Prelims Results
(View full prelims recap here)Class A
1. Wesleyan School, GA
2. Leeds H.S., AL
Music: Wesleyan School, GA
Visual: Wesleyan School, GA
GE: Wesleyan School, GA
Class AA
1. Clinton H.S., MS
2. Hernando H.S., MS
3. Father Ryan H.S., TN
Music: Clinton H.S., MS
Visual: Father Ryan H.S., TN
GE: Hernando H.S., MS
Class AAA
1. Harrison H.S., GA
2. Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
3. Nation Ford H.S., SC
Music: Harrison H.S., GA
Visual: Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
GE: Harrison H.S., GA
Class AAAA
1. Hoover H.S., AL
2. Hillgrove H.S., GA
3. Walton H.S., GA
Music: Walton H.S., GA
Visual: Hoover H.S., AL
GE: (tie) Hillgrove H.S., GA
and Hoover H.S., AL
Finals Schedule
(View full finals recap here)1. (81.95) Harrison H.S., GA
2. (79.80) Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
3. (79.65) Nation Ford H.S., SC
4. (76.25) Hernando H.S., MS
5. (75.70) Clinton H.S., MS
6. (72.60) Father Ryan H.S., TN
7. (71.25) DeSoto Central H.S., MS
8. (70.80) Hoover H.S., AL
9. (70.65) Hillgrove H.S., GA
10. (70.40) Pelham H.S., AL
11. (68.75) Laurens District 55 H.S., SC
Music: (tie) Harrison H.S., GA
and Nation Ford H.S., SC
Visual: Nation Ford H.S., SC
GE: Harrison H.S., GA
Returning 2017 Finalists (5)
1. Nation Ford H.S., SC2. Harrison H.S., GA
5. East Coweta H.S., GA
6. Hoover H.S., AL
7. Hillgrove H.S., GA
Previous Champions
2017: Nation Ford H.S., SC2016: Nation Ford H.S., SC
2015: Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
2014: Harrison H.S., GA
2013: Franklin H.S., TN
2012: Franklin H.S., TN
2011: Father Ryan H.S., TN
States Represented (5)
Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
The 2018 Jacksonville, Alabama, Regional will be held Oct. 6 at Jacksonville State University. In 2017, Nation Ford earned a second consecutive regional title, outscoring former national finalist Harrison.
After Nation Ford and Harrison, you can expect to see strong showings from Kennesaw Mountain and Walton. After narrowly making finals at the 2016 Atlanta Super Regional, Kennesaw Mountain rebounded strongly in 2017 back into the top six at Atlanta. Walton, on the other hand, slipped down four spots in Atlanta from 2016 to 2017, going from sixth to tenth. We are excited to see strong performances from both of these groups in Jacksonville.
After these top four, the field is wide open. In addition to the two frontrunners, East Coweta, Hoover, and Hillgrove will be returning to Jacksonville. Last year these groups respectively placed fifth, sixth, and seventh. The competition between these groups became even more interesting when their relative placements flipped completely in Atlanta. Can East Coweta bring another strong early season performance? Or will Hillgrove and Hoover continue their momentum? We are interested to see how this group shakes out.
Next we have two Mississippi groups that competed just last week at the Clarksville regional: Clinton and DeSoto Central. Both made finals, but Clinton really made quite the impression. They placed fifth in finals, and actually won their class in prelims. DeSoto finished a bit farther back in ninth place.
Father Ryan is another interesting group at this competition. They were 18th in Atlanta last year and barely beat Adair County in their prelims day. They could certainly sneak into the finals line-up. A few other groups that could sneak into finals are Allatoona, Boiling Springs, Hernando, and West Harrison. Allatoona placed tenth last year at the Powder Springs regional and looks to break into the top 10 in Jacksonville as well. Boiling Springs was just two spots out of finals at Powder Springs last year, but made finals at both Powder Springs and Winston-Salem as recently as 2016. Hernando and West Harrison are two good Mississippi bands that could certainly surprise some people as well.
Overall, this regional is sure to provide some interesting results as well as a good gauge for many southeastern bands. With a lot of depth in the schedule, it is tough to predict who will make it through to finals. We are excited to see who surprises us this year!
HornRank Contributor Grayson Huber authored this event preview.
2. Harrison H.S., GA
3. Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
4. Walton H.S., GA
5. Hoover H.S., AL
6. Clinton H.S., MS
7. Hillgrove H.S., GA
8. East Coweta H.S., GA
9. DeSoto Central H.S., MS
10. Allatoona H.S., GA
Visual: Bob Elliott, Jim Sturgeon, and Brian Wilt.
Chief: Ken Giese.
Our Thoughts
Nation Ford aims for a three-peat at this year’s Jacksonville Regional. Nation Ford will be one of five finalist bands from last year’s competition to return. Harrison won the music performance caption last year and will be the top contender to take down the defending champion. |
| Kennesaw Mountain performs at the 2017 Atlanta Regional on Oct. 28, 2017, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. // Photo by Jeremiah Wooten |
After these top four, the field is wide open. In addition to the two frontrunners, East Coweta, Hoover, and Hillgrove will be returning to Jacksonville. Last year these groups respectively placed fifth, sixth, and seventh. The competition between these groups became even more interesting when their relative placements flipped completely in Atlanta. Can East Coweta bring another strong early season performance? Or will Hillgrove and Hoover continue their momentum? We are interested to see how this group shakes out.
Next we have two Mississippi groups that competed just last week at the Clarksville regional: Clinton and DeSoto Central. Both made finals, but Clinton really made quite the impression. They placed fifth in finals, and actually won their class in prelims. DeSoto finished a bit farther back in ninth place.
Father Ryan is another interesting group at this competition. They were 18th in Atlanta last year and barely beat Adair County in their prelims day. They could certainly sneak into the finals line-up. A few other groups that could sneak into finals are Allatoona, Boiling Springs, Hernando, and West Harrison. Allatoona placed tenth last year at the Powder Springs regional and looks to break into the top 10 in Jacksonville as well. Boiling Springs was just two spots out of finals at Powder Springs last year, but made finals at both Powder Springs and Winston-Salem as recently as 2016. Hernando and West Harrison are two good Mississippi bands that could certainly surprise some people as well.
Overall, this regional is sure to provide some interesting results as well as a good gauge for many southeastern bands. With a lot of depth in the schedule, it is tough to predict who will make it through to finals. We are excited to see who surprises us this year!
HornRank Contributor Grayson Huber authored this event preview.
Predictions
1. Nation Ford H.S., SC2. Harrison H.S., GA
3. Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA
4. Walton H.S., GA
5. Hoover H.S., AL
6. Clinton H.S., MS
7. Hillgrove H.S., GA
8. East Coweta H.S., GA
9. DeSoto Central H.S., MS
10. Allatoona H.S., GA
Adjudication Panel
Music: Bryan Crisp, Jodie Rhodes, Ronnie Rios, and Ryan Williams.Visual: Bob Elliott, Jim Sturgeon, and Brian Wilt.
Chief: Ken Giese.
