By Quinn Masek, Siouxland contributor
What. An. Event. Titans from Nebraska and Minnesota clashed at the 25th annual Hastings Swingin’ On The River competition. While some results shocked the audience, what wasn't shocking was the way the competition was organized and executed. The staff and volunteers created a top-notch environment fitting of a premier competition. But now, the results.
Prep Division
1st: Millard West “Swing Cats” (BV/BC/BB)
2nd: Papillion-La Vista South “Titan Express”
With Westside's Warrior Express not in attendance, the prep division featured two groups. Swing Cats swept the division from Titan Express, and could potentially see a finals placement later this season at Millard North.
Womens Division
1st: Millard West “Uptown”
2nd: Omaha Westside “Simply Irresistible”
3rd: Papillion-La Vista South “Titan Radiance”
With their third division win this season, Uptown has taken gold in the womens division against the other Nebraska groups. Uptown's Jennavee Latko even took one of the day's two Best Soloist awards. Simply Irresistible is still looking for another divisional win after making finals in January but faltering in February. Titan Radiance notched third for the second consecutive competition.
Final Results
Grand Champion: Millard West “West In The Groove” (BC/BB)
1st Runner Up: Omaha Westside “Amazing Technicolor Show Choir” (BV)
2nd Runner Up: Papillion-La Vista South “Titanium”
3rd Runner Up: Bloomington Kennedy “Rhythm In Gold”
4th Runner Up: Bloomington Jefferson “Jefferson Connection”
5th Runner Up: Bemidji “Vocalmotive”
For the first time since 2018, West In The Groove has beaten Amazing Technicolor Show Choir. It was not a runaway at all, with ATSC still snagging Best Vocals. This competition was incredibly close, with both groups excelling at different things, and the crowd absolutely ate it up. This now puts WIG in a realistic position to beat Gretna Revolution when they go head to head at Lewis Central later this season.
For the first time this season, Titanium did not win Best Band. Out of the three Nebraska schools competing at Hastings, Titanium ranked the lowest. That being said, they had some of the toughest choreography of the day backed by a less traditional sounding band.
This was Rhythm In Gold's lowest finals placement since 2022 at Waconia (or Totino-Grace that same season), but that didn’t stop the group from shining with their Bridgerton-themed show. This is also Indigo Gabriel’s ninth best soloist award with RIG. This weekend, they will compete against South Dakota groups at O’Gorman Standing O in Sioux Falls.
After two previous competitions of placing behind Vocalmotive, Jefferson Connection upset the Bemidji school this past weekend. Vocalmotive told a story about being yourself and not hiding behind a mask, while Jefferson Connection took the audience on a journey to find the true north. Both groups compete against each other one final time this upcoming weekend at Totino-Grace.