Just going to throw out a prediction! (Probably wrong)
GC: Clinton (BC, BB)
1RU: Waubonsie Valley (BV)
2RU: Buffalo Grove
3RU: Urbandale
4RU: Eisenhower
5RU: Danville
Reasoning: Clinton is and has been amazing so I think they will win by a hair. Their choreography is clean and is accented by their band. Waubonsie Valley is on fire this year, they could take it all! They always bring fantastic vocals to each competition. Buffalo grove is having a strong year. Their choreography is clean. Urbandale is not as strong this year as they have been other years but they are still fantastic. They could move up over Buffalo Grove. Eisenhower is having a good year. They are going to easily make finals. Danville has momentum since their win at El Paso-Gridley. They definetly have to watch out for Mitchell who could take this spot just as easily. These predictions will be wrong but I gave my reasoning so please don't hate me.
Mitchell has a much different show from last year. More dark, Tim Burton-y. They sing and dance REALLY well. They can very easily make finals here. They are really solid!
I think I can speak for everyone at Urbandale that hosting Wheaton at our invitational has made us even more excited to come compete there. Everyone associated with their group was so down to earth, friendly, and supportive.
Wowza. What a great competition this will be. I can't even begin to think of my predictions...
I think the schedule makes this a whole different ballgame. I thought I had a top 6 picked out, but now that the schedule is very "front-heavy" who knows what will happen. Mitchell and Glenwood may have a hard time making finals with those time slots. Will EEE and Prospect get higher or lower scores for being at the end of the day?
I definitely have a Top 3 (Clinton, BG, WV) but after that it's hard to guess.
So the director's handbook for this competition has this statement in it, and I just had to laugh: "There will be a penalty of 10 points for any debris left on stage after a performance
including, but not limited to: confetti, glitter, live kittens, streamers, etc."