Contestants ready for first round

Mountaineer Idol will showcase the talent of its top 15 singers in the first elimination round Saturday.

Originally scheduled for Friday, the competition was moved due to the West Virginia University vs. Marshall football game.

Each competitor will perform a song of his or her choice and three contestants will be eliminated.

Event coordinator Sonja Wilson is looking forward to the performances and said she wants the competition to be as fair and helpful as possible.

"We want to give constructive criticism," Wilson said.

Each contestant will be scored on a scale from one to 10, based on voice, stage performance, song selection and overall performance.

Wilson said the judges will give helpful comments and advice to the contestants following the performances.

Judges for this upcoming round include Betty Cox, Erin Casazza, Tara Curtis, Shirley Robinson and WVU basketball player John Flowers.

Contestants are both anxious and excited for the first round.

Contestant Michael Martin, a freshman broadcast journalism major, said he is ready for the stage and knows what to expect on Saturday.

"I have auditioned in ‘American Idol' and ‘America's Got Talent,'" Martin said. "Mountaineer Idol is a much more fair competition."

Kasey Jagger, sophomore forensic science major, said she doesn't have a particular singing style and will choose a song that best fits her mood.

"I'm slightly nervous because I'm still deciding on what song I am going to choose," Jagger said.

Martin is also currently deciding on a solid song.

Contestant Daniel Whiteman, senior wildlife and fisheries major, is optimistic about the competition and has chosen a song that fits his style.

"I'm looking forward to Saturday," Whiteman said, who will be performing "Roadhouse Blues" by The Doors.

Whiteman said he usually sings with his guitar, but will be performing without it Saturday.

Senior criminology major Kayla Carter said she just wants to have fun.

"I took it too seriously my sophomore year and I'm just going to have fun since it's my last year," Carter said. "I would like to wish everyone good luck and tell them to just have fun."

Jilsel Harris, a junior social work major, has auditioned the past three years, but this is her first year in the top 15.

"I'm a little nervous, but I'm really pumped," Harris said.

She added that she was nervous to first appear in front of the judges, but now that she is in the competition, she is looking to "go for it."

Meghan Carlson, junior public relations major, said she is eager for the first round.

"I'm always excited, but it's a huge rush, too," Carlson said.

The first round of Mountaineer Idol will be in the Mountainlair Ballrooms Saturday from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

"Come and see Mountaineer Idol, it's really exciting," Carlson said.