By Arte Reed, Iowa Contributor
The debut of Linn-Mar's 2025 competition season is here. Waukee Northwest and Urbandale have already started their season, with some interesting results and shocking placements for both groups. Showzam will mark the battle of some of the historically best groups in central Iowa, and the introduction of one who has been historically undefeated.
Womens Division
Linn-Mar "Hi-Style"
Urbandale "Affinity"
This is an interesting matchup, to say the least. Hi-Style has been known to defeat any womens group that comes through their path in Iowa. However, it will be their season debut, which may be a disadvantage since Affinity had already competed once at Waukee. Affinity, meanwhile, is only in its second year as a group, and is still building towards becoming a powerhouse.
Prep Division
Waukee Prairieview "Velocity"
Norwalk "Sound Adrenaline"
Linn-Mar "In Step"
Waukee Northwest "Aurora"
Urbandale "Vitality"
The prep division will see the first round of battles between the three top schools - Linn-Mar, Waukee Northwest, and Urbandale. Aurora and Vitality have gone up against each other three times in the past. Vitality has the lead over them, finishing first during Showzam in 2024 and 2022. Aurora and In Step have only met each other four times in the past. Currently, In Step has the series lead and had beaten Aurora at three competitions. Despite these historical records, all three groups could provide some interesting results and any one of them could come out on top. Velocity is a ninth-grade group that feeds directly into Waukee Northwest's program, so it possible to see them as a challenger to some of these groups as well.
Mixed Division
North Polk "Nexus"
Dowling Catholic "Dimensions"
Norwalk "Sound Revolution"
Linn-Mar "10th Street Edition"
Waukee Northwest "Eos"
Urbandale "Studio"
Only two groups are making their competition debut for the season, Dowling Catholic and Linn-Mar. North Polk has competed twice this season and made finals at Muscatine two weeks ago. They are the only 3A school competing at Johnston, but could be a contender for finals once again. Norwalk has also competed twice this season and started the year with a solid fifth at Des Moines Christian. Throw Dowling Catholic into that mix, and all of a sudden even the bottom half of the mixed division is a fight. Urbandale had a rough start to their season, placing fifth last week at Waukee. However, they had ample time to improve their show and could present a much-improved version of their show this weekend at Johnston. Waukee Northwest has hit the competition stage twice this year. While some thought they may be on the ropes after getting swept by Lincoln Southwest to open the season, Eos came back and swept Johnston last weekend, leaving many to wonder just how high their show can take them this season.
Final Predictions
GC: Linn-Mar "10th Street Edition" (BV/BC)
1RU: Urbandale "Studio"
2RU: Waukee Northwest "Eos" (BB)
3RU: Norwalk "Sound Revelation"
4RU: Linn-Mar "In Step"
5RU: Urbandale "Vitality"
It's hard to say where most of these groups will place. The 2025 season has been unpredictable - and it's really only two weeks old. Linn-Mar has been undefeated since the pandemic, and this could be the year where their streak ends. Waukee Northwest and Urbandale have faced each other three times at Johnston in the past. Urbandale does have the series lead, but Waukee Northwest is riding the current hot streak. Behind them, Norwalk, Dowling, and North Polk will battle with each other and the prep groups to see who rounds out the finals field.
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