Wisconsin 2026 Prep and Womens Show Choir Rankings
- Jul 20
- 7 min read
By William Soquet, Editor-in-Chief
Behind the large and glamorous varsity groups that headline the Wisconsin show choir scene is a healthy contingent of prep and womens groups that help make the state what it is. A panel of three regional experts ranked ten prep groups and five womens groups. What follows is the result of how the ballots shook out and a couple highlights from each group’s 2026 season.
Prep Division
Monona Grove “Silver Dimension” (3 first-place votes)
Silver Dimension roared to the top of the prep scene in its first year as a prep group, moving over from its traditional residence in the womens division. Monona utilized several “doublers” (performers who were in both the prep and varsity groups) and secured three division wins during 2026. Perhaps the best of those was at Western Dubuque, where Silver D took down the next group on this list, Onalaska. While the group faced some defeats, losing to Sparta Rise of Adrenaline, Sauk Prairie YTBN, and Wheaton Warrenville South Esprit, MG appears locked and loaded to run it back as a potent prep ensemble in 2027.
Onalaska “Express”
Representing the top of the “true prep” subcategory (second mixed group from a school with no doublers), Express remained an important part of a very successful Onalaska program in 2026. The ensemble took two prep division wins in a row to start its competition season, and it wouldn’t be an Express year without a finals berth somewhere – this year, it was placing third at La Crosse. Henry Burns also claimed two Best Soloist awards for Express, becoming a name to keep an eye on in a year or two for the same caption award as a Hilltopper.
Ashland “Lake Effect”
The best of the “prep independent” class (schools that only field one mixed group and compete in prep) is Ashland. Lake Effect had undisputedly its best season in program history in 2026, kicking off the season with a second in prep at Altoona before making finals at both La Crosse and Medford, placing fifth overall at each event. The turnaround has been spectacular – Ashland competed only once each in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and did not even receive any votes in the 2024 edition of these poll rankings. Now, they sit on the podium with a proven track record of finals.
Neenah “Act II”
One of the more novel shows to come out of the prep division this year was Act II, who did a “Where’s Waldo” theme that played off Neenah’s longtime red-and-white-striped competition apparel. Complete with a character medley that interpolated seven different songs and an original closer written and arranged by Neenah alum (and professional show choir arranger) Jeremy Landing, Act II had a great season for a young, developing group. They started the season by placing third at Holmen, then took second at De Pere before closing the season off with a division win at Fort Atkinson. You can’t ask for much more growth than that.
Medford “Momentum”
It was a year of threes for Momentum, who was third in division at their first three competitions of the season. That included their lone northwest appearance at Eau Claire Memorial, where Medford toppled Fall Creek and Washburn to take the final placement. Momentum closed the season in strong fashion, placing third in prep and transferring to finals at La Crosse Central, beating the two groups immediately below them on this list. It was their first finals appearance since 2023 and a great step forward for a program completing only its fourth season in its current form.
Green Bay Southwest “Spotlight Singers”
Following a 2025 season that was spent as a noncompetitive group, Spotlight Singers made a full-fledged return to the competition scene in 2026. The group boasted membership in the low 30s, more than almost any Spotlight group this author can remember watching. Additionally, the group took on four competitions, just as many as the group’s last varsity season in 2024. Southwest nabbed one podium placement, a third at De Pere, and also claimed the sportsmanship caption at that same event. Spotlight Singers will number 30 performers in 2027, a good sign that the momentum is not slowing down.
Green Bay East “Rhapsody in Red”
Now on its third head director in four seasons, Rhapsody continues to be a constant presence on the competition stage even when other factors seem to conspire against it. While the group was on the smaller side this year, East made it out to three competitions, including going to La Crosse (a cross-state trek). Sporting a similar tropical-themed show to Medford's, Rhapsody started the season with a highlight performance at New London. The group was second of four groups in the prep division and Latizia Yang won Best Soloist for her rendition of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.”
Westosha Central “Central Swing Inc.”
After longtime director Rob Clark retired at the end of 2024, Westosha took a season away from the competitive scene as new director Tim Wagner adjusted to the role. CSI was back for three competitions in 2026, staying local at Milton and Janesville Craig and also adventuring to the northeast part of the state. The group’s weather-themed set included show choir staples familiar to Wisconsin audiences, such as “A Hazy Shade of Winter” and “Beautiful Day,” as well as “The Weather” from Grammy-nominated soul band Lawrence.
Washburn “Fire and Ice”
Checking in as the smallest school on this list (182 students at last count), F&I was once again a core player in the northwest show choir scene in 2026. The group hosted its noncompetitive festival in November and competed at both Eau Claire Memorial and Medford in February. Washburn was second in prep at Washburn and also claimed caption awards for crew and sportsmanship, showing that the biggest groups don’t win all of the awards. Director Zachary Olson is closing in on 15 years with the program, one of the longer leadership tenures for a group in any division in Wisconsin.
Colby “Coalition”
Colby made a go of it with about a dozen performers in 2026, continuing the legacy of a program that has now seen over 20 competitive seasons. Performing a space-themed show, Coalition was fourth at Altoona and also landed in De Pere, La Crosse, and Fridley, Minn. over the course of the competition season. The ensemble already has a publicly released schedule for the 2027 season as well. Altoona will once again kick off the competition season, and Eau Claire Memorial and Medford round out the season. Director Casey Hilts and choreographers Kyle Aiden and Jamie Orton will all return.
Receiving Votes: Fall Creek “Cricket Choralation”, Drummond “Jack Attack”
Womens Division
Sparta “Rise of Adrenaline” (3 first-place votes)
In its third season, Rise of Adrenaline did not take its foot off the gas (or the lasso in their outlaw-themed show). The ensemble tackled a lofty seven-competition slate and came out victorious in five of them, only falling to top Nebraska single-gender group Millard North at Waconia and a pair of Mt. Zion groups at El Paso-Gridley. In Wisconsin, Rise of Adrenaline toppled Sauk Prairie and West Salem. Outside state lines, they won a division at FAME Orlando and also triumphed in a six-group prep division at Bloomington Kennedy, making finals ahead of three varsity programs.
Sauk Prairie “YTBN”
Three straight division wins highlighted YTBN’s season, as they turned back all foes at Milton, Fort Atkinson, and Monona Grove. Sauk outshone womens groups from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota during that run, and also outperformed a guys group from Iowa for good measure. They also performed admirably at Biloxi in Mississippi, placing third behind two of the South’s five best single-gender groups. In the past several years, YTBN has benefitted from a growing middle school program, decreasing the need to rely on doublers. Rumor also has it that next season, YTBN will have a sibling single-gender choir at Sauk Prairie…
De Pere “Chicago Street Singers”
Chi Street made the most of its opportunities in 2026, winning both appearances in a limited competition schedule. De Pere outpaced Milton and Preble over performances at New London and Green Bay Southwest. The group welcomed new choreographers to the fold, becoming the second high school group that Hayley Eastman has worked with and giving Molly Lucarelli her first show choir credit. While the group stayed local this year, it has traveled to places like Medford, Eau Claire and Sauk Prairie in the past. Matching up with one (or both) of the groups above Chi Street on this list would be a good learning opportunity for them in 2027.
Milton “Octave Above”
It was a learning year for all in 2026 as the group welcomed new director Audrey Ferrero. Octave Above was held without a division win all season, the first time that’s happened since 2022. However, Milton did claim three runner-up finishes over the course of the season, doing so at New London, De Pere, and Monona Grove. While their show was certainly not the first time a show choir has performed a jail/renegade-themed set, more seasoned show choir fans probably appreciated their fourth number, Mug Shot by MAX, which was introduced to Wisconsin audiences by Holmen Midwest Express in 2018.
Fort Atkinson “Lexington Singers”
Is it coincidence that both Fort Atkinson's and De Pere’s womens groups performed sets about greed and wealth in 2026? Probably, but it’s still a fun coincidence to note. Lexington never matched up with Chicago Street, but they did place second in a four-group division at Davenport West in Iowa and placed third three times at Wisconsin competitions across a five-competition schedule. That included beating Preble Rendezvous for a podium spot at Monona Grove and beating Green Bay Southwest for a podium spot at Sauk Prairie, which was enough for voters to put Lexington in the top five.
Receiving Votes: West Salem “Vivace”
Varsity/open class rankings, which will include 25 groups, will be released soon.
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