SENIOR NICK SCHROTER CROWNED MR. STONEHILL 2007
By Lauren Daley '05

Third Time's A Charm
When historians look back on 2007, they will remember it as the year of two great surprise victories: The Red Sox won the World Series and senior Nick Schroter won Mr. Stonehill, a Class of 2008 event.

The political science major from Hawthorne, N.J. competed and lost in 2005, competed and lost again in 2006.

In fact, during the Q&A portion of the event on Saturday night, when he was asked what he’d title his autobiography, he answered: “Probably Nick Schroter: The Story of a Mr. Stonehill Loser."

But ah, how sweet it was, Schroter’s long-awaited taste of victory, as he was crowned Saturday night in front of more than 1,200 students, along with many parents and grandparents, in the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex.

When a reporter asked Schroter how he felt, moments after being crowned, he answered without hesitation:
“Vindicated.”

“I’m shocked right now,” the 21-year-old added. “No one has ever competed three times before.”

First Runner Up
Should Schroter be unable to fulfill his duties as Mr. Stonehill—hopefully he has no scandalous pictures on the Internet—the title will cede to runner-up Brandon Joseph ’10.

Accounting major Joseph also won Best Swimsuit—skintight purple briefs, a purple boa and long-haired wig. He also wowed the crowd with his beat boxing talent.

Kevin Bernazzani ’08 won Best Formalwear—and would’ve easily won the award for Loudest Fan Club, had there been one.

In the Mr. Congeniality category, the contestants voted to give the award to Joey -- How Do You Look So Good -- D'Agostino '10.

Schroter also took home the Best Talent award, thanks to a little help from his friends Craig Sexton '08 and Sal Ciulla '08, both of whom competed last year.

The three made a carefully-assembled music montage to go along with a skit about two friends fighting over a girl (one of them in drag).

Spirit of Camaraderie
All the other contestants, listed below, made great efforts as well and exhibited a wonderful spirit of camaraderie: 

Joey D’Agostino ’10; Kevin Bernazzani '08; Zakk Ennis ’08; Wes Evans ’09; Vinny Giambrocco ’09; Brandon Joseph ’10; Rich O’Brien ’08; Brendan M. Rauth ’10; Eric Robertson ’08, and Justin Shepard ’08.

Last year’s winner, Luke Wight ’07 gracefully held back tears and presented  the crown with a smile.
“It feels good,” he said, just after handing off the coveted purple prize. 

“It’s not really about who wins; it’s about all the guys coming together to have fun. They did a great job,” said Wight, now an employee at W. B. Mason in their Woburn office.

Wight also had a cameo role in the Mr. Stonehill Dodgeball parody, imparting the wise words: “If you can dodge a ball, you can be Mr. Stonehill!”

The 11 contestants and hosts also parodied Old School, and the infamous fight scene from Anchorman, with Brendan Rauth playing bagpipes during the brawl.

Stellar Hosts & Dedicated Judges
Hosts were Stonehill seniors Deidre Hussey, Brittany Topper and Anthony Williams with a special guest appearance by Miss America senior Bethany Larsen.

Student judges were Erin McNally ’08, Caroline Constantino ’09, Kaitlyn Rose ’10 and Matt Glynn ’11.

Staff and special guest judges were: Francis Dillon, vice president for Advancement; the Rev. Jim Fenstermaker, C.S.C. , director of Campus Ministry; alumnus Michael Jordan ’07; John Merian '81, owner of Tuxedos by Merian in Brockton; and Paulette Snead, assistant manager of The Hill, who is evidently—from the deafening applause and standing ovation she received simply walking in the door—one of the most popular people on campus.

Other highlights of the night?

When Rauth played a Scottish Happy Birthday on bagpipes for Evans; Ennis’ photography slide show, and when Joseph simultaneously beat-boxed and sang song lyrics.

“Everyone did a great job,” Wight summed up. “It was fun to watch.”

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Lauren Daley ’05 is a living arts reporter and columnist in New Bedford, Mass.

November 12, 2007