Top guns

Martin boys took the stage this February after preparing to win the title of Mr. MHS

After much planning and rehearsal, the comedy and beauty pageant, Mr. MHS, and its eager contestants took the stage Feb. 23.

For nine years, the show was run by Public Speaking teacher Michelle Fratto, but the torch has now been passed to Environmental Science teacher Taylor Yates. Contestants and students said they were sad to see the Frattos go.

“They both have so much personality,” junior contestant Daniel Tepedino said. “But in turn, I was really excited for Mr. Yates and to see how it turns out this year.”

The fun and the excitement of the show will play on as it always has.

Yates has put his best foot forward while trying to fill the shoes of Fratto.

“There are lots of things that go into planning Mr. MHS,” Yates said. “It’s not a small process.”

Not only do the crew and choreographers have a big job, but contestants commit much of their time to this show.

Contestants had their lunch and after-school time filled with meetings, fittings, and rehearsals for over a month in preparation for the show. Yet, this behind-the-scenes preparation tends to be some of the contestants’ favorite parts of the process.

“The dance rehearsals are really fun, you just get to know everybody,” sophomore contestant Sam Lozano said.

Every contestant brings their own uniqueness to the show, coming from different backgrounds and involvements.

“It’s the only show that really pulls together everything,” Fratto said. “It has sports, fine arts, STEM, and just about everything in between.”

Each contestant also had a special reason for why they chose to get involved.

“I wanted to get out of my comfort zone,” junior con- testant Joel Regina said. “I just want to have fun, nothing too competitive.”

All of these different contestants are able to bond over this process, creating new and lasting friendships.

“Mr. MHS means meeting a lot of cool people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise,” Tepedino said. “You really come close to everybody.”

As the show grew near, excitement grew.

“I can’t wait to see it,” Fratto said. “It’s going to be a great show.”

The excitement from the audience, especially the senior girls, was radiant.

“Watching as a senior girl was so much more fun,” senior Karoline Pompa said. “You can just yell without any context.”

This exciting energy remained until the very end of the show when the winners were announced. Junior Daniel Tepedino was named second runner up, senior Jordan Smith placed as first runner up, and senior Austin Punzalan won the title of Mr.MHS.

“Hearing my name called, I couldn’t believe it,” Punzalan said. “I feel like I made my mom proud.”

He even took time out of his performance to ask his girlfriend to prom.

“It was really special,” Punzalan said, “It was the best way I could’ve asked her.”

Memorable moments like this continue to carry on the tradition of pure joy that Mr. MHS has brought to Martin for years, especially for Punzalan.

“Sometimes I wake up and think, dang, I’m really Mr.MHS,” Punzalan said. “It’s kind of crazy.”