Mr. Kodiak travels ‘Through the Eras’ in 15th annual show; Feeney takes crown

Jackson Feeney celebrates his victory as the 2025 Mr. Kodiak, proudly holding up his trophy alongside escort Reese Mathers after a show-stopping performance at Cascade High School’s annual pageant. Photo credit: Ben Jerome (12)

A beloved tradition returned with flair this spring as the 15th annual Mr. Kodiak competition brought laughter, creativity, and community spirit to a sold-out audience. The pageant-style fundraiser, organized by parents of the class of 2025, pitted seven senior boys against one another in a multi-part contest judged on showmanship, style, and originality. 

This year’s theme, “Through the Eras,” saw each contestant dress as a famous historical figure, ranging from cavemen to 20th-century icons. The evening began with a lively introduction by local emcee and crowd favorite Clint Strand, as each senior walked out with their escort—a female senior accompanying a Mr. Kodiak contestant on stage during parts of the competition—to the roar of a packed commons. 

In one of the opening segments, the boys delivered a series of cheesy pick-up lines, each tailored to their character. “That’s a nice-looking dress, but it would look a whole lot better accelerating towards my bedroom at the speed of light,” quipped Trail Heyl, dressed as Albert Einstein, to Mia Dries. 

The contestants then launched into a choreographed group dance that took the audience on a time-travel journey—from the prehistoric era to a high-energy zoot suit swing number from the 1940s. For the first time in Mr. Kodiak history, escorts joined in the performance. 

“Participating in the dance was a great experience,” said Claire Henscheid, escort to Jaxon Groby (who portrayed 1980s fitness icon Richard Simmons). “The escorts don't win anything, they don't get a sash, so the dance was a great way to make it more inclusive in general.” 

The performance ended with the group dancing the viral 2020s TikTok routine, “Renegade,” to thunderous applause. 

Next came the always popular talent portion, where contestants displayed their skills, humor, and creativity. 

Rhonan Allen, dressed as Dave Grohl, the musician known for founding Foo Fighters and drumming for Nirvana in the 1990s, and accompanied by Anna Reichlin, led an improvisational storytelling routine, using random words from the audience and help from fellow senior Trail Heyl and Strand. 

Ethan Davis, channeling Bob Ross, the beloved painter from the 1980s, and escorted by Alassandra Deguli, gave a comedic live-painting demonstration featuring Strand as his model—and plenty of “happy little accidents.” 

William Biebesheimer, appearing as George Washington, and accompanied by Teyva Dillon, opened with a comedic monologue poking fun at America’s measurement systems, followed by a slick card trick.  

Jackson Feeney, escorted by Reese Mathers, portrayed Saturday Night Fever’s Tony Manero (John Travolta), and wowed the audience with a musical performance. He played saxophone, guitar, and harmonica while performing an original song about senior year. 

Trenton Holland, as Donald Trump, and accompanied by Camila Valentin, turned the event into a mock campaign rally, roasting teachers, and fellow students.  

Groby brought the energy of Simmons to life with a full aerobics routine. 

Heyl, as Einstein, performed a mock science experiment, complete with exploding foam and wild antics while the 1980s song “Weird Science” blasted from the loudspeakers. 

“We performed the acts well under lots of pressure,” said Davis. “It was the most stressful thing I've ever done, but after I first spoke into the microphone, it all went away, and it was fine.” 

Following a brief intermission, the final challenge tested the contestants’ wit and poise during an improv question round. Each drew a question from a hat and had to respond on the spot. When asked where he would time travel, Groby quipped, “To the 1980s, to go to Richard Simmons’ house of course!” 

While judges deliberated, the audience enjoyed a cake auction, with senior parents contributing homemade desserts to raise money for the senior sober night. 

Finally, the contestants returned to the stage for awards. Each received a unique sash that reflected their performance and persona— Holland’s, for example, was dubbed “Mr. Trendsetter.”  

“Mr. Kodiak was a great experience; it allowed me to express myself,” said Feeney. “I got to show my love for music and clothing. I put a lot of work into that. I have been playing seven years of saxophone, and it allowed me to showcase my hard work and talent.” 

The suspense mounted as the final two—Groby and Feeney—stood at the front of the stage. With a drumroll, Strand announced Feeney as 2025’s Mr. Kodiak. 

“Mr. Kodiak was a great experience; it allowed me to express myself,” said Feeney. “I got to show my love for music and clothing. I put a lot of work into that. I have been playing seven years of saxophone, and it allowed me to showcase my hard work and talent.”