Indianola Ascension is up there with some of Iowa’s biggest lineups of the season. Many choirs will end their season this weekend, making the stakes (for some) higher than they’ve previously been. The Grand Champions from the previous two seasons will go against each other for the first time ever. Almost 50 percent of this year’s mixed division will miss finals and high level groups in the womens and prep divisions could make things even more interesting. With all the storylines and unknowns that could come out of this weekend, there's no shortage of action on stage.
Mixed Division
Cedar Rapids Kennedy “Happiness, Inc.”
Des Moines Chrisitian “Light, Inc.”
Des Moines Lincoln “Infinity”
Millard South “South on Stage” (NE)
Moravia “Inspiration”
Mt. Pleasant “InMotion”
Norwalk “Sound Revolution”
Prairie “The Ambassadors”
Sparta “Upstage Adrenaline” (WI)
St. Francis “Bridge Street Singers” (MN)
Williamsburg “Sound Attraction”
Indianola holds one of the biggest pools for varsity groups for Iowa’s 2025 competition season with eleven groups in the mixed division. Many of these groups have multiple competitions under their belt so far; however, most have yet to compete against each other this season. Cedar Rapids Kennedy is coming off of a win at Cedar Rapids Washington last weekend and has already had a historically high-placing season. Prairie is the only other choir with a Grand Championship from this season, but hasn't placed higher than fourth since their second competition. Millard South and Sparta are considered out-of-state wildcards. Both are consistently high-placing groups in their home states but have yet to compete against many Iowa choirs. Des Moines Christian is also looking to be a top contender at Indianola after winning in 2024. Light, Inc. has yet to place below third this season and is surely eager to get back on stage after last weekend’s competition at North Polk was cancelled due to weather. Norwalk also has something to prove this weekend after having missed finals at their two most recent competitions; after almost a month off from competing, Sound Revolution is looking to improve their standings from Waukee and Johnston. Other choirs from St. Francis, Williamsburg, Mt. Pleasant, Des Moines Lincoln, and Moravia hope to break into the top six but may have a hard time with the sheer number of groups in the mixed division.
Womens Division
Millard South “Stage One”
The lone treble group at Indianola Ascension has competed well and placed highly thus far throughout Nebraska. Millard South Stage One could be a contender for finals after making it into Elkhorn South’s finals round last weekend. Stage One also has two division wins earlier in the season in Nebraska’s esteemed varsity treble division, so Iowans shouldn’t count them out for a finals spot this weekend.
Prep Division
Cedar Rapids Kennedy “Protégé”
Des Moines Christian “Salt, Co.”
Johnston Middle School “Sound Advice”
Norwalk “Sound Adrenaline”
Prairie “Focal Point”
Indianola marks the last listed competition for every prep group except for Focal Point – most of these groups have one last shot at a win this season. Des Moines Christian, Johnston Sound Advice (Johnston’s ninth-grade group), and Cedar Rapids Kennedy have all won at least one competition this season. Sound Advice seems to have the best record in this division, especially with a third overall at Norwalk in January, but haven’t competed against big pools of elite prep groups like other choirs in this lineup have. It’s hard to predict exactly how this year’s prep group competition will end up, even towards the end of the season.
Final Predictions
GC: Cedar Rapids Kennedy “Happiness, Inc.”
1RU: Des Moines Christian “Light, Inc.”
2RU: Sparta “Upstage Adrenaline”
3RU: Millard South “South on Stage”
4RU: Prairie “The Ambassadors”
5RU: Norwalk “Sound Revolution”
With so many groups in this year’s mixed division, finals could pan out in a lot of different ways. Cedar Rapids Kennedy is heading into this competition on a high note after sweeping the major captions and winning last weekend. Des Moines Christian has definitely been gaining momentum the past couple seasons under Jeff Johannsen’s direction, so placing very well at this competition is more likely than not for them. Out-of-state choirs Sparta or Millard South will likely round out the top three. Sparta has placed in the top three at four of their five competitions, a record-high season for them that came after adding Kevin Chase to their creative team. Millard South has less competitions under their belt, yet are still looking like a group that could place highly this weekend. Prairie is possibly the biggest question mark at Indianola this year. The Ambassadors started off their season on an extreme high after winning Muscatine but have since struggled to place in the top spots of their competitions. Finishing off the top six could be a variety of the competition’s groups, but Norwalk is the most likely pick based on their season so far. A lineup this vast means placement switches between daytimes and finals are likely and an interesting competition is surely ahead.
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