Matt Hellman | Lariat Photo Editor
By Kate McGuire
Staff Writer
All-University Sing audiences were surprised when judges announced a tie for first place.
During Saturday’s Sing finale, both Kappa Sigma and Kappa Omega Tau won first place.
Woodway senior Stephen Harrison, Sing chair for Kappa Sigma, said he was practically shaking while pumping a trophy in the air.
“It feels incredible,” Harrison said. “We put a lot of hard work into this. But I’m a little shocked at the results because it’s usually first, second and third but this year there was a tie.”
Overall, the eight groups moving on to Pigskin are Alpha Tau Omega, Chi Omega/Phi Gamma Delta, Kappa Omega Tau, Kappa Sigma, Phi Kappa Chi, Pi Beta Phi, Sing Alliance and Zeta Tau Alpha.
After the groups finished performing, participants waited for the results to be announced.
Behind the curtains, the results were about to come in for those who will go on to perform in Pigskin. Groups were huddled together, some holding hands and praying. Some were giving hugs to other Sing chairs to congratulate them on their hard work and their groups’ performance. Tiptoeing around, hands clasped to mouth, lungs breathing hard, were all signs of anxiety coming from the Sing chairs backstage. Anticipation was a general feeling among the group’s chairs.
“I was really excited to hear the results,” said Kingwood junior Ryan McMillan, Sing chair for Sing Alliance. “Waiting backstage was really exciting. All groups were huddled together.”
But once all eight groups who moved on were called, the 10 other groups who did not move on started to tear up or put on a brave face while exiting quietly.
Afterwards, the results for the groups who placed third, second, and first place were announced.
Phi Kappa Chi placed third. Then a tie was called for first place. Kappa Omega Tau and Kappa Sigma were announced as the first-place winners.
Cheers of celebration accompanied with hugs, tears of happiness, pictures and screams followed the announcement.
Other groups reflected on how they performed this year and the process they went through.
“I think we did great.” Cedar Park junior Emily Peterson, Sing chair for Chi Omega/Phi Gamma Delta said, “We were super proud and had a blast doing it and we’re very excited to be performing in Pigskin.”
Other groups said the same for their performance.
“When we went through our practices everyone seemed to enjoy the theme and we wanted to keep it fun, I think we did outstanding this year,” said Plano senior Stephan Mulenpoh, Sing Chair for Delta Tau Delta.
Baton Rouge, La., senior Claire Clinkingbeard, Sing chair for Sing Alliance, said she believed everyone performed at their very best.
“Everyone did a great job, this was probably the best Sing I’ve seen in my four years here,” Clinkingbeard said. “It’s definitely different but both men’s groups deserved it. They were the projected winners.”
Sing 2013 was filled with 18 upbeat groups that worked extremely hard for the past year to put together performances for a panel of judges.
It has been a year-long process for all the Sing chairs who were selected after Sing last year. They immediately began to develop the new themes and work on choreographing the performance.
“Doing sing chair was a great experience that I can take into the business world from everything I learned,” Mulenpoh said.
