It was a great way to kick of the new CLASS season with a Founders Day show and festival in Portland Maine! Corps and fans lined up at Fitzpatrick Stadium after enjoying great seafood, playing games and getting together with old friends!

In Division III Green Crusaders who just missed finals last season by about a point started off the competition with their show The Crest of Blood. They were particularly strong in winds and percussion as they bested their last season final score and looking for a nice jump in the season ahead.

In Division II last seasons silver medalist in Div III moved up a division. Though they started off a bit behind where they did last season, their show Upside Down really has some possibilities. Strongest in the ensemble categories, they got 6th across the board. Pride of Washington State and Hogan Regiment were up next and what a close one this was! Pride had performance and ensemble scores summed up with their Evita show, but Hogan had the GE scores with their show Tilt. Even though they ended up in 4th place, it was great to see Hogan come out so strong against a corps that just last season was 5th at finals! There was a good jump to the silver and bronze medalists of the night Appliance DBC and Galaxy Regiment. For their 10th anniversary, Galaxy is doing 10 which is a combination of the 10 previous shows and as they are a corps that has been on the rise, people are really getting into this show. Their percussion was outstanding and really they had a very balanced show overall. It was just short of Appliance, "Is it Spring?" which seems to be a question on everyone's mind right now! Their show was certainly more focused on the GE. The corps are 8 and 9 overall after the show so look for them to keep that fight for finals real! the winner in Div II was Kansas City Crown with their show the Big Yeet. As the show title expresses, this is one exciting show! It actually swept all categories and catapulted the corps up the 3rd place overall in the standings. Is this the year they go all the way and get that allusive title? They sure seem to be on the march!

Division 1 just as Division II was getting things hot, we turned to the big guys. Infamous Legion got things started with their show Lenny. Their return to the field was a bit slow but sometimes you just got to get back out there. The corps placed 6 a few seasons ago so no telling where this might lead! The next 4 corps there was a nice jump but very close battle! Re:Collective Sound got 8th with their show Travelogue with their space travel/political show that is surely to have fans and detractors all season, but what a kick off! Keep in mind that this corps gained a lot of fans last season with the bronze win after an incredible climb through the season, so look for them to do the same this year. This was a nicely balanced show but we loved how the guard really brought the story to life. Barely edging them out was Pride of Peachtree with AMEN! last seasons 6th place corps also had a well balanced show that just seemed to edge out their competition in the smallest way, but enough! Bluegrass Regiment was the first corps to really step up in those performance categories with their show SPRING! grabbing top honors in percussion, visual performance and guard we were unsure if that spring was the season or an action because they had it SPOT ON! Last seasons 7th place corps might be looking to move up! speaking of moving up, Blue Demons Revenge Tour is taking no prisoners! Last season the corps saw a drop from 9th in semis to 11th at finals and they are taking nothing to chance. The brass about knocked the crowd out of their seats as they took top honors and actually are the number two brass in the country right now. Only beaten by Nemesis in Music ensemble and taking Music GE by a healthy margin (top in the country), the corps served notice to all that are out there! Overall this puts them in 6th in the world and 5th at the show. Lexington Legends pop back up after several inactive seasons with Down the Rabbit Hole and man were they a welcomed sight! Crowd went nuts and gave them a standing ovation just as they were announced and entered the field. A perennial CLASS favorite, many list them among the best to never win the title. This show certainly puts them in the discussion! They were ever so narrowly edged to 4th by bronze winner Vivace Brass and their show Rainbows. The GE judges really loved this show and scored them well for it winning GE Visual (2nd best in the country). They were very balanced and right on the heals of silver medalists Carolina Royals. CR was 2nd or 3rd in almost every category other than GE. However we know those wizards at the Royals love to evolve and change their shows early on, so we suspect that will change quickly. Presenting their show W for the first time this season, this put Carolina Royals in a familiar and comfortable 3rd place overall standings. Keep in mind the Royals have not won the kickoff show since season 63 when they when on to get silver at finals, so 2nd or 3rd at the first show is where they really like to be! Taking gold, our defending champion Nemesis. The Shadow's Bride certainly is a different approach for the corps and a MUCH darker feel, but winning the kick off show is old hat. The corps has won the kickoff show every season since that season 63 when Royals last won as they just seem to come in so prepared and ready! The corps didn't win in season 55, but since the return after a season off in 50, they have won all the rest. So this isn't much of a predictor on how the season will turn out, however it is lower then their first score last season, so perhaps there is a chink in the armor. Further, they DID NOT start out on top of our first World Standings, Nashville Sound did. They also only won the ensemble categories and were middle of the pack for GE and lower middle for performance. Its going to be a battle to remain in medal contention for sure.

Overall not only was it a great day with friends and family but once again CLASS showed why we are the best of the best in this activity! Looking forward to an exciting season ahead!

Great write-up, gcurrier! I'm not even in CLASS, but loved reading this anyway

Thank you!

Nice work! I really enjoyed reading the write up. Keep it coming!!!!

Nice work!

Awesome write-up!