Miss Nautical Coast Pageant set for Friday, July 26
by Richard Lamb–Advance Editor
Four candidates for Miss Nautical Coast and one for teen miss will be on the stage at the Rogers Theater for this year’s pageant. Pageant co-directors Missy Bannon and Nicole Bannasch will be directing the pageant that is set for July 26 at 7 p.m. The contestants will seek the crowns currently held by Callie Rhode, as Miss Nautical Coast 2024 and Peyton Gohl, Teen Miss Nautical Coast 2024. The pageant has the theme of “70s Disco Era.”
Contestant number one is Sophia Mina, a 2024 graduate of Rogers City High School (RCHS). She is the daughter of Alvin and Eleanor Mina. Sophia plans to attend the University of Michigan Dearborn in the fall to study pre-optometry. While a student at RCHS she was president of the Z-Club, Key Club and National Honor Society (NHS), member of the St. Ignatius Youth Group and served as secretary of the Class of 2024 and was a member of the high school honors band, jazz band, solo and ensemble bands while participating in volleyball, bowling and track and field.
“I stand for volunteerism, especially as a way to support numerous groups of people like cancer patients and children. It is a great way of showing your community how much you care no matter what the act,” Sophia said.
Ava Fenstermaker is contestant number two and will be a junior at RCHS in the fall. She is the daughter of Jesse and Jennifer Fenstermaker. Following graduation, she plans to attend the University of Michigan to pursue a degree in psychology with the goal of becoming a psychiatrist. As a student at RCHS she participates in track and field, volleyball, city band, school band, honors band and played clarinet in a solo and ensemble quartet that earned a top rating at the state event.
“I would like to stand on a platform for veteran services. I want to show our veterans just how much they are appreciated, whether it be through raising funds for medical treatment or paying for their meals in restaurants. I also would like to stand on a platform for assisting people struggling with mental health,” Ava said.
Contestant number three is Isabel Haselhuhn, the daughter of David and Deedra Haselhuhn. She will be a senior at RCHS in the fall where she has participated in NHS, 4-H State Youth Leadership Council, Peace Lutheran Youth Group, Z-Club, Key Club, a coach for Little League challenge and serves as class president. She plans to attend Michigan Technological University following graduation to study chemistry with the goal of studying pharmacy.
“I strongly believe that every single person in the world deserves access to quality education. No one should ever be deprived of being properly educated,” Isabel said.
Makhenna Smolinski, the daughter of Lacey Smolinski and Fred Weber, is contestant number four. She will be a senior at RCHS in the fall and is undecided about her immediate plans after high school, but has the goal of attending a university to study ultrasound technology and sonography. While a student at RCHS her activities include Youth Advisory Council, Students Leading Students and N
“A program I stand for is breast cancer awareness. Because of my family history, I support research and awareness for breast cancer prevention. I encourage regular self-checks and mammograms,” Makhenna said.
The lone contestant in the teen division is Lucy Haselhuhn, the daughter of Deedra and David Haselhuhn. She will be entering ninth grade at RCHS in the fall and plans to go to college to become a doctor and study neurology after high school.
Mikaela Bannon will be the MC and Linnea Hentkowski of L. Rose Dance Studio choreographed the opening number.
