A packed crowd yelled and whooped loudly as the stars took the stage. As those in attendance cheered, lyrics poured into the venue.
“I wanna know what love is. I want you to show me.”
The chant spread like an infection. Friday night at the University of Idaho, the crowd hollered for 14 men as they helped raise $2,852 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation while singing, dancing, flailing, beatboxing, wrapping and stripping their way toward the coveted title of Mr. Idaho.
Dustin Fox from Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) Fraternity took home the title at the event, which was hosted by the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and coordinated by member Sarah Spry.
Spry said she had gone to a Rock of Ages Broadway show and been inspired to theme this year’s Mr. Idaho pageant around 1980s rock. Every year, the event is held during Moms’ Weekend.
Spry said her mom raised her on ‘80s rock, and that she thought that moms would love it at the pageant.
And love it they did.
“It was hilarious,” said Annie Murray, who’s daughter is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. “The guys did a good job.”
The competing men first demonstrated their pizazz in a wide-ranging talent segment.
During the talent portion, members of Alpha Gamma Delta walked around with buckets to collect donations for each performance.
Fox, who Spry said won the title of “Mr. Philanthropy” for drawing $267 in donations, sang “Man of Constant Sorrow” and played guitar while two of his fraternity brothers danced behind him.
Others kept it slightly less PG.
“You’re either gonna like this song or kick my ass after the show,” said Jordan Smith from Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, before unleashing his song, titled “Lower Your Expectations.”
Singing about the heartbreak he’d been seeing on Greek Row lately, he dropped lyrics satirizing the wild desires of both sexes, and had nearly 450 people in the Administration Building auditorium roaring with laughter.
Brett Benson, from Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, didn’t go the singing route. With no reservations, and with the intro to Eminem’s “The Real Slim Shady” playing in the background, he showed off his wrapping skills instead.Present-wrapping, that is.
“I pretty much knew what I was getting into,” he said. “I was pretty excited the entire time.”
Brandon De La Mater, a freshman from Kappa Sigma Fraternity, was a little more concerned when he got on stage.
“It was very exciting and it was very nerve-wracking,” he said. “I’ve got four more years in college, so if I get up there and embarrass myself I’d have to live with it for four years.”
His mom ended up crying because she was so proud, he said.
After the talent segment, the pageant moved into the swimwear showcase. De La Mater said he and his fellow contestants just winged it.
They walked out in anything from wetsuits to boxers to a simple sheet, and strutted across the stage to more ‘80s rock before heading into the interview section.
“We had decided that we were going to relate every single question to our moms,” said Malachi Dunn, a freshman from Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.
Nearly every contestant found some way to draw the question back to their moms, whether they were asked about past regrets or to name one person who’s had the greatest impact on the world in the last century.
Spry said one of her favorite aspects of the event of was just interacting with the contestants in general.
“I didn’t just to get to know them on a work basis,” she said. “I got to know all of the contestants on a personal level, which was really special and important to me.”
The event itself began on a personal note. Alex Mostacero, a member of Pi Kappa Alpha, didn’t expect his mother to be back for Moms’ Weekend. She’s been a member of the Air Force for nearly 23 years, and she surprised him by showing up at the event.
Not only did Mostacero get to see her, he got to pin her retirement badge.
“If you’re still in college and you haven’t participated in Mr. Idaho. You should,” De La Mater said. “It’s something you’ll remember for life.”
Ian Hahn can be reached at [email protected]