postertrout

1. The Cadets 2. Genesis 3. Jersey Surf 4. Carolina Crown 5. Mandarins

Yea, it was pretty moving to watch it. I am going to miss my son's enthusiasm for camp, spring training, and the upcoming season. @DAYGO hope your child continues with the Cadets and has a great 2024 season!

Nice little video of the 2023 Cadets.

Finally back home after a 14 hour drive from attending finals, as the dust settles on a whirlwind season and a total of three seasons as a DCI dad, I am filled with sadness to an ending of a era as my son aged out (my cadet is second from the top right in the picture below), relief that he is back home after being away since May, and pride at the job he. his fellow Cadets, and staff achieved this season helping bring the Cadets back to the top 5. I know some feel that there should be an asterisk due to SCV not fielding a corps, but this show was special, and they deserve all of accolades due their top 5 finish. The season started with a lot of criticism of their show; be it the props, the brass not being large or playing as much as other shows, and we all know the uniforms were much discussed. Even with all that, the Cadets weathered the headwinds and after consistently playing from an earlier placement at most regionals, being behind two awesome corps {Mandarins (Kudos to them for their record breaking season) and Phantom Regiment (the obvious fan choice at each regional)}, they continued to add content, gradually improve, and true to the theme of their show they rose to the occasion at finals with their best run of the year to answer all of their critics. I am very proud of all the staff, their rookie Corps Director, the BoD, the volunteers, the donors, the supportive parents, the alumni that continued to support the corps, and most importantly the marching members that gave their all for the last 3+ months to put an awesome product on the field that achieved the corps highest score since 2015. The Cadets are back where they belong. They have made me a lifelong supporter of the corps and my son an honored alumnus. Here is to a bright future for the Cadets and their faithful fans!! FHNSAB!

Hmm, the Cadets are wearing long socks under their leggings…. Look out vis judges, no more ankles for you

Yea, my son said the same. He was hoping for a final competitive run before championships, but at least they only lost one competition due to the elements this season.

That venue in ATL is a logisitcal nightmare; the Cadets could not get their food truck in the parking lot due to a crazy bump at the entrance to the lot. They had to park far away from the buses. I watched several rigs and buses attempt to clear the bump and almost get stuck in the attempt.

Very much so! He might play 3rd split trumpet, but that 3rd split is just as important as 1st and 2nd. He is in the trumpet arc in the closer, so he does make me proud, since he was always apprehensive to audition for a small ensemble.

Yea, my son said the GE judges felt the show needed something to define its meaning, so I am guessing the VO were their answer. My son was not happy with VOs since it is such a Cadets meme.

Their GE score went up over a point after they included it into the show.

Thanks. He went from a Carolina Crown groupie to bleeding Maroon and Gold. He stuck with the Cadets even after others in his section and friends from high school went to Blue Devils, BAC, and/or Bluecoats to chase a medal for their age-out years.

I agree, they need to run lean in order to field a competitive corps. They are doing more with less and doing it at a top 5-6 level - no offense to the Regimen, Mandarins, and Cavaliers f(ph)ans the battle for 5th is great this season.

Agreed. I took my son to the 2018 SE Championships in Atlanta. After the Cadets performed Unity Project, I told him that if he ever decided to march DCI after high school that I saw him marching Cadets. He was a Crown fan, so he kind of scoffed, but the Cadets definitely rose to perform with all of their heart and that inspired my son to audition for the Cadets in December 2019 and get contracted for the 2020 season that never happend. He is on his 3rd tour and age-out year with Cadets, so that 2018 show and group of kids hold a special significance to me.

You can almost use this show a a metaphor for the Cadets. Went from being on top (Parts 1/2), to losing almost everything (Parts 3/4), and then "Rising" from the ashes to compete again (Part 5). Atlas = The Cadets --> Cadets Rising from 2018. Not a smooth rise for them, they have had some bumps along the way, but a rising nonetheless.

Good Grief Chief, I hope he is not a judge in Indy.....