If there's anything worth taking away from the BOA Northwest Ohio Regional, it's that there was some pretty sophisticated stuff happening at the top of finals this year.

Alongside some beautiful mid-60s weather and a bright shining sun throughout most of the day, there were some great sounds coming from Doyt Perry Stadium today as well. Out of the returners from the 2017 Toledo regional, four bands ended up making finals again in 2018, including William Mason (OH), who took the top spot.

Here are some takeaways from a day full of beautiful sights and sounds at Bowling Green State University.

Mason's Got Their Eyes On The Prize

Back from a transitionary year, William Mason (OH) had all of the opportunity in the world this weekend, and took it. The group finished in first place with a clean sweep across every caption (averages) in prelims and finals. 

Their 2018 program "I See You" is captivating with a colorful visual palette and the use of symmetry through props and drill movement.

The band has 50 round-shaped platform props that have poles coming out of the top that the guard uses. The opener is set with circles in each corner of the field and large concentric circles centered on the 50. The air is filled with a flute solo and soft subtle chords from the front ensemble, eventually developing into a muted trumpet duet. Visually, the band starts executing mesmerizing choreography into drill with some very difficult body. 

As the show evolves through aggression and tempo changes and mood swings one thing is consistent: the visual package of this show is top-tier. The choreography being executed by the band, the placement and usage of the props, especially this early on.

Continue to watch William Mason (OH) as they add more to their show and head to this year's Grand National Championships to earn their spot back in finals.

Lakota East Goes Mondrian

Piet Mondrian is a Dutch painter who lived through the late 1800's and died in 1944. As one of the first artists to explore abstract art, his art evolved from impressionistic recreations of nature to simple geometric shapes with primary colors or black/gray.

Lakota East (OH) has risen to the occasion in Bowling Green, OH with their 2018 program about the famous artist. The group placed third overall in finals with a very sophisticated production and was JUST barely behind second place Brownsburg (IN). 

As the show "Line, Shape, And Color" starts, the field has been filled with numerous, entirely white props spread across the field and along the front. The band is hidden while sound samples begin playing through different speakers creating this very interesting sonic experience, right from the start.

With visual sequentials from left to right and right to left, the band moves around the field building suspense as the electronic sounds grow in intensity. The show begins with a percussion feature and a few woodwind soloists as the field is filled with drill. 

Lines are added to the props on the field and three groups of three props are lined up on the right side of the field. The drill reflects this idea of groupings versus separation. The ending of the opener concludes in a hit with a prologue from the front ensemble as a soloist dancer is introduced on the 50 with a clarinet in centerfield. 

More lines are added and the props start to resemble Mondrian's works finally. This transition is done so well that it nearly feels like the same song—a great achievement considering many bands have yet to add any transitions, let alone clean them up to this extent.

After the ballad finishes, we got a small taste of the next piece tied into a reprisal of the opener melody. But, after the reveal of some color on the props, the show, unfortunately, came to an end.

Lakota East will be attending this year's BOA Indianapolis Super Regional and with this show, they can be very successful. Follow them to BOA Grand National Championships this season to see the final version of their show "Line, Shape, and Color."