Roaring applause, groovy songs, and contestants dressed to impress filled the gym on Friday, Feb. 27, as Student Council (StuCo) proudly launched the 26th Mr. Warrior, a competition between male seniors to win the prestigious title and a Chick-Fil-A gift card. This beloved tradition brought together students, teachers, and families for an evening full of excitement and entertainment. Mr. Warrior candidates competed in a talent show, cupcake-eating contest, dance number choreographed by the SunDancers, and judges’ interview, keeping the audience engaged with skill and friendly competition.

All six senior competitors came from diverse clubs and organizations around the school, bringing a rich variety of backgrounds and talents to the stage. Each one won over the crowd and judges with their unique personalities and infectious energy.

“I liked [watching Mr. Warrior] because all the different performances were very interesting,” Iman Xu ‘28 said. “They were all really fun to watch, and it was hard to pick my favorite candidate.”

As the talent show commenced, Loic Pehrson ‘26 wowed the audience with What the World Needs from the musical Ride the Cyclone, setting the stage for the lively acts that ensued. Gabriel Oliveira ‘26 followed suit by singing Japanese Denim by Daniel Caesar, incorporating Chinese parts to showcase his vocal and linguistic gifts.

“I was super excited to hear Gabriel sing in Chinese because he was working super hard [for the performance],” Srimansa Gadde ‘26 said. “[I had] signs that said ‘Dean and Gabe fan club’ and ‘You’re doing amazing sweetie’ to support our friends and have a good time.”

Behind the scenes, StuCo underwent an extensive planning process to ensure the event ran smoothly. Despite technical difficulties, the team’s dedication and hard work paid off as they were able to execute a memorable and top-tier celebration.

“We had to ask senior guys from clubs to participate, set up a group dance, have them practice their talents, find judges for the event, do a dress rehearsal, and push out promotions via announcements and Instagram,” StuCo Sophomore Class President Apple Ma ‘28 said. “[For] the final event, we had to set up curtains and make sure everyone went when they had to. There were some technical problems, but everything still turned out super fun.”

Joaquin Garcia ‘26 dazzled the crowd with his cover of Creep by Radiohead, his raw rendition holding the room in rapt attention. Dean Robertson ‘26 brought laughter to the gym with stand-up comedy and a brief rendition of the viral “Babyboo” joke.

“I was pretty confident walking [onto the stage] and a few of my jokes were a hit,” Robertson said. “I thought they were really funny, and I wanted to add a little spark towards the end because I was originally going to do Babyboo, and everyone thought it was funny.”

Vincent Zhang ‘26 amazed the audience with a skillful Chinese yo-yo performance to an energetic remix, blending precision and flair. Finally, Ryan Gu ‘26 made the show unforgettable with his flawless performance — and reference to the infamous X Factor meme — of Sorry by Justin Bieber.

“I’m so glad I was able to bring my vision to fruition with the help of my friends,” Gu said. “It was extremely complicated but ended up exactly how I imagined it. It was also so hype hearing the audience’s response to our performance, and I loved sharing that moment with my friends.”

Throughout the rest of the pageant, the audience was enthralled by a cupcake-eating contest, group dance, and interview with the judges. The energy in the room was contagious, with cheers and applause fueling the contestants’ confidence and making the night special for competitors.

“[Choreographing the dance] was very different from planning dances with my teammates,” SunDancer Paige Chien ‘27 said. “Although the process was a little difficult, it was still really fun to teach and watch.”

After the rounds concluded, audience members cast their votes for their favorite contestant, with the decision based on a combination of popular vote and judges’ vote. The tension built as drum rolls echoed through the gym, culminating in the announcement of Ryan Gu as the winner of the 2026 Mr. Warrior title.

“I felt ecstatic. It felt so amazing to see all my friends celebrating the win,” Gu said. “I felt so incredibly loved and supported by everyone throughout the process. Even if I hadn’t won, I still had made core memories rehearsing with my friends and fellow contestants. I would’ve learned that the joy in performing and competing is in the preparation, not the result.”