Indianola Ascension Features Four Returning Finalists Plus Fresh Faces

By Quinn Masek, Siouxland contributor

Norwalk Sound Revolution will look to make finals for the fourth consecutive competition. PHOTO: Shot by Talon

One competition that has seen an increase in attendees over the years is Indianola Ascension, now in its third year with its current name after previously being called the Indianola Show Choir Encounter.

Prep Division

Norwalk “Sound Adrenaline”

Waukee Prairieview “Genesis”

Des Moines Christian “Salt, Co.”

Prairie “Focal Point”

Johnston “Sound Advice”

There are two groups that immediately stick out as potential winners in the prep division: Sound Advice and Focal Point. Sound Advice recently won the ninth-grade division at Urbandale, and it would be very impressive to see them take another win here. Meanwhile, Focal Point, while not winning a prep division so far, has already beaten impressive Iowa prep groups. There is also room for Salt, Co. and Genesis to sneakily win this division.

Womens Division

Millard South “Stage One”

Liberty “Impact”

One group that has been doing surprisingly well so far this season is Stage One, taking second in the womens division at Lincoln East at the end of January. They are not strangers to Indianola, being the sole contestant in the womens division here last season.

Mixed Division

Moravia “Inspiration”

Williamsburg “Sound Attraction”

Des Moines Lincoln “Infinity”

Millard South “South On Stage”

Liberty “Storm”

Prairie “The Ambassadors”

Des Moines Christian “Light, Inc.”

Norwalk “Sound Revolution”

Cedar Rapids Kennedy “Happiness, Inc.”

There are a few things worth noting about some of these groups:

● Four of last year's Ascension finalists return, including the entire podium (Kennedy, DMC and Prairie).

● Storm has only placed fourth at competitions this season.

● The Ambassadors went from beating Waukee at Johnston to being beaten by

Hamilton (Ala.) Legacy at Tupelo.

● Sound Revolution hasn’t missed finals yet this season.

● Infinity made finals at a competition this season for the first time in years.

● Happiness, Inc. is coming off a win at Cedar Rapids Washington.

● Light, Inc. won at Harlan last weekend, beating Sioux Center, who beat them at

Glenwood.

● South On Stage has seen success this season with a new director and choreographer.

With all of this in mind, there are a lot of exciting storylines at Indianola this weekend.

Finals Predictions

Predictions represent the opinion of this contributor and not of HomeRoom Show Choir.

1st: Cedar Rapids Kennedy “Happiness, Inc.” (BV/BC)

2nd: Prairie “The Ambassadors”

3rd: Millard South “South On Stage”

4th: Des Moines Christian “Light, Inc.”

5th: Liberty “Storm”

6th: Norwalk “Sound Revolution”

Happiness, Inc. just came off a win at Cedar Rapids Washington, and the group is familiar to back-to-back wins, having accomplished the feat last season. The Ambassadors is probably one of the hardest show choir groups to predict in Iowa, but they are a good choir when clicking and should give Kennedy a run for the money. South On Stage was fifth at Indianola last season and will look to improve on that here, while Light, Inc. has good momentum from their win last week. Storm goes to deep, competitive events and will factor into the conversation here, although to what extent is unclear. Norwalk is a choir that grabs the placements it needs, and they are in good position to do so here over Lincoln, Williamsburg and Moravia.