Under perfect skies, with a cool summer breeze permeating the confines of Huskie Stadium, one of the largest prelims audiences in Drum Corps Midwest history enjoyed a great evening of top drum corps.Continuing its string of undefeated finishes, The Cavaliers (1st-88.45) topped the Drum Corps Midwest Championship Division I prelims by over five points, winning all eight captions. Getting the most crowd reaction were two box maneuvers; a cumulative block box and the formation where the horns surround the guard and break into an enthusiastic jig. The entire show is based on a single melody, which is enjoying increased prominence in some mid-season rewrites.Glassmen and Phantom Regiment tied for 2nd with 83.00, with Glassmen's exotic "Odyssey" placing just 0.2 down in Music Percussion from The Cavaliers and Phantom's "Heroic Sketches: The Passion of Shostakovich" topping Glassmen by 0.6 in GE Music and 0.7 in Guard. Glassmen's captivating middle selection, with solos soaring into the night air, was one of the highlights of the evening, as was Phantom's blood boiling aggressive "Symphony No. 10" opener. Glassmen's score included a 0.2 penalty.Bluecoats (4th-80.80) added some increased distance between itself and Madison Scouts (5th-76.50) and Colts (6th-76.45), with its show inspired by life in the big city. Especially striking is the opening colorful flag sequence which pops out of the horn line. Madison Scout's pre-show rendition of "Conquest" set the audience up for an enthusiastic performance of blazing horns and world drumming, while Colts continue to improve with an evocative show inspired by the travails of being human, pulling at the emotions of the audience. Madison's score included .5 penalty.Southwind (7th-67.80) and Pioneer (8th-62.60) rounded out the prelims, with Southwind focusing on music that is mostly somber in character until the fervor of the optimist closer, and Pioneer delivering the enjoyable, memorable music of "Oliver."In Division II Finals, it was a battle of the Capitals as Capital Regiment (1st-65.50) outgunned Capital Sound's (2nd-59.30) treatment of rock classics with a heroic show of trial and triumph inspired by the ascension of Mt. Everest, winning all captions except Visual Performance and Music Ensemble. A most memorable element of Capital Sound's show was the neon green fabric stretched over the animated bodies of the guard.Things are sure to heat up tonight as the DCM Division I corps meet for the last time prior to next Saturday's DCI Southwestern Regional in San Antonio, Texas.