On Dec. 17, junior and senior Cavaliers joined together for an annual pageant full of talent, spirit and community. The Mr. Coral Gables contestants lit up the stage as they showcased their personalities and talents, hoping to earn the title of “Mr. Coral Gables” with their humor, charm and stage presence.
What started as a friendly and familiar competition of upperclassmen spirit soon became a way for Cavaliers to show off with performances that left the audience in awe. This years winner, Mr. Water Polo, senior Rafael Hanono, stood out among the competition with his confidence on stage.
Leading up to the school-wide event, the Gablettes, the Coral Gables Senior High School’s dance team, rehearsed alongside the Mr. Coral Gables participants under the direction of Ms. Diaz, the dance teacher. Beginning as early as Oct. 29, contestants attended dance practices with the Gablettes and set in motion their talent portion of the pageant, highlighting a wide variety of talents.
This years’ event centered around the theme “Boy Band Nation,” bringing about many songs and dance numbers inspired by bands like Big Time Rush, Boyz II Men, *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and One Direction. As attendees entered the auditorium, band themed decorations hung, which adorned the first impression of our Cavaliers and audience. Throughout the event, the crowd’s heads held high as they applauded the Cavaliers for their attitudes on stage.
“Being able to participate in Mr. Coral Gables this year representing my club as a captain was an opportunity I would never give up. As a junior, I was Mr. Water Polo but never achieved the title as Mr. Coral Gables. I needed to do something to not only display something I’ve been working on for years, but to also shock the crowd in a way. I practiced every day in the dance classroom with Mr. Yearbook, we would help each other with our talents. Even though [the contestants] were all running against each other, we were still rooting for each other,” senior Rafael Hanono said.
Out of the original group of contestants, ten advanced to the semifinal round, showcasing their talents to not only the rowdy audience, but the panel of alum Cavalier judges that stood before them. Coming in at top ten, the audience cheered on Mr. Water Polo, Mr. Band, Mr. Baseball, Mr. English Honor Society, Mr. Troupe 0476, Mr. Yearbook, Mr. Athletic Trainer, Mr. Badminton, Mr. Student Activities and Mr. Gables Records.
“Out of all the contestants, Mr. Troupe 0476 was my favorite. Even though he didn’t win, his performance was top-notch and really caught the audience’s attention, leading him to win best performance overall,” freshman Leah Corrieri said.
Out of ten semifinalists, senior Lucas Aparicio, representing Mr. Troupe 0476, delivered a full musical scene with props, including roses. Mr. Water Polo also started strong with traditional Italian canzone, but left the audience shocked after a quick change to a kimono and a swift kick in the air to conclude his routine.
“As a freshman, Mr. Coral Gables is truly inspiring. Every talent, every video, every song comes from the contestants. Not only did they perform for an audience, they became one with [the audience]. Seeing the crowd burst into song is a memory a Cavalier can never forget, because always remember, ‘Go Cavs’,” freshman Valeria Florentino said.
Kicking off strong with Taylor Swift’s hit song “You Belong With Me,” Mr. Band charmed the audience with his vocals and charisma through his jumps on stage. With everybody singing along, senior Nicolas Gertzenstrin’s stage presence was truly shown when the crowd pulled out their phones and turned on their flashlights to move to the beat of the music.
While Mr. Baseball danced with fellow senior Sela Peña, Mr. Yearbook danced with his friends and played a video on the auditorium screen to form a fun, collaborative act. Mr. Gables Records began with a short film and Subway Surfers as the background to get the audience’s attention, in which he also did by singing and captivating the audience with his acting.
As students gathered to vote on their phones, the top six contestants anticipated the audience’s response to their performance. At the end of the night, the Cavaliers knew only one Mr. Coral Gables could remain as the school’s representative. As they awaited, teamwork shined throughout all of them, knowing this show would be a memory they would have in their Cavalier pride filled hearts forever.
“Throughout the show, you could hear the students and teachers chattering about who they were going to pick. Everybody was rooting for Mr. Yearbook, but when the panel of alum got up to call up Mr. Water Polo to the stage, everything clicked. He wasn’t just Mr. Coral Gables, he is the one who now represents the school as a whole,” freshman Elena Buda said.
During every performance, the audience got more and more exhilarated. By the end of the night, voices were gone, hands were up high and chatter spread throughout the theatre. Friend group to friend group, the Cavaliers wondered who would be Mr. Coral Gables and bring home the title. As the panel of alum spoke their final words to each other, the audience got quiet. One final announcement from the panel had the crowd jumping and shouting as all the contestants gathered on stage.
As senior Hanono stood on the stage full of confetti, surrounded by his classmates and contestants, his mind did not belittle what the Mr. Coral Gables pageant is. To him, it was a show full of companionship, presence, hard work and engagement. Although one Cavalier took home the title, every contestant showcased what they can do as a result of teamwork and practice.
