Best female soloist - julia from ?
Best male soloist - quincy drane from lacrosse logan the class act
Best band - wheaton warrenville the classics
Spirit award - wheaton warrenville the classics
Best crew - hastings riverside company
People's choice - eau claire north northernaires
CLASS A
1st - hasting upstage revolution
2nd - hastings divas
3rd - washburn fire and ice
FINALISTS
1. Hastings upstage revolution
2. Chi hi harmonics
3. Monona grove silver connection
4. Lacrosse logan the class act
5. Wheaton warrenville the classics
6. Hastings Riverside company
Prep Division
1st - Hastings Upstage Revolution
2nd - Hastings Divaz
3rd - Washburn Fire and Ice
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Best Female Soloist - Monona Grove Silver Connection
Best Male Soloist - La Crosse Logan
Best Crew - Hastings Riverside Company
Best Band - WWS The Classics
Best Sportsmanship - WWS Ths Classics
Fan Favorite - Eau Claire Northernaires
Finalists -in order
Upstage Revolution
Chi-hi harmonics
Monona Grove Silver Connection
La Crosse Logan The Class Act
WWS The Classics
Hastings Riverside Company
Asked like 50 completely neutral people on who they thought would win...Wheaton or Hastings? And it was like a complete split. Will be very interesting to see finals and see how things turn out.
I understand where your point of view comes from, but I think you're being mislead because of history. Historically the groups you listed have been phenomenal. But every year is different and every year each high school develops completely new identity.
If you search each of the groups you listed and look at their placements so far this year, I would expect a lot more grand championships if we are going to call them the "toughest competition." For the most part the groups you listed have placed around 2nd or 3rd this year, but some of them have placed 4th, 5th, or 6th.. They haven't beat a Waukee caliber group yet this year so to me that is why they are unproven.
I don't think you can so easily discount history. Past performance is the best indicator of future performance. For example, there are always astronomically high and sometimes unrealistic expectations for Clinton and John Burroughs, because they've been so good the past few years - it's a pattern in their history. Sure there's a certain degree of development that goes on and groups change from year to year, but I think identities for the most part stay pretty clear barring a departmental philosophical change of some sort related to new directors, choir changing from mixed to single-gender, etc.
I think history is by far a better indicator of the quality of these groups than the few competition placements you're referring to. Truthfully, it's incredibly too early in the season to use placements in determining a choir's ceiling potential. That's why I think the rankings that were recently released are bogus - they simply don't have enough information to make definitive claims such as that. Another example is CR Washington. Sure "Momentum" placed 6th their first time out, but then they won GC at their next competition. While Muscatine might not have been "as stacked" of a competition compared to Linn-Mar, there was clearly a lot of growth and development for "Momentum" so who knows how they will place at their next competition?
I would consider Mt. Zion, Ankeny Centennial, Urbandale, CR Kennedy, CR Washington, and Westside ATSC to be some of the toughest competition in the Midwest. So I would disagree that they're "unproven."
But I do agree that it'll be a great matchup!
I understand where your point of view comes from, but I think you're being mislead because of history. Historically the groups you listed have been phenomenal. But every year is different and every year each high school develops completely new identity.
If you search each of the groups you listed and look at their placements so far this year, I would expect a lot more grand championships if we are going to call them the "toughest competition." For the most part the groups you listed have placed around 2nd or 3rd this year, but some of them have placed 4th, 5th, or 6th.. They haven't beat a Waukee caliber group yet this year so to me that is why they are unproven.
I would consider Mt. Zion, Ankeny Centennial, Urbandale, CR Kennedy, CR Washington, and Westside ATSC to be some of the toughest competition in the Midwest. So I would disagree that they're "unproven."
But I do agree that it'll be a great matchup!
Before scrolling down far enough to see your comment, I was thinking the exact same thing. Besting the likes of the choirs you listed along with Bemidji and Iowa City High, I'd say Hastings has done a good job proving themselves. It will ultimately come down to what the judges love, but I am soooooo excited either way! Good luck everyone!!
Hastings always has amazing vocals, but I feel as if they're unproven this year (meaning they haven't competed against the toughest groups out there). Similarly, it's hard to say whether or not The Classics have been tested thus far because they've only been to one competition. Anyway you look at it, it'll be a great matchup between two amazing groups. Wish I could be there!
I would consider Mt. Zion, Ankeny Centennial, Urbandale, CR Kennedy, CR Washington, and Westside ATSC to be some of the toughest competition in the Midwest. So I would disagree that they're "unproven."
I'm confident that it will be down to Hastings and Wheaton for the top two spots. Hastings is undefeated in the Vocals category this year and has won two out of three band captions with only one choreo caption. So based on that, maybe Hastings will snag vocals and Wheaton will take choreo and then it will be a really close point difference, maybe with the band caption swinging it one way or the other. Exciting!
Hastings always has amazing vocals, but I feel as if they're unproven this year (meaning they haven't competed against the toughest groups out there). Similarly, it's hard to say whether or not The Classics have been tested thus far because they've only been to one competition. Anyway you look at it, it'll be a great matchup between two amazing groups. Wish I could be there!
I'm confident that it will be down to Hastings and Wheaton for the top two spots. Hastings is undefeated in the Vocals category this year and has won two out of three band captions with only one choreo caption. So based on that, maybe Hastings will snag vocals and Wheaton will take choreo and then it will be a really close point difference, maybe with the band caption swinging it one way or the other. Exciting!
Predictions
5th runner up - Hastings Prep "Upstage Revolution"
4th runner up - Chi Hi "Harmonics"
3rd runner up - Monona Grove "Silver Connection"
2nd runner up - Logan "Class Act"
1st runner up - Hastings "Riverside Company"
Grand Champions - Wheaton Warrensville "The Classics"
After seeing both Wheaton and Hastings shows I believe Wheaton will come away with Grandchampions. I believe they also will win best choreography, as well as best band. As for vocals I think Hastings has a very traditional full sound throughout their show. Wheaton showcases many different styles in one show. I think best vocals will truly depend on the judges opinions.
Eau Claire Memorial Winterfest 2014
