The 2018 BOA South Texas Regional starts bright and early this weekend down in McAllen, TX. Prelims will start off at 7:30 AM CT with Gladys Porter (TX) and Rio Grande City (TX). After all bands perform in preliminary competition, awards will be announced and finalists determined around 5:00 PM CT. 

The best part of the day—finals under the stadium lights—will start at 7:15 PM CT with the national anthem and the first finalist performs at 7:45 PM CT.

Thinking Ahead

With more than 10 of the bands performing in the Alamodome for the 2018 BOA San Antonio Super Regional later this season, many of the groups will be striving for high marks this first weekend out. 

Bands also attending the 2018 BOA San Antonio Super Regional:

• Roma (TX)
• Edinburg North (TX)
• Juarez-Lincoln (TX)
• Claudia Taylor Johnson (TX)
• John B. Alexander (TX)
• Palmview (TX)
• Hidalgo Early College (TX)
• Pioneer (TX)
• Valley View (TX)
• Seven Lakes (TX)
• Lehman (TX)
• Mission (TX)

Back For Another Round

There are also 8/10 finalists returning from last year, including the 2-7th place bands. With Dripping Springs (TX) out of the way, the door is wide open for another group to move into the top spot. It also could open things up for Claudia Taylor Johnson (TX) to pop another 85, as they did at their first show in 2017.

Returning finalist bands from 2017 BOA South Texas Regional:

• [2nd] Roma (TX)
• [3rd] Pioneer (TX)
• [4th] Homer Hanna (TX)
• [5th] Edinburg North (TX)
• [6th] Juarez-Lincoln (TX)
• [7th] John B. Alexander (TX)
• [9th] Sharyland (TX)
• [10th] Edinburg (TX)

All Eyes On CTJ

All eyes will be on Claudia Taylor Johnson (TX) this season, more than any, as the reigning San Antonio Super Regional champion. Will they be able to match their momentum from the 2017 season and carry-over the progress?

At their first show in Austin last year, the group earned an 85, while maintaining over a 2-point lead on the second place band, Vandegrift (TX). Although there will not be a similar-caliber group in McAllen this weekend, they still have the opportunity to set the bar extremely high before next weekend's regional in Austin. 

The overall lack of a Texas presence in this year's Grand National Championships has drastically shifted the importance of results. The focus shifts forward one week from the final week of the season to the penultimate weekend: the San Antonio Super Regional.