Mr. Woodlands, the annual beauty pageant for seniors at The Woodlands High School, took place in the McCullough Auditorium on Thursday, March 26. The night began with the introduction of nine senior boys, but after four rounds of competition, only one would be crowned Mr. Woodlands.
This year, all ticket proceeds went to Inspiration Ranch, a nonprofit that provides equine-assisted therapy and mental health programs for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.
Hosts Audrey Watkins and Marcelo Sanfeliu started off the night’s show. As the lights dimmed and the curtain rose, the audience’s attention shifted to the formation of nine boys, their arms crossed and their heads down. Suddenly, senior Aaron Willetts broke the silence, hitting the “woah,” as the crowd erupted. The first event, the group dance, had begun.
Choreographed by the Woodlands Highlsteppers, the nine boys were split into two groups on either side of the stage. The routine began as a dance-off before shifting into a full-group performance as “I Don’t Dance” from the movie “High School Musical” played. From there, the audience watched a mix of choreography and popular song remixes that brought energy to the stage and set the tone for the night.
While contestants prepared for the next event, the hosts welcomed the TWHS Improv Troupe to the stage. They introduced a game called the “Dating Game,” where one audience member comes up to guess each performer’s secret identity through a series of questions. Senior Curtis Rawson was selected from the crowd and took on the role of the bachelor as he questioned each character. A standout moment came when he asked one performer, whose character was Darth Vader, “What are you like?” The response, “your father,” got one of the biggest laughs of the night.
Once the improv segment wrapped up and contestants were ready, the competition transitioned into the duo costume portion of the night. During this segment, each contestant revealed their date through coordinated outfits, often paired with a short dance or handshake that matched their theme.
First, Gonzalo Aranda and his escort Maria Madero walked out together from backstage dressed as Batman and Poison Ivy. They suddenly began to battle, with Batman ultimately winning.
Following them, Aiden Dore’s entrance began with his date Ava Tomes, who dressed as Flo from the State Farm commercials. She started lip syncing “Where’s Jake from State Farm?” when Aiden jumped out from behind the curtain as Jake. They then did a compilation of popular dances to the song “Low.”
Jedidiah Mouritsen appeared as Aladdin with his escort Sienna Kato dressed as Jasmine, and he danced to “A Whole New World.”
Jacob Howard and Mia Ashley revealed themselves to be Phineas and Isabella from “Phineas and Ferb,” hitting the characters’ signature pose before exiting the stage.
After the costume portion wrapped up, it was time for the main category: talent. Each contestant took the stage to highlight a specific skill or skit to showcase their personality.
Camden Engelman, part of the TWHS drum line, performed alongside three other percussionists, setting up a row of wooden chairs and drumsticks and turning them into instruments. As the performance picked up, the group built a rhythm together, moving in sync and adding layers to the beat. Then, closing out his performance, confetti went off behind them.
Then Elian Diaz took the stage, performing “I Just Might” by Bruno Mars. His own live band accompanied him, made up of fellow TWHS band members playing the bongos, drums, trumpet, saxophone and guitar. Each musician wore a red bandana, adding to the performance’s cohesive, concert-like feel. With his strong stage presence and steady energy, Elian turned the moment into something that felt more like a live show than a school competition.
Graham McCoy followed with a creative take on filmmaking, opening with the idea that “art takes time” before attempting to edit a video in just three minutes. He brought several students on stage to improvise a scene, eventually landing on the iconic “I am your father” moment from Star Wars. As the timer ran, he worked through the editing
process before revealing the final clip to the audience. The act stood out for its originality and gave the audience a glimpse into his filmmaking talent.
Ending the talent portion was a crowd favorite, Aaron Willetts, who brought the auditorium to life with his own Sabrina Carpenter concert. He didn’t start on stage, instead appearing in the middle of the audience before a spotlight hit him, revealing a blonde wig, sparkly red top and bright red shorts. As he grabbed the microphone and made his way forward, backup dancers Noah Morris, Austin Lee and Cole Tischler joined him, and the performance quickly turned into a full show.
Choreographed by Lucy Elliot, this performance was a mixture of humor and confidence that truly captured the audience’s attention. By the time he hit his final “Juno” pose, the crowd was already erupting in cheers.
For the final act, contestants were asked personal questions. As the questions were undisclosed beforehand, contestants couldn’t prepare, revealing their authentic personalities.
Aiden Hicks, a Student Council officer, was asked about his most meaningful high school memory, and he didn’t hesitate. He described the moment he opened his admissions email from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a moment he said he had been working toward for years. For Hicks, that moment wasn’t just about getting into a prestigious school, but about seeing all the long nights, academic pressure and dedication finally pay off.
After answering his own question, Landon DeGeorgio decided he wanted to ask his own. Reaching backstage, he was handed a bouquet of roses along with a sign that read, “You’d make it easy if you say yes to prom?” referencing the Jason Aldean song “You Make It Easy.” The audience quickly caught on as he called cheerleader Emma Belsha to the stage. As she made her way down, all eyes followed her as she met with Landon. When she finally reached him, she nodded and embraced him, marking a sweet moment for the end of the competition.
As the judges wrapped up their scoring, everyone held their breath awaiting the results. The boys were lined up on stage, and TWHS StuCo members handed out white roses to all of the contestants, with the top three placements earning full red rose bouquets. Aaron Willetts placed third, with the judges loving his Jack Johnson-themed costume and Sabrina Carpenter concert. The runner-up spot went to Jedidiah Mouritsen, thanks to his unforgettable Napoleon Dynamite dance.
Finally, the winner was announced: Camden Engelman. His percussion performance and energy on stage won over the judges and the crowd, earning him the crown and the official title of this year’s Mr. Woodlands.
