Pageant Press & Photos: Miss Ohio Sweeps

Miss Huron County and Miss Willard among six women crowned

By Dolly Ruffing - Reflector staff writer
Tuesday March 30 2010

WILLARD - Three pageant titleholders from Huron County will be competing for Miss Ohio this year, following the crowning of several women at a pair of pageants here this weekend.

Willard High School hosted the Miss Ohio Sweeps program on Saturday, with one pageant awarding three crowns and a second pageant three more. Among the six queens were Miss Willard and Huron County.

The program was open to any contestant who had previously participated in a local pageant this season.

Each contestant was interviewed by two panels of judges earlier in the day, which accounted for 25 percent of each contestant’s final score.

The contest also consisted of competitions involving swimsuits (15 percent of the final score), talent (35 percent), evening wear (20 percent) and onstage questions (5 percent).

The winners of Sweeps One, which consisted of 21 contestants, were Miss Willard Stephanie Beltz, Miss Buckeye State Whitney Fricke and Miss Ohio River Rebekah Zoz.

Beltz, 22, of St. Clairsville, attends Ohio University. Beltz played “Deux Arabesques No. 1 Debussy” on the piano. She was speechless, humble and gracious after being crowned Miss Willard.

Fricke, 22, of Archbold, sang "Can You Feel The Love Tonight” during the talent portion of the event. The St. Mary’s College student said was excited and surprised she won the Miss Buckeye State title. She is looking forward to competing at Miss Ohio again this year.

Zoz, 22, of West Chester, attends The University of Cincinnati. She sang "Journey to the Past.” She said she was ecstatic to have been chosen to be Miss Ohio River.

Winners of the Sweeps Two pageant, which consisted of 18 contestants, were Miss Huron County Elizabeth Wong, Miss Heart of Ohio Tera Coleman and Miss Mohican Valley Devon Stansbury.

Wong, 19, of Bloomfield, Conn., attends Oberlin College. Wong danced to “Gravity.” She was shocked as she had forgotten her contestant number and didn’t realize at first that she had won the title of Miss Huron County.

Coleman, 22, of Southpoint, attends The Ohio State University. Coleman, who sang “Hallelujah,” said she was beyond excited after being crowned Miss Heart of Ohio.

Stansbury, 20, of Rockford, attends The University of Cincinnati. Stansbury danced to “Almost Lover.” Her winning the title of Miss Mohican Valley seemed surreal, she said.

Each of the six titleholders received a $500 scholarship, crown from The Miss Ohio Scholarship Program, sash courtesy of Jay Jesensky of Bay Village, floral bouquet from Carriage House Florist in Willard and the right to compete for the title of Miss Ohio.

That means Beltz as Miss Willard and Wong as Miss Huron County will join Miss Maple City winner Marisa Buchheit in representing Huron County at the Miss Ohio pagent in Mansfield this June.

The winner of Miss Ohio advances to the Miss America pageant.

Entertainment at Saturday’s event in Willard was provided by Miss Ohio 2009 Erica Gelhaus, Miss Ohio 2009 Outstanding Teen Veronica Wende and The Cynthia Kniffin Dance Academy of Norwalk. Food for the day was provided by The Varsity Club & Deli of Willard.

Photo credit: RefloctorCam