The audience couldn’t resist joining Rickert, the sixth grade Crowd Favorite, and Xiong, the seventh grade Crowd Favorite, as they performed Justin Bieber’s “Baby” separately during the school’s three lunches.
“I sang Justin Bieber for the girls,” Xiong said. “I was going to dance too, but I didn’t know how.”
OMS Idol has become a tradition at the school to celebrate Middle Level Education Week. This year, 54 students showcased their talents with seven named winners. Rickert and Xiong were joined by Olivia Copeland, Ian Resto, Brooke Beisman, Isabelle Stevens and Sam Netwal.
“I had some butterflies,” Rickert said.
“I did too but after you get up and get singing you get this really great feeling of being up on stage and getting your sing out,” said Copeland, the sixth grade Idol.
“You have to be really confident and positively communicate to yourself that you can do this and you’re going to do great,” Copeland added.
To prepare for the competition, Eighth Grade Idol Isabelle Stevens chose to sing “Viva la Vida” by Cold Play and practiced at home.
“I was really nervous,” she said. “Everyone was watching. I could mess up.”
School District of Onalaska 