NEWARK, Delaware — The campus of the University of Delaware welcomed seven of DCI’s top World Class corps Tuesday night at DCI Delaware presented by USBands. As the tour inches closer to the final regional of the season in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the event inside Delaware Stadium was a converging point for some key late-season storylines.
Just as the corps has done throughout the season, Bluecoats landed atop of the leaderboard Tuesday night, extending its unbeaten streak to 13 events, The First State was also the site of the season’s first 95-point score of the season, earned by the Canton-based corps.
“We’re honestly just getting better by the day,” Bluecoats drum major Tony Gamez said. “It’s exciting to see the strides that the performers are taking night after night. It’s just something enjoyable.”
We had a great time tonight in Newark at DCI Delaware! 😁 Tomorrow we'll be in Egg Harbor Township for DCI South Jersey! 🟥
Posted by Bluecoats on Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Battling in Brass
1. Bluecoats » 95.225
2. Blue Devils » 94.250
Tuesday night’s event added another twist to the race for the Jim Ott Memorial Award brass caption award. Bluecoats and Blue Devils have traded first-place finishes in the subcaption in each of their last five head-to-head meetings, with the Concord, California corps winning the caption at both the San Antonio (July 20) and the Atlanta (July 27) regional events.
Bluecoats finished ahead of Blue Devils in the brass subcaption for the second-consecutive show on Tuesday at the Newark event. Just 0.25 points separated the two corps in the subcaption Tuesday night.
Blue Devils, however, did make some progress closing in on the Bluecoats on Tuesday night, shrinking the scoring gap between the two corps from 1.3 points to 0.975 points.
“Tonight’s run was a solid run,” Blue Devils drum major Dina Bratanovic said. “It was energetic and a run where the performers were putting all of themselves into the performance.”
Vanguard cracks 90
3. Santa Clara Vanguard » 90.800
Santa Clara Vanguard’s storybook return to competitive action added another chapter Tuesday night. The Northern California corps cracked 90 points for the first time this season at Delaware Stadium, further cementing the corps’ spot among the top of the 2024 leaderboard.
On the judges’ sheets, Vanguard’s caption scores consisted of mostly third-place marks, sans a standout first-place finish in percussion.
“I thought tonight’s run was great with lots of energy,” Vanguard drum major Maddy Heintz said.
Great show tonight Delaware! Allentown, we’re on our way! Are you ready to Dance With the Devil?
Posted by Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps on Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Troopers build momentum
4. Troopers » 86.650
The July 28 Winston-Salem event was a memorable and historic night for Troopers. As the summer ramps up toward the DCI World Championships, drum major Tarek Murray said his corps had one goal in mind.
“We were going to get the crowd on their feet,” Murray said. “We said, ‘We’re going to get the crowd on their feet and get them to scream for us.’”
Troopers did more than just that — the corps finished ahead of The Cavaliers for the first time in decades. Looking to build upon the momentum of a “very special” run, the Casper corps turned its attention to the First State.
The corps — with a score of 86.650 — placed fourth Tuesday night. In a season full of ties, Troopers had one of their own in the overall visual caption with Blue Knights. Troopers placed fourth in nearly every caption, except for the visual analysis subcaption.
“Tonight’s run was very special for us,” Murray said. “The crowd was electric, the members are highly motivated and it seemed like we’re starting to find our element after a few rough patches early in the season.”
The feeling when it all comes together 😌 Thank you DCI Delaware! #dci2024 #crossmen #dci #drumcorps
Posted by Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps on Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Striving for Saturday night
5. Blue Knights » 83.400
6. Crossmen » 82.250
The race for a Top 12 finalist berth at the 2024 edition of DCI World Championships has been marked by slim scoring margins. Tuesday night’s event at Delaware Stadium featured two corps — Blue Knights and Crossmen — vying for that coveted Finals performance on August 10.
The Newark event marks the third time this season these two corps have performed at the same venue this season. Just eight tenths of a point separated these two corps at their first head-to-head meeting July 20 in San Antonio. Blue Knights flipped the script a few nights later in Birmingham, finishing 1.75 points ahead of the San Antonio corps.
The Denver corps placed fifth — one spot ahead of Crossmen — Tuesday night. Blue Knights and Crossmen tied in the general effect caption, but Blue Knights finished ahead of Crossmen in the overall visual and music captions.
With Indianapolis just over a week away, last season’s finalist corps is motivated to be in that position again.
“We’re feeling hungry,” Blue Knights drum major Laynie Metsker said. “We’ve got a great show, great membership and a drive to take what we want. That’s the power behind everything we’re doing.”
Surfing along the East Coast
7. Jersey Surf » 73.450
After a brief return to Texas and the Southeastern region of the U.S., Jersey Surf made its way back to the East for Tuesday night’s event in Newark.
The New Jersey corps rounded out the leaderboard at Delaware Stadium with a score of 73.450. The corps earned seventh-place marks in every caption.
Four of the performing corps from Tuesday night’s event— Bluecoats, Blue Knights, Crossmen and Jersey Surf— will travel to Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey for DCI South Jersey on July 31. Troopers will head to Lawrence, Massachusetts for the DCI East Coast Showcase August 1.
Blue Devils and Vanguard will join Tuesday night’s lineup and the rest of DCI’s World Class lineup at the Eastern Classic in Allentown, Pennsylvania starting August 2.
View the 2024 DCI Tour Schedule