We've been there! "Infinity" missed winning GC by .5 at a competition earlier this year...shows how competitive and close so many groups in the Midwest can be scoring-wise!
Just wanted to say Westwood's volunteers were awesome, I talked a lot with their backstage crew since I was accompanying Katie (she won both the solo competition and best female soloist), they were so nice! Great competition, great way to finish our season.
I got to prelims in time to see Heelan. I just have a few things to say about everyone that I saw:
Bishop Heelan "Harmonia Mundi": I'm an East alum, so you should take what I say with a grain of salt just kidding. I always enjoy your shows because you mostly do songs that I've never heard before. I loved your vocals. And your ballad. I REALLY loved your ballad. I thought the last half of the show had more energy than the first half. I know that you were disappointed because you didn't make finals, but it was a great performance and you should be proud!
Bloomington Jefferson "Jefferson Connection": Your choreography was unique, which made your show very interesting. While the lighting effects were cool, at times the lights blinded me and I didn't like them. During finals, I sat next to the grandmother of one of the girls in your group; she was your loudest cheerleader and was so proud!
Lewis Central "Lewis Corportation": I thought that your choreography could have used some more energy in the beginning of the show. That being said, your vocal energy made up for it. While I thought it was close between you and Heelan, I eventually picked you for that last finals spot, and, lo and behold...
Millard North "Infinity": I loved your choreography! And you did Concrete Angel, which really isn't fair because I was crying afterwards and didn't get to focus as much on the last half of your show you didn't have the vocal power that I expected in the first half, but it picked up in the second half.
Papillion-LaVista South "Titanium": All that I wrote was "wow". You greatly exceeded my expectations. Also, I sat next to one of your bus drivers during prelims. He tells awesome stories. Congrats on a well-deserved 1RU!
Sioux City East "Headliners": I love you guys! Usually I try not to be critical of you, but I just have one thing: I don't like the big changes in "Wild Wild Party". You know which changes I'm talking about. It felt like you were having less fun.
Waukee "Millennium": I didn't even write anything down, I was so impressed. Congrats on a well-deserved GC and sweep!
Thank you to the Westwood staff for making all of this possible!
GC: Waukee millennium (sweep)
1RU: Papillion south titanium
2RU: Millard north infinity
3RU: Jefferson connection
4RU: Waukee spirit
5RU: Sioux city east headliners
6RU: Lewis central corporation
Women's
1st: Millard north illumination
2nd: Papillion south illumination
3rd: Jefferson jive
Best Male Soloist in a show: Lewis Central
Best Female Soloist in a show: Millard North
Male Solo Competition Winner: Nick Prior -Sioux City East
Female Solo Competition Winner: Same girl from Millard North.
What do you mean by that?
Oh, don't worry. I'm a Harmonia Mundi fan. (Honestly the only thing at Heelan I can stand.. the LeMars/Heelan rivalry, ya know )
My cousin is Becca Vondrak. Since she got into the group, my friend Kelsey and I would go watch Westwood's competition and hang out with her, and we were sorta adopted by HM. Since then, I have loved HM, and I will be rooting for them today! As for my comment you asked about, it's politics that have been questioned in the past involving Heelan and Westwood. Mostly in the late 2000's. Probs before your time. I would be willing to discus this with you privately sometime!
Back to this competition, I think it will be extremely close and could go many different ways outside of the top.
Obviously Waukee is going to win this one. If they don't, it will probably be the upset of the season.
Papio South should probably finish second, but there is a decent chance if someone really comes out and brings it all, they could overtake them.
2RU-5RU will be a battle between (alphabetical order) Bloomington Jefferson, Lewis Central, Millard North, Sioux City East, and Sioux City Heelan. Someone is going to be left out. Who will it be? Most predictions have had it as Lewis Central. My guess is Millard North and Sioux City East are safely in. So the one left out will be between Jefferson, Lewis Central, and Heelan. And it could really go a bunch of ways.
So, saying all that, my predictions:
GC. Waukee (sweep)
1RU. Papillion La Vista South
2RU. Millard North
3RU. Sioux City East
4RU. Bloomington Jefferson
5RU. Bishop Heelan
6RU. Waukee Spirit
If Bishop Heelan were to actually beat Sioux City East, the show choir world in the Dirty Sioux-er would go crazy.
That being said, I highly doubt, even with Sioux City East's 'down year' that Heelan has any chance of beating them. Though, if it were to happen, it would be at Westwood, as Harmonia Mundi almost always finishes curiously high here.
I based my predictions upon score, competition results, and national rankings and this is what came up. I am not saying that any group can't come and surprise any of us
If Bishop Heelan were to actually beat Sioux City East, the show choir world in the Dirty Sioux-er would go crazy.
That being said, I highly doubt, even with Sioux City East's 'down year' that Heelan has any chance of beating them. Though, if it were to happen, it would be at Westwood, as Harmonia Mundi almost always finishes curiously high here.
My predictions!!!
GC: waukee
1ru: papio-south
2ru: Millard north
3ru: Jefferson
4ru: heelan
5ru: east
If Bishop Heelan were to actually beat Sioux City East, the show choir world in the Dirty Sioux-er would go crazy.
That being said, I highly doubt, even with Sioux City East's 'down year' that Heelan has any chance of beating them. Though, if it were to happen, it would be at Westwood, as Harmonia Mundi almost always finishes curiously high here.
Westwood Jubilation 2013
just kidding. I always enjoy your shows because you mostly do songs that I've never heard before. I loved your vocals. And your ballad. I REALLY loved your ballad. I thought the last half of the show had more energy than the first half. I know that you were disappointed because you didn't make finals, but it was a great performance and you should be proud!
