MT. ZION, IL – When Waubonsie Valley show choir director Mark Myers took a year off to work on sabbatical, a lot of questions swarmed about whether or not the program could continue its success. Those questions were squashed Saturday night as Sound Check and Girls in Heels took top honors at the Mt. Zion Midwest Invitational.
Sound Check won Grand Champion in the Mixed Division, beating out Glendwood’s Titan Fever and Wheaton North’s Flight. In addition, Waubonsie Valley won in the Best Band and Best Vocals categories.
“It was just exhilarating to be in the show choir atmosphere again; everyone is so supportive of each other, and it is truly a blessing to be a part of that,” said junior Rhea Fernandez. “We pulled together as a group in a way that none of us thought was possible. The idea of feeding off of each other’s energy to pass on a greater message is what helped us perform our best. It has never been about winning for us; it has always been showcasing what we love to do to people who share our passion for show choir.”
Girls in Heels also won Grand Champion in the Women’s Division, finishing ahead of Crete-Monee’s Faces and Danville’s Contemporaires. Girls in Heels also took home titles for Best Vocals and Best Choreography.
“It felt great to win,” said sophomore Caroline Canfield, a 2nd-year member of Girls in Heels, “but we are more proud of all the hard work that got put into the shows.”