2017 Winston-Salem Regional


Prelims Results
(View full recap here)

Class A
1. East Carteret H.S., NC
2. Lee H.S., VA
Music: East Carteret H.S., NC
Visual: East Carteret H.S., NC
GE: East Carteret H.S., NC

Class AA
1. Cape Fear H.S., NC
2. York H.S., SC
3. Bassett H.S., VA
Music: York H.S., SC
Visual: Bassett H.S., VA
GE: Cape Fear H.S., NC

Class AAA
1. Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN
2. Nation Ford H.S., SC
3. Fort Mill H.S., SC
Music: Fort Mill H.S., SC
Visual: Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN
GE: Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN

Class AAAA
1. James F. Byrnes H.S., SC
2. Green Hope H.S., NC
3. Panther Creek H.S., NC
Music: James F. Byrnes H.S., SC
Visual: James F. Byrnes H.S., SC
GE: James F. Byrnes H.S., SC

Finals Results
(View full recap here)

1. (81.90) Fort Mill H.S., SC
2. (81.80) Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN
3. (81.30) James F. Byrnes H.S., SC
4. (80.70) Nation Ford H.S., SC
5. (79.55) Green Hope H.S., NC
6. (75.75) Panther Creek H.S., NC
7. (74.35) Hillgrove H.S., GA
8. (73.65) Dutch Fork H.S., SC
9. (73.65) York H.S., SC
10. (72.15) Cape Fear H.S., NC

Music: Fort Mill H.S., SC
Visual: Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN
GE: Fort Mill H.S., SC

Returning 2016 Finalists (9)
1. Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN
2. James F. Byrnes H.S., SC
3. Panther Creek H.S., NC
4. Fort Mill H.S., SC
5. Nation Ford H.S., SC
6. Bassett H.S., VA
7. Cary H.S., NC
8. Cape Fear H.S., NC
9. Boiling Springs H.S., SC

Previous Champions
2016: Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN
2015: Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN
2014: Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN
2013: Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN

States Represented (5)
Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

The 2017 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Regional will be held Oct. 14 at Wake Forest University. In 2016, Dobyns-Bennett continued to be the only group to ever win the regional, earning their fourth consecutive regional champion title.

Analysis
Dobyns-Bennett is certainly in a league of their own at this competition. With four consecutive regional champion titles under their belt, not to mention a recent appearance in Grand National finals, there’s no other band at this event who can get even close.

Dobyns-Bennett performs in finals at the Grand National Championships Nov. 12, 2016, at Lucas Oil Stadium. // Photo by Jeremiah Wooten
Behind DB, we see a huge lineup of new and returning bands, including many of last year’s finalists, aiming for a spot in finals.

Fort Mill, James F. Byrnes, and Nation Ford have the best chance of finishing in a medalist position. Fort Mill and Byrnes have always been close competitors and seem to push each other to improve year after year. Nation Ford just beat frequent national finalist Harrison at the Jacksonville Regional, their second consecutive year winning that regional.

Panther Creek and Green Hope will be looking to earn the final spot in the top half. Panther Creek is the only group to beat Dobyns-Bennett at this competition, when they finished first in prelims at the 2014 edition. Green Hope just finished second at the Newark Regional this past weekend.

The last several places in finals are up for grabs by quite a few bands including returning finalists Bassett, Cape Fear, and Cary. Cleveland, Hillgrove, and Northwest Guilford are three other bands in the hunt for a finals spot.

Predictions
1. Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN
2. James F. Byrnes H.S., SC
3. Nation Ford H.S., SC
4. Fort Mill H.S., SC
5. Panther Creek H.S., NC
6. Green Hope H.S., NC
7. Cary H.S., NC
8. Bassett H.S., VA
9. Hillgrove H.S., GA
10. Cape Fear H.S., NC

Adjudication Panel
Music: Gino Cipriani, Randy Greenwell, Gif Howarth, and Caleb Rothe.
Visual: Neal Smith, Mike Stone, and Jeff Young.
Chief: Gary Markham.