Will

I'd love to see BD do variations on Gavorkna Fanfare (which don't exist as far as I'm aware). OR do selections from Carmen.

Does anyone know anything about this new flag pole?? I saw it advertised in the WGI program and am interested in learning more. They are NOT cheap from what I found on the website. Has anyone here used one?? INFO PLEASE!! : )

Does anyone know the group that did a flat toss on sabre and then popped it up again (into another flat toss)?? I think they were in scholastic Open finals... I want to witness this again, so please let me know! : )

You didn't like their catches - ok... but they all caught the SAME way. That's what matters. EVERY group has at least some little thing that is different in their technique (unless they are all taught by the same people). Making the unit look like 1 is what counts and Pacificaires did just that. They were flawless in their approach to technique, time, and execution. Period. Canada does things differently than the USA, and The Netherlands do things different than Canada... doesn't mean anyone is "wrong" or "bad".. it is what it is and as long as it's the same from person to person they will do well. Also - the Pacificaires bodies were in full support of the equipment, which is what the body should do. They were properly trained to dance and handle equipment while dancing.

Ok - you obvisouly don't like Opus 10. We get it. Stop bashing them! They were excellent - they were CLEANER than Corona and their shows was executed at a higher level. It's over. Buy the dvd and watch Corona and skip over Opus 10. STOP BASHING GROUPS.

WOW. Just plain WOW. Who are you to say that Opus 10 was "weak, boring, and dirty"?? Did you even watch it?? They moved better than most groups ever will; their rifle work was some of the most lyrical all weekend; their flag work was musical AND difficult to boot. Regarding Onyx - I didn't like it either, but it was certainly NOT a "kick in the face". It was very demanding on the performers (like it or not, they were being asked to do an awful lot). Regarding Beatrix - you're probably just mad they made finals because they beat a group you would have liked to see in finals instead, thus you tear them apart for their INTERPRETATION of their program. Historical accuracy is not on the judges sheets. WGI did wake up this year- the scores were lower than "normal" as WGI finally stopped rewarding sloppy catches, dirty feet, and poor form control. They called the shots PERFECTLY this year. JOB WELL DONE WGI!!!

WGI is over folks - stop complaining. The groups that made finals made finals because they were BETTER than the groups that didn't. Simple. Maybe you didn't like it, but the shows got in were clearly better designed (maybe not better performed) and were rewarded accordingly. I also find it interesting that no one seems to complain about the groups in SA, IA, SO, or IO that didnt make finals.... what? those classes dont' matter?? BULL CRAP!!! The A and Open classes (IMO) matter more than the world classes. Without the A and Open groups we wouldn't have anyone coming up to the next level.

I did not intend to "blame" the members of Onyx... I merely wanted to know why they didn't clap... be it their own choice or the staff telling them to not do it... WHY? I think it's rude. My opinion.

Sue - the group on my facebook page is Shenendehowa (from New York). They didn't make Scholastic Open finals but made semifinals. Their show was a really neat version of Summertime. LOVED THEM! :)

Did anyone else notice that Onyx did not clap for anyone during awards?? I thought that was very rude and unsportmanlike. And when they got the silver medal they all looked completely unpleased. IT'S A SILVER MEDAL!!!! BE HAPPY!!! I was surprised by this, especially coming from last years world champion..

Actually he was probably referring to the Mechanicsburg color guard- they won the silver medal in the Scholastic A class. THEY WERE AMAZING!!!!

I'm glad someone else noticed the Indiana feat- WOW. How amazing that one state has 6 world class high school groups that ALL made finals- amazing! Santa Clara Vanguard was absolutely incredible. Pure color guard. Pacificaires - WOW!!!!! solid, stunning, brilliant, CLEAN. I'm so glad a non USA group won at least one of the classes!! :D GO CANADA!! Diamond Bar (CA) making Scholastic A finals - a wonderful show; I'm buying the A class DVD now because they made finals. My favorite tarp - USF (FL). LOVE IT!! Great costumes too!! Northview was amazing - such commitment to the performance from each person! Center Grove making finals for 30 years. WOW. Blessed Sacrament making finals 30+ years. WOW. Beatrix was wonderful!!! I was really thinking they would have placed higher (13th was what I would have put them in) but none the less, they made finals and were fantastic!!

So - what do we all think about Miamisburg being so low in the standings?? Some said they were "great!" after MEPA championships... so what happened in WGI prelims?? Choctawhatchee passed them up and could (most likely will) make finals... Did anyone see Miamisburg in prelims?? Or today in semis??? So glad to see SCV on top!!! Scores seem low... OR the judges are actually being critical and not letting groups get away with sloppy catches, ugly feet, and poor form control.

GOLD GOLD GOLD - it will match their GOLD flags : ) and compliment the blue flags too... :D This show is a briliant interpretation of the soundtrack which is so fun and easy to get in to. Way to go SCV!

Eklipse (TN) in Independent World class. They have some GREAT moments and well written choreography. I LOVE IT! (and as an alum of the group I'm pleased they are still trucking along!). I hope they make semi-finals... finals would be awesome too... :D I'll keep my hopes up.

Just for fun, here are who I'd like to see be awarded medalions at WGI ( a week from now!!) These are not in a particular order: Scholastic A East Lincoln Milford (OH) Westerville Central Independent A South Shore Drill Team I don't know enough of IA this year to make further speculations Scholastic Open South Brunswick Oak Ridge Greenfield Central Independent Open Pacificaires (GOLD GOLD GOLD!!!!!!!) Orlando Visual I don't know who else - I'd love to have MBI get a medal but only because I love their show Scholastic World James Logan Carmel Northview Independent World Santa Clara Vanguard Braddock Independent Fantasia

Scott- I don't know you from Adam, but thank you so much for this eloquent, candid response. I agree with you that Mr. Lentz has chosen to (in his choice of design) make his "art" less about the equipment and more about (from my understanding anyway) the performance of the written program. I don't like it, but after reading your thoughts I think that I will be able to view Onyx's program with a very different perspective and I am thankful to you for helping me be able to do that. All the best to Onyx as they defend their Independent World class title at WGI (which I whole heartedly felt they deserved!) - I'll be there watching/waiting to see what transpires.

I really find it sad that the color guard activity has become so much of who is teaching/designing for so-and-so school... It's really pathetic honestly. This is about rewarding the KIDS. Not trying to cram every guard that so-and-so designed for into finals just because they are friends with the president of WGI (or whatever the case might be). This is the sort of crap that makes me want to stop teaching and leave the activity. The guard who is taught by Sally Joe from Nowheresville, USA and who is AMAZING is too often discounted - people are surprised that this no-name person/school is climbing up the ranks and they are doing it without the help of "big name" people. These are the color guards that I remember and that I love to see. (end of my rant).

The Tate Chapparals are alive and well - they might not be making finals at WGI, but the color guard program is still going and they have been enjoying successul seasons over the past few years.

Choctawhatchee was not in scholastic world finals in 2005. Randy Nelson hasn't been their director for a few years now. Did you ever think that maybe they are a younger group and this show was designed for them to just enjoy color guard while allowing themselves to get more comfortable with their bodies and equipment? I think it is really very rude and unfair to say that just because "So and so" isn't their director or "so and so" didn't design a show then a group won't be in finals. Other factors play into things folks. Miamisburg has a new director (though she's been there for years) and a new staff and they may not make finals either... From my perspecitve though it appears they too may have a younger group of students and thus may not have top 15 on their minds. I do hope that Choctaw and Miamisburg will both be able to maintain their outstanding stream of finals appearances, but if not it is not the end of the world and I, for one, will continue to support them no matter what may happen.

@ thedova: Opus 10 derserves a finals spot just as much as anyone; they have their niche and they stick to it. Who are you to say they don't deserve to be in finals just because you think they do the "same" shows every year "since 2003". That's ridiculous. You could easily say then, that Corona hasn't done anything "new" since they came out since they tend to repeat various tricks,etc from year to year. If you're good at it then keep on doing it! Opus X does classical and they do it VERY well with intense dance training to prove it, along with an equipment book that is truly world class.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this group!!!! WOW!!!! I hope they win IO at WGI in April - amazing!!!! The dancing is what I hope and long for every season - and the equipment is incredible too!!! WOW! YAY CANADA!!!

Sonnor is great!!! the flag feature just keeps going, and going, and going... I love it!! And there is nothing I love more than seeing the Canadian approach to movement and equipment handling.. there is something about it that just truly sets it apart from the United States groups... superb musicality! : )

Doug - OUCH!! This is quite the scathing post....

Santa Clara Vanguard Blessed Sacrament Sonnor First Flight East Lincoln FTW Milford (OH) Crestview (FL) James Logan Carmel Northview Trumbull Centerville Zydeco Open Zydeco World MBI Lyman Lake Central Lincoln Way East West Broward Mechanicsburg Mt. Juliet (TN)