The PAC stage was turned into a video game world for 10 seniors and three staff members in the Mario Kart-themed “Mr. Brea” contest, Feb. 19.

After two hours of singing, dancing, and even a backflip, Jonas Pearson, Tige Carman, EJ Newby, and George Henderson were crowned “Mr. Brea,” “Most WILD,” “Most Inspirational,” and “Mr. Brea Staff,” respectively. 

Also competing were senior contenders Abraham Baltodano, Nick Fuller, Ivan Haluska, Kaeden Vasquez, Nick Chamberlain, Matthew Cosylion, Hudson Sims, and Cole Miller – all nominated by the Class of 2026. 

“I was super excited to be able to win and experience that moment of hearing my name called,” Pearson said. 

But for Jonas Pearson, whose older brother, Jackson, won the title in 2023, participating in Mr. Brea was about more than finishing in first place. 

“Mr. Brea wasn’t just about winning, but getting to hang out with all my boys and enjoying all the practices and the time we put into it,” Pearson said. 

In the talent portion of the competition, Pearson, accompanied by EJ Newby, danced to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” 

“That was my favorite moment,” Pearson said of his dance with Newby. “I loved when we all walked off and EJ had his moment to pump up the crowd and have everyone cheer for him.” 

Carman – voted “Most WILD” by the judges for his range of talents – performed a series of line dances before surprising the audience with a backflip. 

Emcees Maia Hammel (‘27) and Elizabeth Chiu (‘27) introduced each contestant with a beach-themed vacation skit, followed by videos of the candidates in car karaoke, singing songs from Bruno Mars, Keyshia Cole, and the movie Frozen. 

Fuller elicited loud cheers from the audience when he revealed that the Mario Kart character he most resonates with is Donkey Kong because they’re both “always up for a banana.” Fuller, lounging in a beach chair and sporting a blue wig, also shared his personal motto: “I don’t even care, for real.” 

Another notable performance featured Baltodano and Andrew Villalobos (‘26) in a duet, with Baltodano on the piano and Villalobos on the guitar performing “Love” by Keyshia Cole and “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. 

“Despite being in choir for two years, I never performed a duet onstage with no other music other than my singing, so that was scary,” Baltodano said. “But I also had a lot of fun prepping for Mr. Brea with guys I’ve grown up with – some of whom I’ve been friends with since elementary school.” 

Cosylion surprised the crowd when he emerged from the audience seats — cosplaying as Bruno Mars in red silk pajamas and gold chains — and sprinted to the stage. Backed by friends, Cosylion “made it rain” with fake $100 bills as he danced to Mars’s “24K Magic.” 

Vasquez’s act was a traditional Filipino folk dance called Tinikling, which involved stepping between bamboo poles as they tap and slide to the rhythm of rondalla music.

After the student contestants concluded their performances, the spotlight shifted to staff nominees Joey Davis, principal, George Henderson, campus supervisor, and Dreux Valenti, math teacher. 

Henderson’s talent was a featured spoken word poem directed to BOHS students. “You tried, you survived – way more than you thought,” Henderson recited. “And progress is still progress, whether big or small.” 

Henderson said of his performance, “I had a blast; it was honestly so much fun. Just getting to go up on stage and perform in front of everyone definitely made it a memorable night.”

Davis used his moment on stage to honor his father, Billy Davis, describing him as “hardworking and responsible.” Dressed in a tuxedo, Davis added that the event was dedicated to, “the dads who got up early, the dads who worked hard, the dads who embarrassed us, pulled terrible jokes, and the dads that taught us what to do with what they did.”

Valenti closed the staff talent segment with a stand-up comedy routine filled with dad jokes and dating advice, including the punchline, “If your guy can’t appreciate your fruit puns, you need to let that mango.” 

The final segment involved Mr. Brea contestants’ attempt to win over the judges during a live interview by Hammel and Chiu. Each candidate was given one random question – selected with help from Newby – to test their quick-thinking and “PR training.” 

Fuller was asked what he would bring to a stranded island to which he replied, “peanut butter.” 

When asked for a time he felt proud of an effort he put in, Valenti answered his most-rewarding moments were “everyday, being able to teach [his] kids new concepts.” 

At the end of the competition, all of the contestants gathered on stage, and the crowd quieted, awaiting the judge’s decision. 

The winners — Pearson, Carman, Newby, and Henderson — were presented with crowns and sashes by Hammel. 

Mr. Brea co-commissioners Bella Williams (‘27) and Owen Guss (‘27) were responsible for organizing and executing the entirety of the show, including selecting the theme, running the event’s social media account, and controlling backstage logistics. 

While preparation for the event began in August, Williams believes the lengthy process is worth it.

Williams said, “I was proud to produce an unforgettable show, for not just the contestants, but their family, friends, and supporters as well.”