Comps of the Week: 3/8/25

By William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief

It is truly showdown season. Besides a national-level contest at Mt. Zion this weekend, there’s plenty more from circuits that are either on their last hurrah or close to it.

Lewis Central Clash of the Titans

The Lineup (choirs from Nebraska unless noted)

4A: Bellevue East “Take II”, Gretna “Revolution”, Lincoln East “Express”, Millard South “South on Stage”, Millard West “West in the Groove”, Papillion-La Vista South “Titanium”, Sioux Falls Jefferson “Legacy” (SD)

3A: Vermillion “Rhythm in Red” (SD)

1A: Fullerton “8th and Broadway”

Womens: Lincoln East “Elegance”, Millard South “Stage One”, Millard West “Uptown”, Papillion-La Vista South “Titan Radiance”, Sioux Falls Jefferson “Revelry” (SD)

Prep: Gretna “Evolution”, Millard West “Swing Cats”, Papillion-La Vista South “Titan Express”

Once again, Lewis Central delivers on being an Iowa competition that has no in-state groups attend. The headlining matchup is a late-season showdown between Gretna and Millard West, two groups that have scored big wins over in-state powers in the past couple weeks. They’re also the first- and second-ranked choirs in the current Nebraska poll rankings, so the winner has a good chance of holding the top spot for the rest of the season. Lincoln East and Papio South both have a sole win and other finals appearances to their names so far this season, and both will be gunning for a solid podium spot to round out the season. Millard South has had a bit of an upstart season with a pair of first runner-up finishes, and anything above fifth for them here would be a big step forward. Sioux Falls Jefferson broke through for its first win of the season last week, but they will have to contend with Millard West Uptown for the sixth finals spot.

Marysville Showcase

The Lineup (choirs from Ohio unless noted)

Large Mixed: Beavercreek “Friends”, Fairfield “Choraliers”, Chesterton “Sandpipers” (IN), Marion Harding “Harding Singers”, Olentangy “Keynotes”, Waubonsie Valley “Sound Check” (IL)

Medium Mixed: Medina “Encore Entertainment Company”, Twinsburg “Great Expectations”, Whitehall-Yearling “Music Unlimited”

Small Mixed: Buckeye Valley “Visions”, Elgin “Energizers”, Licking Valley “Vocal Impact”, Portsmouth “Expressions”, River Valley “Music Company”, Trotwood-Madison “Eclectic Blend”

Single-Gender: Chesterton “Drifters” (IN), Fairfield “Pure Elegance”, Marion Harding “Signers Xtreme”, Olentangy “She-Notes”, Waubonsie Valley “Resonance”

Several of Ohio’s large mixed choirs that have been right in the thick of things now face competition from a pair of out-of-state visitors. Chesterton, a group that is known for traveling everywhere, and Waubonsie Valley, a group that is not necessarily known as a big traveler, both come to Marysville at different points in their seasons. Chesterton last competed two weekends ago, walking away with first in Advanced Mixed 2 at Esperanza in California. This will be their season finale. Waubonsie Valley has only competed twice so far this season – they were third of 18 at Sauk Prairie, but fourth of four varsity mixed groups at Naperville North. Fairfield is the best of the Ohio bunch attending, but Olentangy has shown signs of promise this year and has Show Choir Nationals in its sights. Showcase will take five mixed finalists and three single-gender finalists.

Sioux City East Sing All About It!

The Lineup (choirs from Iowa unless noted)

Mixed: Aberdeen Central “Eagle Express” (SD), Bishop Heelan “Harmonia Mundi”, Elkhorn South “Blackout” (NE), Harrisburg “Eclipse” (SD), Hastings “Riverside Company” (MN), Mitchell “Friend de Coup” (SD), Westwood “Rebelaires”

Womens: Aberdeen Central “Special Request” (SD), Bishop Heelan “Magnifique”, Elkhorn South “Shockwave” (NE)

Mens: Bishop Heelan “moMANtum”

Prep: Elkhorn South “Power Surge” (NE)

For a Full Preview: Champions Clash in Sioux City This Weekend

Choirs from all states have flocked to Sioux City for this one. Mitchell is coming off a tight win over Sioux City East at Bishop Heelan last weekend. Hastings was third at Totino-Grace last weekend and is making a rare appearance after TG’s comp. Elkhorn South lost to Elkhorn North in a split-caption decision last weekend. Aberdeen Central was fourth last weekend, completing a run from third to sixth this season. Bishop Heelan won its first two competitions of the season and has only lost to Totino-Grace. How all of those stories combine into one at Sing All About It is anyone’s guess.

Wildcard: Avon Vocal Invitational

The Lineup (choirs from Indiana unless noted)

Large Mixed: Brownsburg “Spotlight Singers & Company”, Castle “Knight Sensations”, Jenks “Trojanaires” (OK), Lawrence North “Legacy”, Plainfield “Belles et Beaux”

Small Mixed: Columbia City “City Heat”, Danville “Delegation” (IL), East Noble “Knight Rhythms”, Mooresville “Spotlighters”, Pendleton Heights “Pendletones”

Large Single-Gender: Brownsburg “Starlight Voices”, Castle “Knightingales”, Jenks “AireMen” (OK), Jenks “Trojan Spirit” (OK), Lawrence North “Bella Bravada”, Plainfield “Femmes Fatales”

Small Single-Gender: Columbia City “City Lights”, Danville “Contemporaires” (IL), East Noble “Premiere Edition”, Mooresville “Finesse”, Pendleton Heights “Emerald Suites”, Southmont “Sudden Impulse”

Prep: Brownsburg “Dog Pound”, Franklin Central “Encores”, Plainfield “Nouvelles”

AVI brings back its top two choirs from last year, when Brownsburg took a split-caption win over Plainfield. Brownsburg has not won this year and is continuing to rebound from missing finals at Homestead. Plainfield has been swept by Avon twice in the past three weeks, but otherwise won at Southmont to start competition this year. Challenging them are Indiana programs Lawrence North and Castle. LN has notched placements above Castle and crosstown Lawrence Central this year. Jenks makes the trip over to Indianapolis from Oklahoma. Trojanaires most recently won the LD Bell Invitational in Texas and have been competitive in other circuits, taking Best Choreography from Missouri titan Neosho at the beginning of the season. The womens division will be competitive as well – while Starlight is expected to take it, Bella Bravada and Femmes Fatales have been close all season. Small divisions go on Friday night, and it is Pendleton versus the world in both divisions.

Whatever the results may be, find out what they mean in Comps of the Week Recap, publishing early next week.