By Brock Pfrommer
Staff
The winner of Crusader Knights was Keanu Hood, who represented Delight Ministries. His interview, video skit, and live improv wowed the judges and earned him the title Mr. Crusader Knight for 2023, on Feb.25.
The Crusader Knights production featured UMHB men who represented several organizations and residence halls across campus. The event has been a long-standing tradition at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, since 1994. Originally starting as a counterpart parodying the women-only Miss Mary Hardin-Baylor pageant, Crusader Knights has flourished as its own spoof pageant, featuring group musical numbers, video skits, and only the finest of evening attire.
The men featured in the pageants represented residence halls such as McLane, Burt and Gettys as well as organizations such as the Baptist Student Ministry, Delight Ministries, and First Year Collective. Contestants were judged based on their individual pageant walks, how they answered interview questions during the show, and their dancing abilities during the big group musical numbers.
Ethan Varisco, who participated as Mr. FYC, and represented First Year Collective, shared some of his reasoning behind joining the pageant.
“I was approached and asked to do it,” Varisco said. “I thought about it for a bit and thought if I turned down this opportunity, I would regret it for the rest of my life… I get to represent something I love.”
Photo by Brock Pfrommer/TheBells: The men of Cru Knights practice an opening dance number on Feb. 2, 2023.From left to right: Logan Gerhart representing Remschel, Cody Cossete representing Burt, and Elijah Montoya representing Gettys.
