Royalty candidates heading into a ‘Winter Wonderland’
Miss – and Little Miss – Mountain Lake candidates will be taking themselves, along with their audience, into a “Winter Wonderland” during the pageant to crown the 2015 royal court. The pageant will be held on Friday evening, June 12, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Mountain Lake Public High School auditorium.
Nine candidates will be vying to wear the crown of 2015 Miss Mountain Lake, with a 10 little girls, who have just completed second grade, participating in the Little Miss portion of the pageant.
The nine Miss Mountain Lake candidates, who have just completed their junior year in high school, are, in alphabetical order, Alexis Ibarra Alvarado, Michaela Cate, Carly Fast, Melissa Lohrenz, Carly Paulson, Michayla Stewart. Signey Stoesz, Bailey Swanson and Carmen Syverson.
The 10 Little Miss candidates include, also in alphabetical order, Brie Anacker, Khya Boldt, Serenity Eiynk, Elly Eken, Karla Hernandez, Alexus Lopez, Genesis Lopez, Aalya Radtke, Thaila Sengchan and Abby Sonnabend.
Mitch and Erica Schroeder will serve as Master and Mistress of Ceremonies. Ticket prices are $6 for adults, $4 for students and preschool age is free.
Judging for Miss Mountain Lake is done through personal interview, sportswear dance, talent and poise and appearance. Coordinating the Miss Mountain Lake portion of the pageant are Alisa Nickel and Jami Peters.
The Little Miss is determining by drawing of the winning name. Jami Peters and Sarah Mendoza handle the duties coordinating the Little Miss contestants.
Quick look at the nine Miss Mountain Lake candidates (in alphabetical order)
- ALEXIS IBARRA ALVARADO
Age: 16.
Parents and Siblings: Angela and Vicente Ibarra Alvarado and her younger brother Vicente.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Art.
Out-Of-School Activities: Playing soccer and spending time with her family.
Employment: NA.
Hobbies: Shopping, playing sports and hanging out with her boyfriend.
Future Plans: Attend a two-year college to study to become a veterinary technician.
Talent: Vocal solo.
Pageant Sponsor: Country Pride Services.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Riding in the Monday night Grande Parade with my grandpa (Dean Janzen) when he was the mayor of Mountain Lake.
- MICHAELA CATE
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Melanie Pedersen and Chad Pedersen, and older brothers Cody and Clay and younger brother Ryan.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Volleyball, wrestling statistician, softball and FFA.
Out-Of-School Activities: Summer league softball.
Employment: Schwartz Farms.
Hobbies: Shopping, sports and being with friends.
Future Plans: Attend a two-year college to study either interior design or hair design.
Talent: Speech presentation.
Pageant Sponsor: Schwartz Farms.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Winning the Tuesday night Talent Contest with the “Inspire” group! (And – of course – eating cheese curds!)
- CARLY FAST
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Jamin and Chastity Fast and younger sisters Breanna and Paris.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: FFA.
Out-Of-School Activities: Rock picking and assisting with Kids Fest in August.
Employment: NA.
Hobbies: Gymnastics and being outside at the lake.
Future Plans: Attend South Central College in North Mankato.
Talent: Gymnastics routine.
Pageant Sponsor: Fast Motors.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Winning 15 goldfish.
- MELISSA LOHRENZ
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Brett Lohrenz and Lisa Lohrenz and older brothers Tyler, Andrew and David and older sister Elizabeth
School: Mountain Lake Christian.
In-School Activities: Yearbook, speech, drama, choir, band and cross country manager.
Out-Of-School Activities: Participating in various groups in church, including youth worship band.
Employment: Maynards Food Center.
Hobbies: Swimming, rollerblading, running, movie-watching and hanging with friends.
Talent: Speech presentation, 11:21 A.M. by Johanna Gates.
Future Plans: Attend college to study either business management or communications.
Pageant Sponsor: Lohrenz Excavating Inc.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Working and serving at the Mountain Lake Christian Food Booth in Mountain Lake City Park and running in the rain with my friends at City Park last year.
- CARLY PAULSON
Age: 16.
Parents and Siblings: John and Meridee Paulson and younger brother Sam.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Volleyball, track-and-field, band, choir and FFA.
Out-Of-School Activities: Community play, church band and church youth group.
Employment: Cenex C-Store in Mountain Lake.
Hobbies: Sports, home design and hanging out with friends.
Future Plans: Attend college to study surgical technology.
Talent: Piccolo solo.
Pageant Sponsor: Nickel Construction.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): “Duking it out” with my cousins for candy during the Monday night Grande Parade.
- MICHAYLA STEWART
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Michael and Chanta Stewart and younger brother Maleek.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: NA.
Out-Of-School Activities: Taking part in the Miss Mountain Lake Pageant.
Employment: Babysitting.
Hobbies: Dance – everywhere, anywhere and whenever.
Future Plans: Earning a degree in business.
Talent: Dance number.
Pageant Sponsor: C & R Construction Company.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Helping with my family’s Barbecue Food Booth.
- SIGNEY STOESZ
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Michael and Sonja Stoesz and younger sisters Marta and Margo.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Volleyball, basketball, softball, choir, National Honor Society and student council.
Out-Of-School Activities: AAU basketball, JO (Junior Olympic) volleyball, summer softball league and church youth band.
Employment: Assisting with Little League and as lifeguard at Mountain Lake Public School swimming pool.
Hobbies: Sports, reading and rollerblading.
Future Plans: Go into the medical field to be either a pediatrician or a family practitioner.
Talent: Vocal solo, “Just A Dream,” accompanying herself on guitar.
Pageant Sponsor: Triumph State Bank-Darfur.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): As a kid, racing to grab the candy thrown by units in the Monday night Grande Parade.
- BAILEY SWANSON
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Bruce and Merna Swanson and older brother and sisters Brian and Jayne Swanson, Beth and Spencer Johnson, Brittany Swanson and Bridgette Swanson.
School: Homeschool.
In-School Activities: Basketball and track-and-field for Mountain Lake Area (MLA).
Out-Of-School Activities: Church groups, including youth worship band.
Employment: NA.
Hobbies: Riding horse, rollerblading, hanging out with friends, playing piano and singing, reading and being outdoors.
Future Plans: Attend college to earn accounting and business management degrees.
Talent: Vocal solo “Don’t Try So Hard,” by Amy Grant, accompanying herself on piano.
Pageant Sponsor: Twisted Timber Treestands.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Playing in the 3-on-3 basketball tourney.
- CARMEN SYVERSON
Age: 17.
Parents and Siblings: Steven and Kim Syverson and older sister Jordan and younger brother Regan.
School: Mountain Lake Public.
In-School Activities: Volleyball, track-and-field, choir, show choir, band, jazz band, student council, National Honor Society, one-act play and fall musical.
Out-Of-School Activities: Youth worship band.
Employment: Lifeguard at Mountain Lake Public School swimming pool.
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, singing, sand volleyball, rollerblading, boating and playing card games.
Future Plans: Attend Bethel University in St. Paul to study communications.
Talent: Vocal solo, “Worthy To Be Praised,” accompanying herself on piano.
Pageant Sponsor: Odin State Bank.
Favorite Pow Wow Memory(ies): Back in the day, participating in the Tuesday night Talent Contest with my sister.
