Top 32 Rankings — Sept. 17, 2019 (Week 1)


Top 32 Rankings — Sept. 17, 2019 (Week 1)

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The first rankings of a new season always seem to come out way too soon. But with just a handful of days before the first BOA regional, it's time to see how the early season videos, staff changes, and reckless speculation have affected our contributors opinions on the top bands in the nation.

Hebron performs at the San Antonio Super Regional on Nov. 3, 2018, at the Alamodome. The band is one of six Texas bands attending the 2019 Grand National Championships. // Photo by Jeremiah Wooten.
Carmel retains the top spot following three national championship seasons. Based on what we've seen so far this season, the Marching Greyhounds could achieve the first fourpeat in BOA history. Though with the huge contingent of top Texas groups coming to Grand Nats and always fierce challenge from Avon, it's far from guaranteed. Claudia Taylor Johnson, Hebron, Leander, Round Rock, The Woodlands, and Vandegrift will be bringing their best to Indianapolis, fighting to bring the eagle home to Texas for the first time since 2013.

Speaking of Texas, this was the first year that more groups registered to compete in San Antonio than at Grand Nats. While the limit of competitors at a super regional will ensure that there are more groups at Grand Nats, the facts stand that more groups wanted to compete in San Antonio than Grand Nats this season. That's also reflected in the number of Texas bands in this week's and every week's rankings, typically around half.

The previous week's rankings are in parenthesis. Read about how we determine rankings.
  1. Carmel H.S., IN (1)
  2. Flower Mound H.S., TX (2)
  3. Avon H.S., IN (4)
  4. Ronald Reagan H.S., TX (5)
  5. Vista Ridge H.S., TX (3)
  6. Hebron H.S., TX (8)
  7. Broken Arrow H.S., OK (7)
  8. Blue Springs H.S., MO (6)
  9. Tarpon Springs H.S., FL (9)
  10. Claudia Taylor Johnson H.S., TX (10)
  11. Leander H.S., TX (11)
  12. Vandegrift H.S., TX (12)
  13. Wando H.S., SC (13)
  14. The Woodlands H.S., TX (14)
  15. Keller H.S., TX (15)
  16. Marcus H.S., TX (16)
  17. Homestead H.S., IN (18)
  18. Cedar Ridge H.S., TX (17)
  19. Jenks H.S., OK (19)
  20. William Mason H.S., OH (20)
  21. Dobyns-Bennett H.S., TN (22)
  22. Hendrickson H.S., TX (21)
  23. LD Bell H.S., TX (28)
  24. Prosper H.S., TX (23)
  25. Park Vista H.S., FL (26)
  26. Westlake H.S., TX (24)
  27. James Bowie H.S., TX (25)
  28. Center Grove H.S., IN (30)
  29. O'Fallon Township H.S., IL (27)
  30. Ayala H.S., CA (29)
  31. Lincoln-Way H.S., IL (32)
  32. Harrison H.S., GA (31)
First Out: Cedar Park H.S., TX (Next 10)

Next 10, in alphabetical order: American Fork (UT), Bixby (OK), Coppell (TX), Marian Catholic (IL), Rockford (MI), Stoneman Douglas (FL), Timber Creek (TX), Union (OK), Vista Murrieta (CA), and Waxahachie (TX).