New royals: Michael Hayes and Marin Houck crowned Mr. and Miss Seabreeze

After a night of performances at the Seabreeze High School auditorium, juniors Marin Houck and Michael Hayes won the Mr. and Miss Seabreeze pageant.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 12:20 p.m. April 20, 2022
  • Ormond Beach Observer
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The Seabreeze High School auditorium was abuzz with activity. Last minute technical and backstage checks were executed. The pageant judges took their seats at desks located directly behind the audience each equipped with a small light for note taking. Curtain time was near for “The Greatest Show”—the theme of this year’s Mr. and Miss Seabreeze pageant.

Juniors at Seabreeze have participated in the time-honored tradition dating back to the 1940s. Each contestant must adhere to strict guidelines regarding submission deadlines, auditions and practices which is part of the “responsibility” requirement and equal to a maximum of five points. Prior to the evening performance, they had to submit a biography and be interviewed by the judges. Seabreeze students cast their votes for their favorite contestant, worth a maximum of 10 points.

Fifteen competitors took the stage and opened the contest with a choreographed number based on “The Greatest Showman” before being introduced to the audience. Most of the students are involved in American Music Theater, Seabreeze choir, vocal ensemble, jazz, concert and marching band along with a myriad of other clubs and programs offered at the school. The students must be motivated academically, as well as have a desire to be ambassadors for Seabreeze High School.

“Aren’t you so proud of all these contestants,” Seabreeze High School Principal Earl Johnson asked the crowd. “They did a phenomenal job. It is very difficult for these talented students to get in front of their peers, which it was a full-house this morning, and their friends this evening to perform as well as they have done.”

Following the performances, the 10 finalists were announced and Johnson asked each of them an impromptu question. Isabel Kraby was first to face Johnson who glibly asked the name of the Heisman Trophy winner in 1982, then quickly added that he was kidding. He queried Kraby about her cat Max and asked her what advice she would give to an incoming freshman.

“I would say, from the start, get involved in anything you can,” she said. “If you want to do something even slightly, just do it. You’re going to make a bunch of friends. You’re going to find out what you like that way.”

Kraby won the Miss Congeniality award. The title of Mr. Congeniality was bestowed upon Brandon Rodriguez.

The current Mr. Seabreeze Tommy Bunch and Miss Seabreeze Lila Massebeau gave a farewell performance before crowning the next Seabreeze royalty — Michael Hayes and Marin Houck. Even though Hayes’ decision to enter the pageant was impulsive, he started believing in the possibilities when his inspiration Pierce Casey won two years ago.

“The last couple days, I was like, it’s my junior year, I’m only in high school once so I might as well go for it,” he said. “Mr. Seabreeze has always been a prestigious event but when Pierce Casey won it two years ago, I thought, ‘I’m going to try my best.’”

Hayes started as a drummer in elementary school and learned how to play the piano followed by the saxophone. His grandfather taught him how to play guitar which he chose to use in his performance of the Foo Fighters’ song “Times Like These”.

Houck has been performing for five years thanks to encouragement and voice lessons from her piano teacher. She played the piano and sang “Summertime” from the opera “Porgy and Bess”.

“I told my family don’t be shocked if I don’t win because the competition is incredible,” she said. “I was just so shocked when I heard I was the last finalist. I couldn’t believe I won.”

 

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