Fairfield University student-athletes traded the field for the stage during the Third Annual Student-Athlete Talent Show held last Saturday at Alumni Hall. The event, run by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), raised money for a one-year-old boy diagnosed with a very rare genetic disorder.
Finnegan Straub was born on Sept. 6, 2011, and within several months he was diagnosed with Mic-Cap Syndrome. Signs and symptoms of Mic-Cap Syndrome include uncontrolled seizures, small head and brain size, blindness, deafness and impaired neurological capacity. He is only the tenth case in the world that has been identified with this disorder.
Many of Fairfield University’s athletic teams came together to perform 15 different acts, all vying to walk away with this year’s trophy and the title of the team with the most talent. Senior Michael O’Keefe and Will Hollingsworth ‘14 co-hosted the event. A donation of $3 at the door went to helping Finnegan find treatment for his seizures and his other medical expenses.
Students and student-athletes cheered on the performers of the night, whose acts included many types of entertainment, such as lip-synching, dancing and comedic skits – all showing that they are not just athletic, but creative as well.
The men’s Baseball team were up first, performing the “Get Your Head in the Game” scene from Disney’s “High School Musical.” They wore Fairfield Basketball jerseys and showed off some Globetrotters moves.
The Softball team had no time for bronchitis with their rendition of YouTube sensation Sweet Brown’s viral video of her response to a fire in her home.
Women’s Soccer also performed their own take on the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis song “Thrift Shop.” The second half of their act took audience members back to the Summer Olympics with a synchronized swimming skit to the tune of an Italian opera.
The Volleyball team awed the crowd with their unique puppeteer dance routine. The Volleyball players were the puppets themselves, dancing to such famous tracks as “Kung Fu Fighting,” “Soldier Boy” and “Teach Me How to Dougie.”
Junior Katelyn Parisi said that the Volleyball team’s act was her favorite. “It was nice to see that they cared enough about the event to put that kind of energy into it,” she said. “It seemed like they took a lot of time and effort to put that together and I think that’s what the audience appreciated the most.”
Irish step dancing was featured in numerous acts in this year’s talent show. Both the women’s Soccer and women’s Cross Country teams surprised the audience when they concluded their numbers with a short Irish jig.
In addition to the performances, an auction was held for a day off from practice and for the opportunity to give another team a strength and conditioning workout with Mark Spellman. This resulted in a bidding war between teams, with Women’s Soccer buying the day off for $300 and Men’s Tennis buying the workout for $500.
Men’s Soccer proved to once again be the most provocative of the night with their women’s bathing suits and their suggestive dance moves. They got the audience laughing with their rendition of Katy Perry’s “California Girls” video.
The two-time talent Show champions men’s Cross Country team concluded the night with some T.Swift nerds dancing to “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Their performance was interrupted by an angry “Kanye West” who argued that Beyonce was the best of all time. However, their “Single Ladies” dance was not enough to defend the title.
With a MAAC Championship win this past fall, the Volleyball team received the most votes from the judges, casting them talent show champions as well. The women’s Soccer team and men’s Cross Country took second and third place, respectively.
Senior Volleyball athlete and talent show champion Kara Reis commented on how all teams are naturally competitive, but “the best thing to remember, no matter how competitive it gets, the reason we all come together is for the cause, and this year we came together for Finn.”
Finnegan and his family were the real winners of the night with the event raising more than double its goal. With over $4,000 raised, this year’s talent show is the most successful yet, doubling what was raised last year.
Finnegan was not in attendance, but Rich Straub ’14, who is related to Finn, went out on the court and took a video of the crowd that was sent directly to Finn’s mother. His father was able to come and take videos as well. Senior Mary Alice Limperopulos, co-president of SAAC, said that he “was extremely thankful for all that we had done.”
This year showed how the talent show has grown since its creation in 2011. Men’s Cross Country athlete John Lobo ’14 commented on the success of this year’s show. “My freshman year, the first year of the talent show, we performed for one section of predominantly athletes at Alumni Hall. But this year we walked out in our tucked-in plaid shirts and looked up to see the entire wooden bleacher section packed full of students.”
While he may not have walked away with the title this year, he said, “The real gold medal and more than $4,000 went to Finnegan, the little guy who was the purpose behind this special night.”
Talent show champion Reis said this to future talent show competitors: “Be true to the meaning of the event. This event should bring teams together and make them realize that there are more important things in life, like raising money for this adorable child who needs our help … Come together, raise money, and have fun!”
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