2017 WGI Color Guard World Championships - UD Arena

Can Aimachi Return To Japan With The Gold?

Can Aimachi continue the push for their first championship at finals for 2017 WGI World Championships?

Apr 8, 2017 by Michael Gilley

Can Aimachi Return To Japan With The Gold?

There is a palpable excitement in the air surrounding UD Arena heading into the World Class finals at the 2017 WGI Color Guard World Championships. In particularly surrounding Aimachi.

The unbelievably beautiful group from Nagoya, Japan, made their move Friday night (April 5). After posting a score of 93.100 and placing 3rd in prelims, the performers shook off the jet-lag and jitters for a strong run in semis.

That strong run produced a 97.000 and moved them past Imbue, who scored a 94.900, into 2nd place overall.

Heading into Saturday night finals, Aimachi is only .6 points behind the juggernaut Pride of Cincinnati (97.600).

In 2015, Aimachi gave the color guard community one of the most beautiful experiences in the 40 year history of WGI Sport of the Arts with their show 1,000 Kranes.

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Aimachi performing 1,000 Kranes in 2015.

They finished 4th in 2015 but was selected to be given the Fan Favorite Award. Aimachi's color guard has made the trip a total of 9 times since 1996. The highest they have ever placed is third and have done that twice. They captured bronze in 2007 and again in 2009.

Having closed the gap to just tenths of a point behind Pride of Cincinnati, will Aimachi make history and head back to Japan with their first world championship? Considering it will be their last trip to the U.S. for the foreseeable future, it would be a storybook ending to a wonderful 2017 season.

Make sure you are tuned in on FloMarching for the World Class Finals that begin on Saturday, April 8, at 5:15pm EST with an exhibition performance by Miamisburg Adaptive Color Guard.

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