Feb. 16, 2010

Wesleyan Idol winners declared

Photo Gallery

Travis Johnson

MITCHELL — It was a long four weeks. There was laughter; there were tears – induced by the laughter; and a whole lot of talent on display for Wesleyan Idol 2010.

The campus-wide talent contest came to an end Monday night with four acts competing for first place.

Wesleyan Idol Video

Nothing could stop Travis Johnson, of Lincoln, Neb., throughout the four weeks as he began Wesleyan Idol with a song he wrote himself and followed it with two memorable performances – the crowd gave him props for choosing a song from the “Little Mermaid,” despite the fact he forgot the words. Last night, he strapped on his guitar and won the audience over with “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and “Slide.”

Coming in second was the dynamic duo Mike Lynch, Omaha, Neb., and Jenna Callies, Mitchell. Their rendition of “Let it Be” was a crowd-pleaser enough, but nothing prepared the audience for the Kid Rock-Sheryl Crow collaboration of “Picture,” especially since they dressed the part. The crowd loved their voices, their talent, and of course, the crooked mustache.

Emily Nicolaisen, Mitchell, had a solid four weeks of belting out tunes from Alicia Keys to Norah Jones. Last night she didn’t disappoint with “I Will Always Love You” – which had the crowd screaming and clapping before the final chord – and finished the night with “Turn Me On,” earning equal applause.

The winner of $8, a guitar pick, a toothbrush and toothpaste was Alli Clarke, of Howard, who cranked out “Dream a Little Dream of Me” and “The Way I Am.” The creative fourth-place prize was collected from the audience.

This was the third year for DWU’s Wesleyan Idol, and last year’s winners, Tanner LaValliere, Sioux Falls, and Derik Fossum, Canton, emceed the event for the four-week run. They also performed several times to cheers from the crowd. This year’s Idol consisted of 13 acts – varying from solos to groups – and came down to the final four. The winners took home $500 for first place, $300 for second, and $200 for third.

The finals also brought back former Wesleyan Idol winner Andrew Bakken, originally of Platte, who made a guest appearance at the end of the night to perform one of his newer songs, as well as “Bear in a Zoo,” which he performed at the first Wesleyan Idol two years ago.