By Ethan Parker, Founder
Three regional experts considered 39 show choirs from the Land of Lincoln and voted 20 into the rankings across three divisions. These are the results.
Championship Mixed
Wheaton Warrenville South "The Classics" (3 first-place votes, no change)
Wheaton North “Flight” (NC)
El Paso-Gridley “Modulations” (NC)
Mt. Zion “Swingsations” (NC)
Naperville North “Entourage” (+2)
Dwight D. Eisenhower “Express” (-1)
Waubonsie Valley “Sound Check” (-1)
Manteno “Magic” (+2)
Glenwood “Titan Fever” (NC)
Mundelein “Sound” (-2)
News and Notes
Wheaton wins crazed El Paso-Gridley Showdown
Wheaton Warrenville South The Classics broke through for their first win of season against solid out-of-state competition, they swept an Illinois based field that featured Sauk Prairie from Wisconsin. This win will give them a massive momentum boost heading into Glenwood this weekend.
What’s Ahead?
Six of the top ten groups will be out and about on Saturday trying to make noise in three different states. In Indiana, Wheaton North and Manteno will be facing off at Huntington North, where they will run into long-time Indiana choir Homestead. For Mundelein, they have a unique battle of their own in Epworth, Iowa, as they will be facing off against a slew of solid choirs in Davenport Central, De Pere, and others from Wisconsin. However, the competition at home is Glenwood. The Event will feature a rematch of Mt. Zion, Naperville North, and Wheaton Warrenville South a week removed from the El Paso-Gridley Showdown. Throw Quincy, Huntley, Jackson Academy, Brownsburg, Milton, and Marquette in the mix who knows what will happen.
Glenwood Preview: Several States Vie For Eight Finals Spots at Glenwood
Single-Gender
Wheaton Warrenville South “Esprit” (3 first-place votes, +1)
Mt. Zion “Les Femmes” (-1)
Naperville North “Vivant” (+2)
Mt. Zion “You’ve Got Male” (-1)
El Paso-Gridley “Hi Fidelity” (-1)
Other Receiving Votes: Danville "Contemporaires"
News and Notes
Top Two Flip… Again
The top two spots flip for a second time in two weeks after Esprit bested a field that included Les Femmes and Vivant from Naperville North. Despite Vivant beating Les Femmes for the first time since 2017, they snuggled up right behind them in this week's ranking. If they could best Mt. Zion a second time at Glenwood this weekend, expect them to leapfrog a placement. The top four choirs in this ranking will be battling it out at The Event on Saturday.
Festival Mixed
Sullivan “Singers” (2 first-place votes, +2)
Danville “Delegation” (1 first-place vote, -1)
Crete-Monee “Cavaliers” (-1)
Herscher “Class Act” (NC)
Quincy “Electric Blue” (Not Ranked)
Other Receiving Votes: Batavia "Swingsingers", Mother Mac Auley "Mac Melody"
News and Notes
The Rise of Sullivan Singers
Just when the festival mixed division figures itself out, it falls into chaos again. Sullivan grabs the top spot in this week’s rankings after not only besting a stacked field at El Paso, but after beating Crete-Monee and Herscher after losing to them a week prior.
Sullivan vs. Danville at Xtreme Show Choir Showdown
A showdown awaits in Indiana - Sullivan vs Danville. The top two choirs in this ranking will be squaring off at Lafayette Jefferson for supremacy in the festival mixed division. While they both may not be the favorite to win the division, where they place against each other will have one of them sitting at the top spot, barring a crazy result from the rest of the field.