The second the lights came up on the annual Mr. GHS Pageant at Gorham High School, the audience knew the night would be one to remember.

Accompanied by applause and laughter, the 11 high school senior boys performed a group dance number in matching outfits before jumping off of the stage and running out of the auditorium. From there, each of the boys participated in numerous portions of the pageant, hosted by seniors Emma Smith and Narissa Libby.

The first portion was casual dress and personal trivia-type questions. Detailing their looks upon entering the stage, the boys described their outfits as what “my mom picked out,” or even just “the first thing I grabbed.”

The participants were each asked two questions, which ranged from which famous person are you most like, to picking a new national holiday, to what three things would you bring with you on a deserted island? To that question, contestant Padraic Owens responded, “My ipod…some wet wipes…and a car door, because when it gets hot, you can just roll the window down!”

After answering questions and displaying their casual wear, the boys took to the talent portion. Miles Obrey began by singing a beautiful rendition of “Corner of the Sky” from the musical “Pippin” to tumultuous applause, and the singing and dancing continued with performances by Padraic Owens, Alex York, Brandon Desjardin, Adam Peterson, and Nik Briggs.

The final talent performance was an audience favorite as Jackson Fotter, Cameron Wright, Logan Drouin, Jason Komulainen, and Carter Landry took to the stage to perform as the U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Team. Their hilarious act, consisting of acrobatics, diving, and even a shark attack, had the audience in stitches and was the perfect way to conclude the talent portion.

The pageant concluded with the formal dress segment, each contestant accompanied across the stage by his mother. After deliberation, the five judges: Assistant Principal Ryan Watts, Superintendent Heather Perry, teachers Rob Roy and Ellen Connell, and former Miss Maine Victoria Reynolds, announced the winners.

Padraic Owens finished in third place, Jason Komulainen in second, and Miles Obrey took first place. Each of the participants wowed the audience throughout the night. It will be difficult to top, perhaps, that is, until next year’s senior boys take to the stage.