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The Blue Stars placed 10th at the DCI Southwestern Championships at the Alamodome in San Antonio, after taking second place in preliminaries to claim one of the last four spots in the finals. They are trying to become a top 12 finalist at the Drum Corps International World Championships for the first time since 1979.
The La Crosse corps had a season-high 81.975 in preliminaries, finishing runnerup to the Blue Knights of Denver, who were first with 83.225 points. The Blue Stars scored 80.695 in the finals to place ahead of the Glassmen of Toledo, with 79.95 points and Crossmen of San Antonio with 77.275 points.
The Blue Stars beat
three 2007 DCI finalists. The Blue Devils of Concord, Calif., won the contest with 92.375 points, and the Cavaliers of Rosemont, Ill., were second with 90.975 points.
“We really had two fine performances,” said Brad Furlano, the Blue Stars’ executive director. “Performing in a dome has been an Achilles’ heel for us, but it wasn’t Saturday.”
Furlano said the Blue Stars’ color guard has been outstanding, and placed eighth in the finals. The corps also received ninth in visual performance and 10th in music effect, brass and music ensemble.
The Blue Stars have competitions in Oklahoma and Arkansas this week before
the next regional championship in Atlanta on Saturday.
