On Feb. 14 at the Annual Mr. LHS, senior Jake Steinberg, Mr. Volleyball, claimed the title.

It began around 7 p.m. with  juniors Keena Patel and Jenna Williams introducing the judges, teachers Kristin Fite, Stefanie Hruby and Marietta Koziatek, and the contestants doing the obligatory dance in their boxers.

A brief film created by junior Eimi Harris showcasing the contestants was showed next. They included:

• D’Angelo Anderson as Mr. Junior
• Nathan Brooks as Mr. Freshman
• J.D. Casias as Mr. Renaissance
• Brian Ebner as Mr. Theater
• Joe Flannery as Mr. Swing Dance
• Jason Maddox as Mr. Water Polo
• Eric Pascoe as Mr. Band
• Josh Ripp as Mr. Track
• Cole Ritcher as Mr. AFJROTC
• Deonte Robinson as Mr. Senior
• Jake Steinberg as Mr. Volleyball
• Nick Stewart as Mr. National Honor Society

Also listed in the program but not appearing were Shaquille Holley as Mr. Football and Jordan West as Mr. Track.

After their introductions, the final five were selected: Brooks, Casias, Robinson, Steinberg and Stewart.

They were then asked questions by the hostesses and given challenges for the talent competitions. Brooks smoothly used prewritten pick-up lines on three members of the audience, Steinberg performed a rather moving ribbon dance routine to Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On, Stewart wrote his name in the air with his butt, Robinson sang Justin Bieber’s Baby, and Casias finished by strutting around in high heels, stumbling only once.

The winner was announced as Steinberg, with Casias and Stewart as runners-up.

“I was very surprised,” Steinberg said. “I was not expecting it at all. I wasn’t even expecting to make it to the final five.”

Entertainment throughout the night included a stand-up comedy by junior Katherine Stinnett, a cover of Hunter Hayes’s song Wanted by senior Brett Renken, and junior Bobby Boxerman covering I’m Yours by Jason Mraz.

The student-formed band The Moment also played songs throughout the evening: Fireflies by Owl City, Whipped Cream by Ludo, Mr. Brightside by The Killers, and ended the event with Absolutely (Story of a Girl) by Nine Days. The band consists of juniors Bobby Boxerman, Shayne Hayes, Jake Hill and Garrison Krotz.

“It was nice playing for our friends who can’t come to some of our other shows,” Boxerman said. The Moment has played at other local events in the area, and was able to play at Mr. LHS because a friend of theirs on the junior advisory recommended them.

Junior class sponsor and science teacher Todd Decker said the event sold just over 200 tickets, and that he thought the evening was a success. “I think everything went very smoothly,” he said.

Maddox was a little disappointed that he didn’t win. “But I had fun,” he said, “and it got water polo’s name out there.”

Ebner put his thoughts about the evening bluntly: “It was awesome.”