History will be on the line this weekend as Linn-Mar 10th Street Edition will take the stage at Johnston Showzam to kick off what they hope is yet another successful season. They may be competing to win the physical hardware at Showzam, but they may not know they are fighting to keep a title belt that has been passed down since the beginning of competitive show choir: the MacRonkin.
What is the MacRonkin?
The MacRonkin is a fictional award that has been passed down throughout the history of competitive show choir. Its name comes from Carmel’s Ron Hellems, the first known director to have the award. The idea for this award is inspired by the concept of the Macguffin, originating from the very first collegiate football game that has been leading up to the present day.
How does a choir get the MacRonkin?
The winning choir holds the MacRonkin until they are defeated by another choir who wins the overall competition and takes possession of the award. This concept not only adds an extra layer of excitement to the competition but also creates a continuous narrative throughout the history of show choir. The MacRonkin began at the Bishop Luers Swing Choir Invitational in 1976, regarded by many as the beginning of modern competitive show choir.
History on the line at this week’s Johnston Showzam
Linn-Mar (1,064 days) is currently one competition away from surpassing Waubonsie Valley (1,065 days) for the most amount of days with the MacRonkin during one hold in the modern era. This will make it the third longest streak to date, behind Carmel’s unofficial streaks (due to missing seasons) of 1,450 days (1977-81) and their 1,827-day streak (1983-88).
MacRonkin Timetable and Data
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fM_VnKYh6o8jiVDJJpUv5w-SFRgO5_e9olfq_oPA4a0/edit?usp=sharing
MacRonkin History Quick Hits:
The MacRonkin is born: Marion 26th Street Singers (IN) takes ownership after winning Bishop Luers in 1976.
Carmel Ambassadors becomes the first group to have multiple holds of the belt after beating Edgewood Music Warehouse in 1988.
The MacRonkin goes across state borders for the first time after Sullivan Singers (IL) defeated Lafayette Jefferson First Edition (IN) at the Showstoppers National Show Choir Invitational in 1988.
In 2001-02, three transactions of the belt took place back-to-back-to-back between three choirs, each giving them their third hold of the belt. These choirs were Mt. Zion, Clinton, and Lafayette Jefferson.
Clinton Attaché in 2008 is the first choir to break 1,000 days with the MacRonkin since the unofficial day streaks of the Carmel Ambassadors in the 1980s.
The MacRonkin Goes out West: Hart Sound Vibrations defeated Clinton Attaché at Sullivan (IL) in 2008, taking the MacRonkin to the west coast. This is the last time Clinton has held the MacRonkin, putting their all-time MacRonkin wins at 16 (the most all-time), and all-time total days with the MacRonkin at 2,492 (the most in the modern era).
The Great War of Burbank and Burroughs: From 2008 to 2014, Burbank In Sync and John Burroughs Powerhouse exchanged the MacRonkin back and forth a grand total of 8 times - Burbank with six holds, John Burroughs with five holds during that span.
Los Alamitos Sound FX defeated California regional foe Burbank In Sync at Show Choir Nationals in Nashville in 2010 for their first MacRonkin hold. They gave the belt right back to Burbank two weeks later at John Burroughs.
At Hart Encore in 2012, Los Alamitos Sound FX won the MacRonkin after the holder at the time, Burbank, suffered a time penalty knocking them out of first place. This is the first and only example of a choir losing the MacRonkin due to a competition penalty.
Illinois vs California: Wheaton Warrenville South The Classics defeated Los Alamitos at FAME Show Choir Nationals Finals in 2012 to bring the MacRonkin back to the Midwest. A year later Wheaton South lost to John Burroughs at Los Alamitos, bringing it back to the west coast. After a swap between John Burroughs and Burbank, Waubonsie Valley claimed the MacRonkin after a victory over Burbank at Wheaton Warrenville South in Illinois.
After defeating Burbank in 2012, Waubonise Valley set the record of 11 straight wins with the belt, and set the modern day record of 1,065 days with the MacRonkin (Linn-Mar will set the record with a win at Johnston). It ended in 2017 after they suffered a loss to Franklin Central at Franklin Community. Don’t worry, 14 days later Waubonsie took the belt back from Franklin Central at Chesterton.
From 2018 to 2022, six midwestern choirs got their first MacRonkin holds, all in a row. Glenwood Titan Fever, Linn-Mar, Hastings Riverside Company, Westside Amazing Technicolor Show Choir, Wheaton North Flight, and Ankeny Centennial Spectrum all got a taste of the belt.
Linn-Mar defeated Ankeny Centennial at Cedar Rapids Kennedy in 2022, and that is where the MacRonkin has been up to present day.
Disclaimer: Due to the history of show choir being not fully documented, it is important to note that the MacRonkin and the timeline that it creates is open to change when new information arises. There are competitions, results, and even choir season’s that are missing from the SCC database, making the MacRonkin ultimately tentative. The MacRonkin and its history is never set in stone.
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