2014 St. Louis Super Regional



Prelims Results:
(View full recap here)

Class A
1. Paragould H.S., AR
2. Saint James School, AL
3. Marshall H.S., MN

Music: Paragould H.S., AR
Visual: Paragould H.S., AR
GE: Paragould H.S., AR

Class AA
1. Grain Valley H.S., MO
2. Normal West H.S., IL
3. Rockwood Summit H.S., MO

Music: Rockwood Summit H.S., MO
Visual: Grain Valley H.S., MO
GE: Grain Valley H.S., MO

Class AAA
1. Paul Laurence Dunbar H.S., KY
2. Rosemount H.S., MN
3. Bellevue West H.S., NE

Music: Paul Laurence Dunbar H.S., KY
Visual: Rosemount H.S., MN
GE: (tie) Rosemount H.S., MN
& Paul Laurence Dunbar H.S., KY

Class AAAA
1. Broken Arrow H.S., OK
2. Blue Springs H.S., MO
3. O'Fallon Township H.S., IL

Music: Broken Arrow H.S., OK
Visual: Broken Arrow H.S., OK
GE: Broken Arrow H.S., OK

Finals Results:
(View full recap here)

1. (88.30) Broken Arrow H.S., OK
2. (84.90) Blue Springs H.S., MO
3. (84.30) Union H.S., OK
4. (83.55) Owasso H.S., OK
5. (80.35) Rosemount H.S., MN
6. (78.25) James Martin H.S., TX
7. (77.90) O'Fallon Township H.S., IL
8. (77.90) Eden Prairie H.S., MN
9. (77.90) Paul Laurence Dunbar H.S., KY
10. (76.95) Haltom H.S., TX
11. (76.90) Bellevue West H.S., NE
12. (76.15) Bentonville H.S., AR
13. (75.35) Jenks H.S., OK
14. (74.95) Grain Valley H.S., MO

Music: Broken Arrow H.S., OK
Visual: Broken Arrow H.S., OK
GE: Broken Arrow H.S., OK
About
The 2014 St. Louis Super Regional was held Oct. 17–18 at Edward Jones Dome. After two days of intense competition, Broken Arrow was named super regional champion.

Post-competition analysis
It turns out, Broken Arrow's spot was secure. The biggest news from this competition isn't really that Broken Arrow won, but that Blue Springs got second. While Blue Springs isn't attending Grand Nats in 2014, we expect them to return in 2015. If they continue improving at the rate they have been recently, they could be a very serious contender for finals in 2015.

Pre-competition analysis
As the first super regional of the 2014 season, this will be our first look at many of the bands participating, including big names like Broken Arrow, Union, and Owasso. All three will go on to attend Grand Nats in just about four weeks. With the max enrollment of 64 already reached, this super regional promises to separate the men from the boys, and will give some up-and-coming bands a chance to prove themselves on a national stage.

At this point in the season, there seems to be a clear top three consisting of Broken Arrow, Blue Springs, and Owasso. After winning the contest last year, Broken Arrow looks to repeat as champions this year. And frankly, everyone would be shocked if that didn’t happen. They dominated last year, beating second-place Blue Springs by over 4 points and winning the music and general effect captions. (Visual went to Prospect H. S., who, unfortunately, will not be attending this year.) In last year’s competition, Owasso and Blue Springs battled for second place, with Owasso placing second in prelims before Blue Springs stole that spot from them in finals. Just a couple of weeks ago, Blue Springs beat Owasso at the Union competition, so expect the same level of intensity in competition this year as both bands will surely have their sights set on knocking off Broken Arrow, especially as Owasso plans to end their season at Grand Nats.

This Competition promises to
separate the men from the boys.
After a seemingly obvious top three, it becomes much more vague when you look at the next seven spots. The bands that will likely round out the top 10 are Union, Rosemount, Irondale, Jenks, O’Fallon Township, Lafayette and Lockport Township (not necessarily in that order). After finishing sixth at Grand Nationals is 2011, Union has mostly dropped off the radar. But make no mistake, they are still a strong band program and can easily make some noise in St. Louis. Rosemount and Irondale are two strong Minnesota band programs who placed 7th and 8th at this contest last year, and can be expected to improve upon that this time around. Jenks had a good run into Semifinals at Grand Nationals last year and will look to go even further this time. Expect them to come back this year with a chip on their shoulder ready to compete. Lockport Township and O’Fallon Township are two solid band programs who should be easily able to round out the top 10.

As is always the case, expect the competition for the last four spots to be extremely tight. There are many bands that could make the cut, but a few stand out. Lafayette and Bentonville are both competitive bands that could make Finals at this competition. Lafayette (KY) made finals at the Indy Super Regional and beat Castle, a future semifinalist and, this year, regional champion. Legend, from Colorado, will look to put a CO school in finals for a second straight year. And two St. Louis area schools, Lindbergh and Rockwood Summit, that finished 15th and 16th last year will look to make it in this time after falling just short. Then there's Paul Laurence Dunbar and Bellevue West. The competition to make it into finals is always fierce at any contest, and this super regional will be no exception.

Not even Broken
Arrow's spot is secure.
The 2014 St. Louis Super Regional is shaping up to be one of the most interesting and entertaining competitions of this entire season. It may not boast a huge slew of top bands like San Antonio does, but it can certainly make up for that with intense middle-of-the-pack competition. While Broken Arrow may be the favorite, not even their spot is guaranteed in what promises to be, at the very least, an excellent two days of BOA competition.

Predictions
1. Broken Arrow H.S., OK
2. Blue Springs H.S., MO
3. Owasso H.S., OK
4. Union H.S., OK
5. Jenks H.S., OK
6. Rosemount H.S., MN
7. Irondale H.S., MN
8. O'Fallon Township H.S., IL
9. Paul Laurence Dunbar H.S., KY
10. Lockport Township H.S., IL
11. Lafayette H.S., KY
12. Bellevue West H.S., NE
13. Rockwood Summit H.S., MO
14. Bentonville H.S., AR