North Polk Comet Sensation Brings the Stars to Alleman
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Quinn Masek, Siouxland contributor
One of the largest competitions in Iowa is the North Polk Comet Sensation, taking up two gyms and having different divisions and awards for small and large schools. There's a lot to dig in to among the many groups going.
Womens Division
Valley “Amplification”
Pella “Bravo”
Belmond-Klemme “10th Avenue Singers”
Bravo has yet to find a divisional win this season so far, most recently taking second to Wheaton Warrenville South at Davenport North. Meanwhile, Amplification has competed once already at Waukee, getting second place behind Vocal Gold. It could go either way between these two groups.
Prep Division
Ankeny “Intensity”
Davenport Central “Blue Vibrations”
Dallas Center-Grimes “Acceleration”
Valley “Ignition”
Ankeny “Perpetual Motion”
Xavier “Xuberance”
What a lineup for the prep division. Ignition was able to make finals at Davenport North with Blue Vibrations not far behind them. With that said, Acceleration won their division a few weeks ago at Anamosa. But the big group that stands out is Perpetual Motion, who not only has won this division twice so far this season, but has also shown to be a very strong prep group in Iowa.
2A and 3A Divisions
Carroll “Swingsations”
Glenwood “Fast Lane”
Maryville “Spectrum”
Xavier “Xhilaration”
Ogden “Bulldog Beat”
This is the first competition in 2026 for both Bulldog Beat and Swingsations, so there’s hope that the two will start their seasons off strong. Fast Lane missed finals at Omaha Westside, Xhilaration missed finals at their first competition of the season but bounced back, taking 3rd at Anamosa, and Spectrum placed 6th last weekend at Elkhorn. Groups who place well here will be getting their get-back.
4A Division
Bettendorf “Surround Sound”
Pella “AcaPella”
Des Moines Roosevelt “Revelation”
Dowling Catholic “Dimensions”
Dallas Center-Grimes “Momentum”
Davenport Central “Central Singers, Inc.”
Valley “Choralation”
Ankeny “Visual Adrenaline”
There is a lot going on in this division alone. Surround Sound, Revelation, and Dimensions haven’t made finals at all this season so far. AcaPella has only placed third so far across multiple events and Momentum’s last competition had them in fifth. The big three to watch out for are CSI, Choralation, and VA. Choralation beat CSI at Davenport North, but it wasn’t a full sweep as CSI was able to take Best Choreography. CSI was also able to win at Norwalk, sweeping Iowa City West Good Time Company who beat them in prelims. And of course, VA is one of the strongest show choirs in Iowa. While they did lose to Waukee Northwest Eos at Ankeny Centennial, they were able to take Best Vocals from them.
Finals Predictions
Predictions represent the opinion of this contributor and not of HomeRoom Show Choir.
GC: Ankeny “Visual Adrenaline” (BV)
1st Runner Up: Davenport Central “Central Singers, Inc.” (BC)
2nd Runner Up: Valley “Choralation” (BB)
3rd Runner Up: Pella “AcaPella”
4th Runner Up: Dallas Center-Grimes “Momentum”
5th Runner Up: Ankeny “Perpetual Motion”
6th Runner Up: Xavier “Xhilaration”
North Polk is taking seven groups for finals. It is unclear if lower-division and prep/womens choirs can make finals, but predictions become more interesting when they can.
VA is the clear favorite at this competition. The group's vocals are heavenly and will likely give them the win on that strength alone. CSI had such a good showing at Norwalk that it’s incredibly possible for them to bounce back and beat Choralation in finals. It will be interesting to see who takes the Best Band and Best Choreography awards, but CSI could do well enough to take the choreo award with Heath Gemar's new style, and Choralation has a consistently good band that could help win the group's third Best Band award of the season.
Past the top three, things start to get tricky. AcaPella has been having a very consistent season so far, so it tracks that they will trail just behind the powers. Momentum has been having less of a consistent season, but it is reasonable to expect them to be a finals contender here. Perpetual Motion is a very consistently good prep group, and assuming that North Polk does allow prep groups in finals, Perpetual Motion will be up there with the big dogs. And that seventh place spot could go to a number of groups, but Xhilaration seems like the safest option since they placed third last weekend at Mt. Pleasant and have a good chance to be the best of the day in the 1A-3A performance venue.