By Kryustal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Sophia Winters was speechless Thursday night. After walking across the stage, answering a fishbowl question, and an agonizing wait, the St. Peter’s senior beat out nine other young women to be crowned the 2016 Crestline Harvest Festival Queen.
“I’m honestly just in shock. I don’t think it set in yet,” a smiling Winters said after the crowning. “I’m really excited, though – a little nervous because I’ve never done anything like this before. I just hope I can live up to expectations.”
Winters had a hard time thinking beyond the events of the night, but she said she was excited to meet a lot of new people during her reign. She does know she is most excited to make a lot of new friends.
“I had no idea what I was going to say,” Winters said about her fishbowl question. “I was panicking. I’m just shocked. I’m so happy, so excited.”
Winters will have big shoes to fill after the 2015 Harvest Festival Queen, Kerri Reynolds, said goodbye to the town, the festival, and the people that provided her with great experiences. Reynolds covered the state during her reign, traveling 2,388 miles and going to 18 festivals, 12 parades, and two fairs.
When Reynolds was given the chance to say goodbye, she burst into tears at the podium and had to turn the microphone over for a bit to first runner-up Destinee Hunt before she was able to compose herself.
“I would like to thank the Harvest Festival for this great opportunity and allowing me to represent them,” Reynolds said during her speech. “I will never ever forget this past year.”
Hope Sharp, a freshman at Colonel Crawford, received first runner-up honors and Sydney Weisman, a junior at Crestline, was crowned Miss Congeniality.
Libby and Ellie Nickoli, who was named Miss Ashland’s Outstanding Teen, served as Masters of Ceremonies for the pageant. Ten contestants competed in the event.
The Harvest Festival opens at 1 p.m. on Friday. The Haz Benz and Electrik Circus will play on the main stage beginning at 6 p.m. and the beer garden will open at 5 p.m. There will be a Crestline Patio Gardener’s Club Horticulture Show at 4 p.m. and an Alumni Night at St. Joseph Convocation Center at 7 p.m.
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