Peyton Gohl, Moya Newman win titles at pageant
by Richard Lamb–Advance Editor
The crowning of two new queens capped off a night of talent at the Rogers Theater last Friday.
With only one contestant competing for the Miss Nautical Coast crown, with girls aged 16 to 18 eligible to compete, the Nautical Festival Committee asked contestant Peyton Gohl, who will turn 17 in November, to that effect apply for the title. She responded with a nearly 600-word response that affirmed her desire and commitment to serve.
of ceremonies Mikaela Bannon read Peyton’s letter, a portion of which follows.
“In 2023, I had the incredible honor of serving as Teen Miss Nautical Coast, an experience that has had a lasting and powerful impact on me. That year was not only filled with personal growth, community engagement and unforgettable memories, but it was a time that truly helped shape the young woman I am today. Being a part of this program introduced me to a network of strong, dedicated women and gave me the confidence and platform to serve with genuineness and grace. It was a chapter of my life that I will always cherish,” Peyton wrote.
Peyton, the daughter of Shellie and William Gohl, shared the artwork, fun fashion and congeniality awards. Peyton is the recipient of a $2,000 scholarship from the Nautical City Festival, with $500 of that coming from the Rogers City Optimist Club, $1,000 in scholarship money from a variety of donors and a host of gifts donated by area merchants that were shared with the other contestants.
Winning the Teen Miss title was Moya Newman, 15, the daughter of Chad and Maggi List. She won the talent award with a piano rendition of “Agnus Dei.” Newman also shared the artwork award, won the onstage conversation award, shared the fun fashion award and shared the evening gown award. Newman won a $250 scholarship from the Nautical City Festival and $100 from an anonymous donor.
Lylah Evans, the daughter of Justin and Keri Evans, earned the first runner-up award for Teen Miss, and won or shared awards for coordination, congeniality and evening gown.
Ellaure Smolinski, the daughter of Lacey Smolinski and Fred Weber, shared the coordination and evening gown awards.
Morgan Pilarski, the daughter of Bryan and Kelli Pilarski, earned the first-ever spirit of the festival award, as selected by directors Missy Bannon, Nicole Bannasch and Mikaela Bannon.
Before awarding the new crowns, outgoing Miss Nautical Coast Isabel Haselhuhn and her sister, outgoing Teen Miss Lucy Haselhuhn, offered sincere thanks to the pageant directors for their work in organizing the pageant and related activities. They thanked their parents, Deedra and David Haselhuhn for never missing an event and their work in transporting the court to festivals around northern Michigan.
Judges for the event were Denise Ann Libkie, Sarah Bark and Laurie Neugent. Auditors were Trisha Taratuta and Laura Hentkowski.
Crew members included L. Rose Studio of Dance, Linnea Hentkowski, for choreography; stagehands Ashley Nowicki and Luanne Bannasch; sound engineer Alex Czarnecki and light engineer Madison Purol, ticket takers Karen Spens and Kimberly Farmer, who also gathered many gifts and scholarship
Special entertainment was provided by last year’s talent winner, Makhenna Smolinski.
The pageant used the Rogers Theater through an agreement with the Presque Isle District Library for the third consecutive year.
The new queens and their court will be visible at many events of the festival throughout the week and will represent the community at events throughout the year.
(More photos from the pageant are in the July 31, 2025 print edition of the Presque Isle County Advance. To subscribe, call (989) 734-2105 Monday through Thursday)
