Here's your one-stop shop for the most up-to-date information on this weekend's WGI Indianapolis Regional! Over 40 groups will converge upon Franklin Central High School to compete in today's preliminary competition—most of which will return tomorrow for another chance at performing in front of the judges!

Since there's only one event this weekend, the recommended schedule is as follows: WATCH THEM ALL.

Seriously though, there is something in the water up there between Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, and these groups are constantly seeing success in the 2010s. This Indianapolis regional will give us a great read on some powerhouse Scholastic groups like Franklin Central, Center Grove, Centerville, Minooka Community, and Plainfield HS that will be heading to WGI World Championships in a month!

In the Independent realm, you've got both Matrix Open and Matrix making their 2019 WGI debuts on FloMarching, along with some friendly competition in the Independent World class. 

Rhythm X and INov8 will make their return to FloMarching for the first time since WGI Dayton—so it'll be great to see how their shows have come together over the last few weeks.

Finals Results

• Quick notes
  • McGavock was bumped from PSA up to PSO between prelims and finals.
  • Fishers HS breaks 90 in PSCW, being one of the first groups to do so across all WGI classes.
  • Victor J. Andrew jumped up to 3rd in PSO while Greenfield-Central dropped.
  • A majority of PSA groups greatly increased their scores while most other classes' scores dropped a few points between prelims/finals.

Prelim Results 

FINALS LIVE BLOG 

Scholastic Marching A

Southport HS - 

The group takes the floor dressed in a flamenco, Spanish style, with a flamenco guitar as part of their floor tarp. The show begins with ensemble wide clapping and lots of energy, starting the day off strong! A member starts off the second movement with a Spanish guitar feature, followed by a trumpet solo. Meanwhile the battery performs some body for the audience. Some visual flair is added by the use of snares on rolling platforms. A star-stepped prop is rolled out shortly after where the basses perform their feature. The show ends the way it began, with lots of energy and movement from the ensemble, concluding with a moment that leaves the audience on its feet!.

Brownsburg HS -

Their show begins with members “flying” the floor as the front plays. The battery disappears behind props on the back half of the floor and reemerge in groups while the front plays with a jazzy feel. As Rhapsody in Blue takes shape in the front, the battery creates fluid movements and shapes on the floor, using the backside props to disappear and reappear. The battery spreads out on the floor and performs some body during Blue (Da Ba Dee), the 1998 smash hit by Eiffel 65. As the front joins the battery on the tarp for some sweet dance moves, the show ends with the ensemble hyping up the crowd and encouraging them to get on their feet!

Minooka Community HS - 

During a voiceover the ensemble stands in a circle around a bell symbol on the floor. Our connection to our phones and technology seems to be a motif of the show. The battery forms up, creating a flat line across the floor performing various section features as the front plays notes that give a of dark foreboding sense. One member spears to have “disconnected” from technology, leaving them alone and isolated. Eventually however, the rest of the battery also becomes disconnected, highlighting how disconnecting can actually bring us closer together.

Perry Meridian HS -

The batter begins clapping in a syncopated style grouped in a circle around the ripple seen on their floor. The echo motif can be seen as body done by the members ripples out towards the edge of the floor. This motif can be further seen in the follow the leader body movements of the battery.

Greenwood HS - 

The show starts with dark and mysterious sounds coming from the pit, followed by a disharmonious rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Greenwood makes excellent use of their floor which is designed to look like different types of paths or roads. The constant movement by the battery in the first movement of the show is very impressive! A thin fabric separates the battery from one member who wants to but is unable to join them. However the battery breaks through, making a V formation along the roads on the tarp.

Zionsville Community HS -

With the front placed in groups on the side and back of the tarp, the battery begins the show with very robotic, stiff movements. As the battery plays, they move across the floor creating very fluid drill. This movement matches the elegant piano heavy music performed by the front. The show concludes with some powerful movement and playing from the ensemble, who ask the audience to question if they are, indeed, the “missing link.” 

Hamilton SE HS – 

As the battery stages on the bottom let section of the tarp, bird sounds can be heard. The battery moves towards the center creating a circle shape, moving with a sense of lightness and freedom usually associated with birds. The tarp itself, featuring images of clouds and a blue sky, helps invoke this sense of light, airiness, along with the flowing peaceful music played by the front and the samples used.

Independent Marching A

Crystal Lake Thunder –

The tarp and background props have graffiti/street art styled text with various themes written on them like “hope”, “anger”, “courage”, and “rejected”. After a snare feature, the battery places their drums on the edge of the floor and spreads out on the floor doing body while the front plays, invoking a tender feeling. The design on the tarp and props are a highlight of the show, and help get across the intended emotions.

Modulation Z 

The show opens with a newscast like voice over and cityscape props along the backside of the floor, giving an urban feel to the production. As the newscast VO continues, mentioning a caped vigilante as a potentially villainous suspect, the front and battery play fast, loud, hectic notes while light props on the background change in color from a light airy blue, to an ominous red. The light props are further used during the ballad expressing the city’s change in attitude toward the vigilante from menace to hero.

Scholastic Concert A

Monroe Central HS –

Monroe Central begins their production playing notes that evoke a sense of peace and beauty. As more auxiliary instruments join in, the mood of the show slowly rises, then enters into the next movement with and explosive use of floor toms. The marimbas beautifully interweave in between each-others parts while the rest of the ensemble slowly joins in. Overall the ensemble played beautifully.

Scottsburg HS –

Their show begins immediately with fast paced, hard hitting notes from the xylophone, with the marimbas and vibes eventually joining in. The ensemble plays various melodies, before eventually landing on their titular tune, Rhapsody in Blue. The show is full of high energy and beautiful melodies and powerful moments that is audience pleasing to say the least!

Penn-Trafford HS  

The group starts their show off with a bang, starting with hard hitting notes followed immediately by a softer, mysterious feel. The ethereal and otherworldly sounds coming from the ensemble pair perfectly with the background props, which show images of the interior of a space vessel, as well as views of Earth from the moon, and an unknown space scene . The sci-fi motif is taken to the next level with the groups use of an actual live theremin!

Scholastic Concert Open

Goshen HS -

The group begins playing a tune with a classical feel to it, that slowly builds into a fever…and then releases back into a more peaceful piece. Following the titular motif, the next movement evokes a sense of calm often associated with rainy days. The ensemble has their instruments laid out with the marimbas in front, and the metals arched behind them. A central point of focus is created, directed our eyes towards the center marimba, who wears a red outfit amongst an ensemble in their concert blacks.

Plainfield HS -

Wearing in ninja-type uniforms and arranged in front of a bamboo screen, Plainfield begins with an  Far East vibe complete with Japanese styled marimba playing. The group makes excellent use of its auxiliary percussion section, which play many traditional Eastern percussion instruments adding to the eastern motif. The show then takes incorporates a beautiful piano feature before adding the marimbas and vibes back into the mix. The flowing between sadly beautiful melodies  and fast paced, high energy traditional Eastern pieces really places the audience on the other side of the globe.

Scholastic Concert World

Fishers HS –

The ensemble is set up in a very visually striking way, split almost symmetrically down the middle with a member playing a grand piano as a center focal point. The group plays their runs very quickly and precisely. The changes in mood starting in the second movement is accentuated by the discordant notes and syncopated rhythms of the ensemble. The keyed instrument players at times turn around to play on what seem to be small wood block styled marimbas giving the movement a change in timbre.

Scholastic Marching Open

Norton HS –

The ensemble starts off strong dressed in extravagant “rapper” styles, with several members flaunting their wealth by making it rain on the floor. As the basses, tenors, and snares are featured, we can see what appear to be money trees lining the tarp while the front plays a rendition of “For The Love of Money” by the O’Jays. The next movement features a heartfelt front ensemble piece as the battery experiments with brushes on their drums. However, with all of the “money” the battery has, a final voice over reminds us that sometimes we have to lose everything to realize the value of what we already have.

Victor J Andrew HS –

The front ensemble is placed unorthodoxly on the floor, with some members on the front side of the tarp, but with others on rolling platforms on the floor. This gives a unique sense to the design of this show that the group uses masterfully. At one point parts of the battery join the marimbas on their platforms to play  alongside them. Later in the ballad, the vocal samples match perfectly with the bass feature which makes use of fuzzy mallets to soften the timbre of the basses.

McGavick HS –

The first impression the group gives is a good one, with their floor and accompanying background props printed to resemble the backs of playing cards. The front and battery intertwine seamlessly, playing high energy licks that combined with the background props give the audience something to cheer for. Design wise, the uniforms, which mimic the front and back visuals of a playing card, play an integral part of the show allowing members to essentially “disappear” by turning around; a visual throwback to Rhythm X’s 2008 production “Gone.” The show ends on a high energy note with guard performers tossing flags and confetti as members of the VE stand atop platforms while the battery and front play furiously around them!

Plainfield HS 

The bamboo look on the floor along with the bamboo background helps set the scene for Plainfield as they take us to Japan for this performance. The voice over as well as the member wearing a kimono and conical hat furthers the Far East motif. The battery weaves and flows around the floor while playing energetically. At the same time the front plays several traditional and familiar Asian melodies.

Greenfield Central HS 

Making use of the floor toms in the front, the ensemble starts off on a strong note, quite literally. The front ensemble plays ethereal mysterious music while the battery appear from behind purple half barrel props. The props are used in more detail later in the show as members crawl in and out of them. The music selection along with the use of dark purple colors in the uniforms, props, and tarp all contribute to the shadowy and strange atmosphere that the production creates.

Lawrence Township –

Lawrence Township sets the stage in what appears to be a dance studio, with the large reflective props on the back left corner resembling a mirror with accompanying dance bar. At various point throughout the show the battery stands in a circle around the main visual performer who herself stands in the middle of a vortex printed on the tarp. An image that can be interpreted as her being sucked down the vortex of her perceived imperfections. A highlight of the show is a cello playing various themes throughout, as well as the use of modern trap beats played over front ensemble melodies, which borrow from the theme song of the HBO drama Succession.   

Independent Marching Open

Matrix Open –

The ensemble plays off the title by having various mirrors placed along the sides and back of the tarp, as well as having mirror-like images printed on their tarp in a move that is very pleasing design wise. The opening vocal samples and front melodies evoke heartfelt feelings and a sense of hope. These motifs are continued, complete with snare and bass features. The next movement has an interesting feature: section solos that each end with the section looking at themselves in the mirror, perhaps self-evaluating.

Scholastic Marching World

Centerville HS –

Centerville takes us back to the 80’s with their show with members dressed in the typical trends and popular music of the time. In a unique twist, the back edge of the floor is home to a brass and woodwind section that give an extra layer of depth to the music. Visually the group creates various shapes and forms that move and flow across the floor. The ensemble then moves on to their rendition of “Careless Whisper” by George Micheals as a sax player performs the famous riff accompanied beautifully by the front. The show ends with Simple Mind’s  “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” from the iconic film “The Breakfast Club” completing the journey of the main character from nerd to cool kid.

Center Grove HS –

From the get go Center Grove raises the bar with the front assembled in sections on the right side of the floor with various stand-like props holding the battery’s drums. As the show begins, members toss paper leaflets around, followed by ominous notes played by the front ensemble. The battery moves together as one opposed by a one visual member carrying a red flag, who tosses it to another member standing on top of one of the props. The battery circles the member imposingly as a voice over tells the story of the people realizing their oppression and rising up. Another musical highlight is the use of what appear to be steel drums by the marimbas.

Broken Arrow –

A fan favorite, Broken Arrow takes the floor with the front playing a beautifully sad piece while members of the battery perform body on a flay prop on the front of the floor. On the back half is a small stage with a visual member posing with elegance and grace while next to another member performing on beautifully on the flute, while the battery plays with both precision and ease, as Broken Arrow is known to do. During a moment in the next movement the battery moves as a singular block formation that expands to take up most of the right side of the floor showcasing their precision marching. Towards the end of the show, multiple dancing members emerge moving gracefully onto the front prop while the battery plays, eventually leaving to prop to dance and interact with the battery members.

Franklin Central HS – 

Franklin Central’s entrance onto the floor is hard to miss with their members, tarp, and props all dressed in the vibrant colors of STPME color bars. Some digital noise can be seen on the uniforms tarp and props as well, giving the show a distinct broadcast television feel. The show begins with a quote from the popular 90’s show Seinfeld followed by a brief cover of the quirky and iconic bass riff in the show’s opening theme. The members seem to appear out of thin air from behind the props adding extra visual credit to the performance. The battery and front combine to bring high levels of energy and entertainment that’s sure to please audience members of all ages and backgrounds. The props are then moved closer to the front giving a sense of visual depth to the show that culminates with batter members playing powerfully on moveable stairs.

Avon HS – 

The ensemble begins circled around a grand piano with a member performing the iconic piece “Clair de Lune” before being abruptly cut off by a voice over exclaiming “ENOUGH!” As the piano continues, the battery begins to move across the floor while the basses play a powerful feature. The ensemble makes excellent use of the negative space on the floor as they flow and move from one side to another. At one point the battery takes extra tenors and rolls them out onto the floor to create a massive tenor line feature, followed by an intense mind blowing guitar solo. The show ends on a high energy note with the battery on the floor playing notes with both clarity and precision.

Cap City – 

Cap City’s motif of the threads of fate intertwining our lives can be seen with needle props placed around the edges of the floor, and by the various “threads” that members of the battery and front wear. This really helps solidify the theme when you see the members literally tangled together. Musically the battery plays a fury of notes, highlighted by an extremely impressive bass feature in the middle of the show. Cap City has made a name for itself for its high energy, entertaining shows, and this one follows the trend.

INov8 –

INov8’s use of black uniforms with white stripes and white tape over the members mouths is simple, but powerful. A single white line going across the black floor makes for a strong focal and marching point, and is an element that plays a big part in the design of the show. INov8’s choice to use eight bass drums has turned a lot of heads this season and is something I think plays to their favor. The moment where the ensemble removes the tape from their mouths and let out several bone chilling screams is a powerful moment for the group.

Veritas –

Even before their performance begins, seeing members being rolled out on surgery tables by mad scientists lets you know that you’re in for a horrifying, but still fun, experience. The show starts off with a band, showcasing the bass line who perform their feature while still attached to the surgery table. As they join the rest of the ensemble they move furiously around each other in a chaotically clean block. The visual ensemble, playing the role of the mad scientists, play an integral part in the show giving an extra layer of visuals to the performance and adding to the monsters vs scientists motif. The front ensemble is placed slight inside the edge of the floor, allowing room for the basses and snares to take their features. At one point the snares perform a solo while strapped to their surgery tables that are at the same time being rolled around the floor by the mad scientists.

Matrix – 

Matrix takes you to the movies with this production, complete with a moving “camera” on the front side of the tarp, movie set chairs for members to lounge in, and four giant TV sets bringing the themes to life visually. The TVs also serve as a prop for member of the visual ensemble to stand on and use. The front plays a beautiful rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and features live vocals from one of Matrix’s members before taking a sharp, militaristic turn playing excerpts from Edwin Starr’s “War.” During the final moments of the show, Matrix explores its own history, playing a piece from their own 2013 show “Covered” with accompanying visuals from that year on the TV props.

Rhythm X – 

The show starts on a visual high note, with all marching members in a straight line in front of a raised platform with a member sitting atop it. The platform rolls up towards the front as the members split to either side of the platform. After a superbly crisp run by the front, the snares perform their fan favorite visual of air playing notes that tenors are actually playing while hidden behind a black prop on the back left side of the floor. The bass drum feature is next with some tasty licks from the RX bassline, who never disappoint. The marching ensemble then moves together in unison and playing slapsticks, which leads to another fire bass feature this time incorporating wood blocks mounted on the bass drum.