The Northwest (NWSL) and Southwest Sierra Leagues (SWSL) joined on campus to finish the talent show tour on March 1.

The format this year differed from usual. Rather than one winner in the individual and band portions, the competition combined each section to have the top two winners of either category.

Although this campus only competes in the SWSL, the campus hosts both leagues. In the NWSL, Dos Palos’ Ghetto Boys placed first with their dance routine. Anthony Delgado from Mendota played a guitar solo to come in second.

First place in the SWSL went to Caruthers? own Pandemonium, who lured crowd participation with their opening song, ?The Chicken Dance?. They followed with the self-written piece, ?Maxwell Silver Hammer?.

?We were really nervous before the performance and especially during,? lead singer, T.J. Pilcher, ’08, said, ?because we asked everyone to stand up and participate and everyone stayed seated.?

The band included guitarist Morgan Wenter, ’09, and Alex Hidalgo, ’07, on the accordion. The three practiced twice prior to try-outs and once after auditions to prepare for the performance.

?Our decision to participate in the talent show was spur-of-the-moment,? Pilcher said. ?We changed the songs three days before the competition.?

Wenter was behind the group’s formation; they met a month before try-outs.

?I decided to make the band with a friend, but he was ineligible to participate in the talent show so I had to find two other people,? Wenter said. ?I knew T.J. a little, but he didn’t know Alex at all.?

Although Hidalgo graduates this year, Pilcher and Wenter plan to audition next year with ?Float On,? by Modest Mouse.

?The talent show was really fun-especially hanging out with all the other performers,? Pilcher said. ?Everyone was a little nervous so we acted with spontaneity to try and lighten the mood.?

Despite campus freshman Amanda Edwards’ lack of crowd participation, her ballet routine placed second in the SWSL.

“I thought participating in the talent show would be fun and different,” Edwards said. “Although I was really nervous before the competition, I was really excited and happy backstage afterwards.”

Edwards began ballet at the age of two when her mom saw her dancing and enrolled her in lessons. Now, Edwards practices six days a week, for a total of 17 hours.

For a photo of Edwards click here on Freshman Ballerina Dances to 2nd. For more information regarding her ballet check out Brittany Lauber’s Feb. 8, 2007, article, Freshman dances in dreams.

“I have never been in a talent show before; I want to compete next year,” Edwards said. “I think it’s a good opportunity to see other peoples’ interests.”