By William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
Competitions from Omaha to Lincoln lived up to the billing last weekend, delivering on expected battles across all four of Nebraska’s divisions.
Three regional experts weighed in on 35 of Nebraska's top show choirs to determine the rankings. Divisions are based primarily on NSAA cutlines, though adjustments may be made for groups that compete in multiple divisions throughout the season.
Large School
1. Westside “Amazing Technicolor Show Choir” (+1, 1 first-place vote)
2. Millard West “West in the Groove” (+2, 1 first-place vote)
3. Gretna East “Equinox” (+2, 1 first-place vote)
4. Lincoln Southwest “Resonance” (-3)
5. Gretna “Revolution” (-2)
6. Lincoln East “Express” (No change)
7. Grand Island Northwest “14 Karat Gold” (+1)
8. Elkhorn South “Blackout” (+1)
9. Papillion-La Vista South “Titanium” (-2)
10. Pius X “Spectrum” (+5)
11. Millard North “Infinity” (-1)
12. Grand Island “Ultimate Image” (NC)
13. Omaha South “The Ambassadors” (NC)
14. Norris “Gold” (-3)
15. Millard South “South on Stage” (-1)
Receiving Votes: Papillion-La Vista “Free Spirit”
News and Notes:
There’s been constant change at the top this year. After Gretna started the season in the #1 position, it flipped to Lincoln Southwest last week and the top spot now belongs to Westside. Is there a scenario in which yet another group takes the top spot next week?
Fresh off its second win of the season, Gretna East continues to climb in the rankings. Equinox is now up to third. The early-season momentum comes at a good time, as Equinox will not compete again until March 1.
Pius X waited just a little longer to debut their show than most groups, but it paid off with an impressive third at neighboring Lincoln East last week. Spectrum moved up five spots in the rankings this week, most of any group.
Four groups fell multiple spots this week. Lincoln Southwest was third at Westside behind Millard West and Mitchell; Gretna didn’t compete but fell from third to fifth; Papio South finished fourth at Lincoln East and fell from seventh to ninth; and Norris was fifth at Lincoln East and fell from 11th to 14th.
The South Titan Classic this weekend has the potential to be another big shakeup event. Choirs ranked first, fifth, sixth, eighth, 11th, and 12th will face off. Should the results come as a surprise, the rankings may reflect that next week.
Single-Gender
1. Westside “Simply Irresistible” (2 first-place votes, NC)
2. Millard West “Uptown” (+3, 1 first-place vote)
3. Millard North “Illumination” (-1)
4. Elkhorn South “Shockwave” (+2)
5. Papillion-La Vista South “Titan Radiance“ (-2)
6. Lincoln East “Elegance“ (-2)
7. Papillion-La Vista “Monarchy“ (NC)
8. Millard South “Stage One“ (NC)
9. Papillion-La Vista “Heart and Soul“ (NC)
10. Pius X “Prism“ (NC)
Receiving Votes: Norris “Titanaires”
News and Notes
Uptown is shooting up the rankings. In its season debut last weekend, the ensemble won the womens division and made finals, finishing sixth at Omaha Westside. That merited them the only first-place vote that went to someone besides Simply Irresistible.
Elkhorn South Shockwave is in a similar boat, roaring back into the top five following a division win at Lincoln East this past weekend.
There was surprisingly no change from seventh on down in the rankings this week, and only one choir received votes besides the top ten. Both the Papio groups will face Pius Prism this weekend at Lincoln Southwest in a test to see if the rankings hold true.
Prep
1. Gretna “Evolution” (+1, 2 first-place votes)
2. Westside “Warrior Express” (-1, 1 first-place vote)
3. Millard West “Swing Cats” (+1)
4. Lincoln Southwest “Ambience” (-1)
5. Papillion-La Vista South “Titan Express” (NC)
Receiving Votes: Millard North “Intensity”
News and Notes
There was a swap at the top, and it completed a meteoric rise for Evolution. The Dakota Mathew-led outfit was on the outside of the top five at the beginning of the season, but a finals berth at Standing Bear and a strong prom-themed show has brought Evolution to the top of the pile.
A similar swap occurred just under the top two. Swing Cats beat Ambience by a spot at Omaha Westside last week, bringing them a spot up in the rankings over Ambience. The paths for these two groups diverge from here, with only one more appearance for Ambience and at least three more competitions for Swing Cats.
Small School
1. Wahoo “Royalty” (2 first-place votes, NC)
2. Skutt Catholic “Vivace” (1 first-place vote, NC)
3. Standing Bear “The Renegades” (NC)
4. Aurora “Rhapsody” (NC)
5. Plattsmouth “Out of the Blue” (NC)
Receiving Votes: Blair “Ovation”
News and Notes
Well, what can really be said here? The only direct matchup between any of the top five groups was at Glenwood, Iowa, where Standing Bear made finals and Plattsmouth did not.
It may be another quiet week on the small-school front this weekend. Of the top five, only the top two are competing. Wahoo has a good chance to make finals at Lincoln Southwest, and Skutt will be in contention as well at Elkhorn. Blair, the only group outside the top five to receive votes this week, will also be at Elkhorn. A spoiler bid for Ovation would certainly shake up the rankings.
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