By Owen Miller, Illinois contributor
Eight large mixed groups competed this past weekend at El Paso-Gridley, each searching for their first win of the season. Meanwhile, the unisex division featured Illinois' best. With everyone searching for their footing, some groups found it while others did not.
Final Results
GC: Wheaton Warrenville South "The Classics" (BV/BC/BB)
1RU: Sauk Prairie "Executive Session"
2RU: Naperville North "Entourage"
3RU: Wheaton Warrenville South "Esprit"
4RU: Manteno "Magic"
5RU: Mt. Zion "Swingsations"
Small Mixed
1st: Sullivan "Singers"
2nd: Batavia "Swingsingers"
3rd: Crete-Monee "Cavaliers"
4th: Herscher "Class Act"
Single-Gender
1st: Wheaton Warrenville South "Esprit" (BV/BC/BB)
2nd: Naperville North "Vivant"
3rd: Mt. Zion "Les Femmes"
The Headlines
Wheaton Warrenville South With The Wins
Wheaton Warrenville South cleaned house at this competition in both large mixed and unisex, with The Classics coming home with their first win since this weekend one year ago. Esprit shook off a rare second runner-up finish last weekend with a huge win over other top Illinois single-gender groups. To top that, they also beat one of Illinois' premier mixed groups in the Mt. Zion Swingsations. WWS looks to ride this hot streak into their final two competitions at Glenwood and Mt. Zion before hosting their very own Choral Classic.
Sauk Prairie Shines
Sauk Prairie represented Wisconsin well, giving Wheaton Warrenville South a run for their money. Their Jesus Christ Superstar showsical was a powerful blend of strong vocals and unique choreography. The fact that this is Executive Session's highest placement of the year may be a bit confusing, as it's a show that left some in the gym practically speechless. Nevertheless, the visitors from up north capitalized on a great opportunity to impress a whole new region of spectators.
Mt. Zion Swingsations
After shockingly missing finals last weekend at Chesterton, Mt. Zion continued to struggle down the stretch of the 2025 season, placing sixth at El Paso. While Swings was also winless in February of 2024, this year's group was not even within shouting distance of the top spot here. Swings' large set caused a large delay in the scheduling of the competition, which led them to go first in finals. Visually, Swings remains their old selves, as their presentation rivaled that of Wheaton Warrenville South. They still have time to get back on track vocally, with three competitions remaining this season, although two of them are in the next three weeks.
Where Do Things Go From Here?
With the shocking finish of this competition, the balance of power in Illinois experiences another shift. Esprit made their case to be the top single-gender group in the state, knocking off Vivant and Les Femmes as well as two mixed groups in Magic and Swingsations. The Classics also made their case for the top mixed group in Illinois, and with their rival Wheaton North not performing this past weekend, their recent performance left them at the top of many minds. Entourage's strong third-place showing puts them in the conversation for the top five groups in the state, and Vivant's second-place outing will see their perception improve as well. A group that did not make finals but did raise some eyebrows was Quincy, as the group moved up to the top division this year with a show that is improved over previous Electric Blue productions.
A three-week rush to close the Illinois season will see national battles at Glenwood, Mt. Zion and Wheaton Warrenville South. Groups from the south, Nebraska, California, and more will all make their way to Illinois and match up against the state's best. A more local bout at Quincy on Mar. 8 will also test the strength of Wheaton North, Naperville North, El Paso-Gridley and others. Whatever the results may be, they will for sure be crazy.