Staff Sgt. Rick Rosales wins 3rd Annual March Idol

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Megan Crusher
  • 452nd AMW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  The Cultural Center was packed with an enthusiastic crowd for the 3rd Annual March Idol that showcased a variety of talented performers, including a band, singers, singer-song writers, musicians, comedians, dancers, and martial artists. 

The Trash Haulers, a 6-member band, opened the show with a high energy performance that set the stage for the diverse group of performers who followed. 

"It's going to be star studded, it's going to be absolutely marvelous, said March Idol judge Senior Master Sgt. Ionne M. Barnes-Joshua, 452 AMXS first sergeant. 

Agustin A. Huerta, 452 AMW command chief, and Marvin J. Tucker, 452 AMW chief of emergency management were also judges at the event. The banter between Sergeant Barnes-Joshua and Tucker paralleled Simon and Paula's bickering on the TV show "American Idol," which March Idol was modeled, while Chief Huerta was the middle man much like the TV show's Randy Jackson. 

While the votes were being counted, the performers gathered on stage and the audience cheered while some of the performers took turns dancing to the Black Eyed Peas song "I Gotta Feeling." 

When the MC, Cedric Perry, announced the winner--Rick Rosales, who sang "When You
Say You Love Me"--the audience applauded and screamed in support. The 2nd place winner was singer Chris Peters who sang "A Song For You," and the 3rd place winner was the band Trash Haulers who sang "Slide." 

"Third is a bit of a disappointment, but the competition was great and the winner and runner up did a great job! We'll bring it all next year," said Ryan Van Scotter, drummer for the Trash Haulers. 

Notable standouts included martial artist Johnny Chau. "I am so impressed with your agility and the finesse in which you do the moves you do," said Sergeant Barnes-Joshua after Chau's performance. 

Dancer Jennifer Yoon garnered a "really, really beautiful," from Chief Huerta for her Hawaiian dance performance. 

Darryl Willingham, Al Dupont and Zakia Webster told the story of a battle by combining dancing and martial arts. "You could tell you guys practiced a lot, you were well rehearsed, it was very entertaining and you pulled it off very well," said Tucker. 

The judges, MC and audience all agreed that this year's event was the best yet and everyone is looking forward March Idol next year. After the winners were announced, all the performers showed their support for one another with hand-shakes and hugs, and thanked the audience for their energy and support.