By Thea Lierman, Nebraska contributor
A panel of three regional experts analyzed 35 of Nebraska’s top show choirs to create the rankings. While divisions are mainly determined by NSAA cutlines, adjustments may be made for groups that compete across multiple divisions throughout the season.
Large School
Westside “Amazing Technicolor Show Choir” (3 first-place votes, no change)
Gretna “Revolution” (NC)
Millard West “West in the Groove” (NC)
Gretna East “Equinox” (NC)
Lincoln Southwest “Resonance” (NC)
Grand Island Northwest “14 Karat Gold” (+1)
Lincoln East “Express” (-1)
Omaha South “The Ambassadors” (NC)
Millard North “Infinity” (+3)
Elkhorn South “Blackout” (-1)
Papillion-La Vista South “Titanium” (-1)
Pius X “Spectrum” (-1)
Grand Island “Ultimate Image” (NC)
Elkhorn North “adrENaline” (+1)
Norris “Gold” (-1)
News and Notes
Grand Island Northwest has climbed to sixth in the rankings after an impressive performance at the Lincoln Northwest Capital City Classic, where they placed second under Lincoln Southwest. Their strong showing keeps them in the conversation as a top contender in what has been a resurgent season for them.
Millard North also made a climb in the rankings after securing fifth at the Chesterton Trojan Classic in Indiana, where they competed against some of the nation’s top choirs, including Linn-Mar, Carmel, Carroll, and Brandon. They proved they can hold their own on a highly competitive stage and represented the state of Nebraska very well.
Hastings Swingin’ on the River will be an important competition for Nebraska show choirs, as top schools like Westside, Millard West, and Papillion-La Vista South travel to Minnesota to compete. With strong Minnesota and Wisconsin competition in the mix, this event will be a great test for these Nebraska programs as they look to make a statement on a different stage.
It’s that time of year when the season starts winding down for many groups. While most still have one or two competitions left, some have already wrapped up. Lincoln Southwest, for example, finished their season last weekend on a high note, sweeping their final competition at Lincoln Northwest.
Single Gender
Millard West “Uptown” (2 first-place votes, +1)
Elkhorn South “Shockwave” (1 first-place vote, -1)
Westside “Simply Irresistible” (NC)
Millard North “Illumination” (NC)
Papillion-La Vista South “Titan Radiance” (NC)
Lincoln East “Elegance” (NC)
Papillion-La Vista “Monarchy " (NC)
Papillion-La Vista “Heart and Soul” (NC)
Millard South “Stage One” (NC)
Elkhorn North “ENcore” (Not Ranked)
Receiving Votes: Pius X "Prism"
News and Notes
Millard West has taken over the top spot in the rankings after earning first in their division at Urbandale last weekend, surpassing Elkhorn South. This weekend, they’ll have another big test as they will compete with Westside and Papillion-La Vista South at Hastings Swingin’ on the River.
Spots three through nine remain unchanged, but Elkhorn North has officially broken into the rankings at tenth place. Their strong performance at the Elkhorn Red Carpet Classic, where they placed second in their division, earned them a well-deserved spot on the list.
Prep
Gretna “Evolution” (3 first-place votes, no change)
Westside “Warrior Express” (NC)
Millard West “Swing Cats” (NC)
Lincoln Southwest “Ambiance” (NC)
Millard North “Intensity” (NR)
Receiving Votes: Papillion-La Vista South "Titan Express"
News and Notes
This week the rankings remain largely unchanged, with the top four spots staying the same from last week. The biggest change is Millard North debuting at spot, fresh off placing third in small mixed finals at Chesterton. With minimal movement, the rankings are starting to solidify as the leading groups continue to place well.
Both Westside and Lincoln Southwest’s prep groups have wrapped up their seasons, while the remaining groups still have a few more competitions ahead.
Small School
Wahoo “Royalty” (3 first-place votes, NC)
Skutt Catholic “Vivace” (NC)
Standing Bear “The Renegades” (NC)
Plattsmouth “Out of the Blue” (NC)
Aurora “Rhapsody” (NC)
News and Notes
It’s another relatively quiet week, with the rankings remaining unchanged from both last week and the week before. With no major shifts in performance, the top groups continue to hold steady, and the season’s front-runners are becoming more clearly defined.
Wahoo is hosting the Court of Champions this weekend, where a mix of both small and large schools will compete. Within the rankings, Standing Bear and Skutt will be among the schools in attendance, adding some excitement and possibly a shift in the rankings. Groups like Blair, Seward, and Bishop Neumann will also look to make noise with a strong performance.