2026 Indiana Small Single-Gender and Prep Division Postseason Show Choir Rankings
- 6 minutes ago
- 7 min read
By Nathan Ensley, Indiana contributor
In a continuation of HomeRoom's weekly Indiana poll rankings this season, the team has delivered an expanded season-end edition of the rankings. Additional rankings for small mixed, large mixed, and the large single-gender divisions will be released in the coming weeks.
Small Single-Gender Division
Cathedral "Irish Adrenaline" (5 first-place votes)
Cathedral improved from second last season to being the top-ranked small womens group in the state this season. While the group took just two grand championships during the season, they remained undefeated against their Indiana small division rivals and fared well against out-of-state competition. Their most impressive result was taking the Best Vocals caption off Franklin Central High Voltage, the third-ranked large women’s group, at the Carroll Classic.
Pendleton Heights “Emerald Suites” (1 first-place vote)
Emerald Suites continued their unbeaten run in the small univoice division for the second year in a row, with a colorful travel show that challenged them to sing in a multitude of languages. Pendleton won five grand championships in total and closed the season as back-to-back small school state champions. However, this season was not without some blemish, as Emerald Suites struggled when competing in the large women's division, with a third at Franklin Community behind Columbus North and Lafayette Jefferson and fourth behind Ohio’s top treble groups at Ross.
Columbus North “North Stars”
While Columbus North did not win a grand championship this season, their performances continue to impress, building upon previous years to take two major captions this season, their first major captions in program history. The North Stars’ most impressive result was taking Best Vocals off the top-ranked small womens group, Cathedral, at the Edgewood Contest of Champions.
Lafayette Jefferson “Expressions”
While their group is smaller than several of the other top groups in this division, Lafayette Jefferson held their own this year, making finals at every competition and placing no lower than third. For the second consecutive year, they took a pair of grand championships, extending their grand championship streak to four straight seasons under third-year director Marianne Marten. Like their mixed group, their strength has been their vocals this season, taking two overall vocal captions, including in a statement caption over second-ranked Pendleton Heights and third-ranked Columbus North at Franklin Community Showfest.
Franklin Community “Sensations”
Franklin Community had an impressive season with two grand championships, their most in a season since the 2020 season. Sensations challenged themselves by competing against the best Illinois single-gender groups at the Wheaton Warrenville South Choral Classic and placed a respectable fourth ahead of El Paso-Gridley and Mt. Zion’s bass group, You’ve Got Male. While they finished the season with a disappointing third place at Noblesville, Franklin Community did take the show design, giving them some accolades to a solid season.
Northridge “Starlights”
While Starlights started the season missing finals at back-to-back events, they finished the season strong. At Avon, they won the small treble division in prelims and placed fourth in overall finals. At state, they placed second ahead of Huntington North, who had outplaced them the previous week at the Columbia City Cup. With these results, Northridge proved again they are one of the groups to beat in the small treble division as they consistently place well at state.
Huntington North “Viking Volume”
Huntington North emerged as the premier small single-gender group from Fort Wayne, having a tightly-contested battle all season with Columbia City. While City Lights started on top at DeKalb, Viking Volume won the next two faceoffs at Jay County and state finals to cement their status topping the Fort Wayne scene. However, their third-place state result was their lowest showing since 2022, indicating a slight regression from their usual status in the upper echelon of the small treble division.
Columbia City “City Lights”
City Lights had an impressive year competing against and defeating groups larger than them. For one, Columbia City defeated their Fort Wayne rival, Huntington North, for the first time since 2022. Their ace card for this success continues to be their visuals, consistently contending with the top groups in that caption and taking two choreography captions this season. Additionally, City Lights took one divisional grand championship and three first runner-up trophies, extending their GC streak to nine consecutive seasons. While they had higher hopes for state finals, City Lights closed out the year with a sixth place.
New Palestine “Diamond Sensations”
New Palestine served their way on to the podium in five out of their six competitions this season, performing well with their tennis-themed show in the highly competitive Indianapolis circuit. While they did not win a grand championship, Diamond Sensations consistently held their own against this division’s top two groups and took their first visual caption since 2023, their first under third-year director Michael Dean. A fifth place at state finals tied their third-best placement at the event in the past decade for this group that has consistently qualified for the state’s premier competition.
New Castle “Dynamiques”
Dynamiques continued to impress in their third season following a decade-long break from competition in the 2010s. This year, the group placed on the podium in five of their six competitions and finished the year strong, winning two grand championships in their final three competitions. They are consistently contending for captions, including an impressive vocal caption over Westfield, who is the 11th-ranked large womens group, to start the season, and a visual caption to close the season at their final competition, Noblesville Indiana Show Choir Championships, where they finished on top over Ben Davis and fifth-ranked Franklin Community.
Mooresville “Finesse”
Mooresville took a step forward, taking a pair of divisional grand championships, which are their first divisional victories since 2014 (although one was uncontested). Their win at Southmont marked an impressive start, as they defeated two solid contenders in Edgewood and Danville (Ill.). Finesse also finished the year on a high, placing third in treble finals at Avon, jumping sixth ranked Northridge to finish on the podium.
Jay County “Just Treble”
Jay County took two grand championships this season, one divisional and one overall title, in a year where they missed treble finals twice, dropping to third in the Fort Wayne small treble scene. However, Just Treble finished their year on a good note, making treble finals at the Columbia City Cup, where they took Best Vocals and the small treble title ahead of sixth-ranked Northridge and seventh-ranked Huntington North.
Warren Central “Hi-Lites”
The Hi-Lites had a highlight season, taking two grand championships in a historic year for the upstart group. Warren Central started hot with a grand championship in the small treble division at Fishers, marking their first GC since 2017. They continued that strong start with Best Vocals and second place in a trip to Fort Wayne before taking their second GC at Franklin Community over 15th-ranked Whiteland and Pike. While the group placed last in their division at their final two competitions, they will be one to watch in coming years.
Anderson “Starliters”
Following a year where they did not compete, Starliters roared back into the picture, placing on the podium in their first four competitions. That included a GC at the Carroll Classic, where they swept all major captions against top Fort Wayne groups Columbia City and Jay County. While that momentum eventually faltered against better groups, where they missed finals at their last two competitions, Anderson has shown they are a group on the rise.
Whiteland Community “Expressions”
While not matching their three divisional GCs in the 2025 season, Whiteland remained a contender in the heavily-competitive Indianapolis scene. Expressions scored three podium placements and won two choreography captions. This included a pair of first runner-up accolades in deep small treble lineups, where they outplaced Pike and 14th-ranked Anderson.
Receiving Votes: East Noble “Premiere Edition”, Edgewood “Sophisticated Ladies”, Fairfield “Expressions”, Pike “Mystiques”, Southmont “Sudden Impulse”
Prep Division
Editor's Note: A group is classified "prep" if it is the third, fourth, or fifth competitive ensemble from a school. Mixed and single-gender groups may both fall into the prep category.
Center Grove “Surround Sound” (1 first-place vote)
Center Grove’s mixed prep group tops the prep division poll for the first time in the poll’s three-year history, with their fun baseball-themed show. This season, their visuals impressed audiences, taking the visual caption at Pendleton Heights in a close battle with Franklin Central’s prep group.
Carmel “New Edition” (1 first-place vote)
Carmel’s mixed prep group won divisional grand championships at both of their competitions this year and went vocally undefeated for the season, which included a victory over Franklin Central’s prep group, remaining one of the top prep groups in the state.
Center Grove “Accents” (1 first-place vote)
The Center Grove Accents rank as the highest single-gender prep group this season and continue to prove their prowess against some of the best small womens groups in the state, opening their season with an impressive second place ahead of fifth-ranked Franklin Community Sensations. In their second and final competition at Pendleton Heights, they won a divisional grand championship ahead of Fishers and Franklin Central’s prep womens groups.
Franklin Central “Encores”
Franklin Central’s mixed prep group scored another impressive season, taking their revolution-themed show to a victory once over top-ranked Center Grove, taking best visuals over Carmel, and even defeating some strong small mixed groups to finish on the podium in a crowded Center Grove small mixed lineup.
Fishers “Rogue”
In their inaugural season, Fishers’ new bass group took the prep scene by storm, taking their first grand championship in just their second-ever competition at the Franklin Central Hoosier Show Choir Classic, sweeping all major captions.
Receiving Votes: Brownsburg “Dog Pound”, North Central “Accents”, Pendleton Heights “New Edition”, Plainfield “Nouvelles”