 3A State Finalists Mineola (TX), Atlanta (TX), Queen City (TX), Winnsboro (TX), and Redwater (TX) is taking place. Also worth mentioning are Palestine Westwood (TX), Mount Vernon (TX), and Quitman (TX).
Moving south into the Houston area, we start by taking a look at the Gulf Coast Classic Marching Contest, where 6A Area E favorites such as Brazoswood (TX) and Clear Brook (TX) will be competing head to head a week before area, now joined by fellow contender and 2021 State Alternate Dickinson (TX) for the first time this season. Two 5A Area Contests are in Houston this weekend, starting with Area E, where all three 2021 State Qualifiers, Friendswood (TX), Foster (TX), and Churchill Fulshear (TX), are joined by Barbers Hill (TX), now under direction by the director who led Mineola to their three State Titles, and Randle (TX) who is the newest Lamar CISD school. 5A Area I is another one-and-done contest with State Qualifiers Porter (TX) and College Station (TX) and other strong competitors like Galena Park (TX) and Magnolia (TX).
Going even further south on the gulf coast, we have the 3A Area E Contest with all six of their 2021 State Qualifiers: Jourdanton (TX), Natalia (TX), Yoakum (TX), Santa Gertrudis Academy (TX), Palacios (TX), and Lyford (TX). They are joined by their historic competitor Industrial (TX) and Hondo (TX), who is a new addition to this lineup after dropping from 4A. Next, down in the Rio Grande Valley is the 5A Area G Contest, featuring their five returning State Qualifiers Roma (TX), Sharyland (TX), Rio Grande City (TX), Lopez (TX), and Pioneer (TX), along with some new blood dropping from 6A such as Harlingen South (TX) and PSJA North (TX). They both could cause a change in the hierarchy of the top bands in this Area. Finally, moving on north to San Antonio, we have the 5A Area H Contest, which is notably missing Leander ISD powerhouses (as well as all three 2021 State Qualifiers) #15 Cedar Park (TX), Rouse (TX), and Leander (TX). Headlining this contest instead are Tom Glenn (TX) and Liberty Hill (TX), who tied for State Alternate last year, joined by Tivy (TX), who was a surprise State Qualifier in 2019, and Karen Wagner (TX), dropping from 6A.
Moving north to Central Texas, we have the 5A Area D Contest which has seen many of their previous top bands reclassified to 6A. Remaining in the Area are 2021 State Qualifiers McCallum (TX) and Hendrickson (TX), but many exciting additions are coming from both 4A and 6A. Lake Belton (TX) was a 4A State Finalist last year, and Pieper (TX), one of the newest Comal ISD schools, has been rapidly improving as a program. Dropping down from 6A are bands such as Jack C. Hays (TX), Belton (TX), and Douglas MacArthur (TX), who all showed potential in their old classification and will be hungry for blood down in 5A. Outside of Waco is the 3A Area D Contest, featuring 2021 State Finalists C.H. Yoe (TX) and Grandview (TX), along with other Qualifiers Troy (TX) and Lorena (TX). Here to try and shift the rankings are 2021 State Alternate Clifton (TX) and Elkhart (TX), who has been improving incredibly rapidly in recent years.
That wraps up our Area and Local Contests for the weekend. Even though most of these contests don’t have much weight on how the rest of the season plays out, there are plenty of exciting storylines to follow and some hints on what could happen next year, with it being a 3A and 5A state year. Tune in next week for an Area Recap rundown and a preview for 2A, 4A, and 6A contests, determining who goes to the 2022 UIL State Marching Contests.
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.