WIG,Illumination, Evolution Lead 1/30/26 Nebraska Show Choir Rankings

By Arte Reed, Nebraska contributor

Nebraska show choir is up and running! A majority of these groups have already performed, or will be performing in either competition or exhibition.

Three regional experts evaluated 35 of Nebraska’s top show choirs to determine the rankings. While divisions are primarily based on NSAA cutlines, some adjustments were made for groups that compete in multiple divisions throughout the season.

Large School

1. Millard West "West in the Groove" (3 first-place votes) (No change from last week's rankings)

2. Gretna "Revolution" (NC)

3. Gretna East "Equinox" (NC)

4. Westside "Amazing Technicolor Show Choir" (+1)

5. Elkhorn North “adrENaline” (+5)

6. Papillion-La Vista South “Titanium” (NC)

7. Elkhorn South “Blackout” (NC)

8. Lincoln Southwest “Resonance” (+1)

9. Grand Island Northwest “14 Karat Gold” (-1)

10. Millard North "Infinity" (-6)

11. Omaha South “The Ambassadors” (NC)

12. Lincoln East “Express” (NC)

13. Norris “Gold” (+1)

14. Papillion-La Vista "Free Spirit" (-1)

15. Pius X “Spectrum” (NC)

Receiving Votes: Millard South "South on Stage", Lincoln "Chain Reaction"

News and Notes

• All three experts voted and came to an agreement. Although Millard West has not competed yet, they received three first-place votes. They will compete this week at Lincoln East, where they will face #3 Gretna East.

• Elkhorn North shot up in the rankings this week. They had a great weekend at Gretna East, where they earned third place. They beat Elkhorn South and Millard North, two groups that were within the top 10 in last week's rankings. On the contrary, Millard North bumped down in the rankings after placing fifth at Gretna East.

• Lincoln is receiving votes after their second place at Hastings, where they beat Grand Island. They have not been in the rankings yet, so this is a huge highlight to their season so far.

Single-Gender

1. Millard North “Illumination” (2 first-place votes) (No change)

2. Millard West “Uptown” (1 first-place vote) (NC)

3. Westside “Simply Irresistible” (+2)

4. Papillion-La Vista South “Titan Radiance” (+1)

5. Elkhorn South “Shock Wave” (-2)

6. Papillion-La Vista “Monarchy” (NC)

7. Millard South “Stage One” (NC)

8. Papillion-La Vista “Heart and Soul” (NC)

9. Pius X “Prism” (NC)

10. Mercy "Treblemakers" (NC)

Receiving Votes: Kearney "Sapphire and Gold"

News and Notes

• Yet again this week, Uptown earned second in the rankings with one first place vote. They will compete this week at Lincoln East.

• Simply Irresistible made the jump up to third in the rankings. They placed first in the single-gender division at Millard West. Elkhorn South went against Linn-Mar and Millard North last weekend, so they moved down a little bit after placing third.

Prep

1. Gretna “Evolution” (2 first-place votes) (+3)

2. Westside “Warrior Express” (1 first-place vote) (+3)

3. Millard West “Swing Cats” (-1)

4. Elkhorn South "Power Surge" (Not ranked)

5. Papillion-La Vista South "Titan Express" (-2)

Receiving Votes: Millard North "Intensity"

News and Notes

• What. A. Change. Everyone moved around in the prep division. Evolution faced In Step and Intensity last weekend and placed second overall. Warrior Express made a huge jump from fifth to second in the rankings because of their division win at Millard West last weekend.

• Power Surge jumped into the rankings as they placed third at Gretna East. They were able to outrank Intensity and Titan Express in addition to their placement.

Small School

1. Skutt Catholic “Vivace” (2 first-place votes) (NC)

2. Wahoo “Royalty” (NC)

3. Aurora “Rhapsody”  (1 first-place vote) (+1)

4. Blair “Ovation” (-1)

5. Plattsmouth "Out of the Blue" (NC)

Receiving Votes: None.

News and Notes

• Only one switch up happened in our small school division. Aurora competed at Hastings and made it into finals. They have gained one first-place vote from a panelist as a result of their accomplishment and moved past Blair, who was the runner-up to Chesterton at Skutt.