Take Two moves back to March this year from its traditional January slot. Additionally, DCG is now taking 4A choirs into its competition, whereas in years past they limited competing choirs to only the 1A, 2A, and 3A divisions. A breakdown of the competing choirs are as follows.
Prep Division
Ankeny “Perpetual Motion”
Atlantic “Adrenaline”
Des Moines Christian “Salt, Co.”
These three prep groups competed in separate divisions a few weeks ago at North Polk, so it should be pretty easy to sort this one out. Perpetual Motion is one of Iowa’s top prep groups and has been successful in taking down some pretty hefty varsity mixed choirs. Follow them up with Salt, Co., who bested Adrenaline at North Polk. This begins the conversation of how many non-varsity mixed groups can sneak their way into finals - more on that later.
Womens Division
Ankeny “Intensity”
Johnston “Bella Voce”
Marshalltown “Southside Transit”
Two of these groups have already competed this season, so we can safely infer that we know how this will play out. Hailing from the famous Johnston High School, Bella Voce attends DCG alone from the program and hopes to continue their success this year and even break into finals. Ankeny’s Intensity is looking to get their lick back from Bella Voce. This previous weekend, Bella Voce beat out Intensity for the first-place spot in their division and even advanced to finals, where they placed fifth. Toss in Southside Transit, who has yet to compete against any other treble groups this season, and we have an awesome match up.
1A
Westwood “Rebelaires”
The Rebelaires placed first in their division at Bishop Heelan over Woodbine Community’s “Visual Harmonics” this past weekend, but did not break into finals. This is their first season under the direction of Kaylee Smits, who took over for Tom Gerking. He went to Omaha Westside Middle School this year after nearly a quarter-century at Westwood.
Editor's note: Westwood was a late withdrawal from the competition after having conflicts with basketball, archery and FFA.
2A
Des Moines Christian “Light Inc.”
Light Inc. is in the midst of a fantastic season this year. Four finals appearances and two grand championships is nothing to ignore. This is also on the back of a director change, as Anne Chittenden left teaching for the medical industry before this year. Jeff Johannsen stepped up from directing Salt Co. this year and has done phenomenal things with the group.
3A
Atlantic “Ambassadors”
North Polk “Nexus”
Both groups in the 3A division are hoping to improve from their first few competitions this season. Neither Nexus nor the Ambassadors advanced to finals at any of their latest competitions, but with a few weeks off to rehearse, both groups are almost sure to make improvements and perform well this weekend. Last season, Nexus bested the Ambassadors at the Indianola Show Choir Encounter. Will the script be flipped this year? Ambassadors and their first-year director Mikayla Stockhaus hope to do so.
4A
Ankeny “Visual Adrenaline”
Visual Adrenaline is the only taker of Take Two's newly-opened 4A division. The entire program is only here, however, because the Muscatine River City Showcase was snowed out on January 13.
Finals
With the entire line-up of eleven groups eligible for finals, the fight for finals seems to draw even more desire and fight within these groups. The group most favored to win is definitely Ankeny Visual Adrenaline. They have proved this season that they have not come to play, and this seems to be an easy call. They have beaten groups like Hastings, Valley, Indianola and even Des Moines Christian earlier this season. The rest of the spots for finals are all toss ups. Will Ankeny’s prep group beat out all of the varsity groups for that first runner-up spot? Will any of the treble groups overtake any of the mixed groups? It all remains to be seen.
Overall Predictions
Grand Champion: Ankeny “Visual Adrenaline” (BV, BC, BB)
1st Runner-Up: Des Moines Christian “Light Inc.”
2nd Runner-Up: Ankeny “Perpetual Motion”
3rd Runner-Up: Johnston “Bella Voce”
4th Runner-Up: Ankeny “Intensity”
5th Runner-Up: North Polk “Nexus”
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