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Veteran
hula hoop competitor Jenny
Segal snuck into the contest as a last minute competitor,
and won in an endurance testing "hoop-off" with runner-up Michelle
Woolley.
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 Amidst
fellow contestants
Meeth Soni, David Wilhite,
and Woolley, Segal was able to wow the crowd with a fantastic double
hoop display, as well as a magnificent second round performance
involving jaywalking across Massachusetts Ave. Recent
complaints from WCL neighbors about students walking across the street into oncoming
traffic had elicited angst and much mocking of the local
population. Bringing the issue into focus in a move of
creative genius, Segal was able to maintain a strong technical
balance to her showing as she darted past traffic not once, but
twice all the while managing to keep the hoop a go.
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 The
first round of competition was fierce, featuring a dramatic reading
of Jonathan Harr's A Civil Action by Woolley with very strong
technical composure. Woolley's first performance in a WCL Hula
Hooping event, her hula skills wowed judges in both technical and
creative categories. She would use the traditional, yet
elegant spinning technique for her second round entry, exposing her
control and raw talent. Though Section 4 knew little of any
previous experience Woolley might have, she was quick to erase the
doubts that typically accompany a first time contestant.
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 Newcomer
David Wilhite began his first ever contest entry modestly claiming a lack of familiarity with
the rules of the event. However after some quick practice runs
and some personal time with the hoop, he gained crowd support and
hula momentum. His slow methodical movements improved his
scoring despite a few drops of the hoop. Finishing with
an extravagant final kick, he added to the entertainment of the
event with his own comedic play-by-play. He
followed up with an even stronger second round performance, rousing
the crowd with an improvised version of Hamlet's famous soliloquy.
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 Soni,
a second time competitor, raised crowd spirits with her "orgasmic"
hula display. Mechanically sound throughout her first
round performance, Soni's vocal enthusiasm garnered most of the attention
she received. Her encouragement for the hoop spinning around her waist
made some in the crowd blush as she screamed "work it baby!" and
yelped in pleasure until time expired.
She continued to make magic with her plastic friend in a second round "hula walk" around the
spectators. A feat of strong technical merit, Soni became the first
ever contestant to employ the wide field of the WCL front pavement in her
hula endeavor.
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At the end of the
two rounds, each giving contestants 30 seconds to display their
abilities, Segal and Woolley's scores were
virtually even. A little known rule in the Section 4 Hula Hooping
bylaws requires contestant to go into a sudden death round when scores differ
by less than a full point at the end of regulation.
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 Judges Tim Slovik, Anna Stimmel,
and Myra Wilder conferred on the ruling, and chairman Slovik
decreed the last woman standing event after
eliciting suggestions from the ecstatic crowd. Facing one
another, and hooping at the same time, both women were
able to maintain their hula form. At the passage of 90 seconds, Slovik ordered the contestants
to continue on only one foot. The shift in balance caused Woolley to lose control of
her hoop, as Segal survived to be named the new Section 4
Class of '07 Hula Hooping Champion.
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| After the event,
Segal thanked the crowd for all the support she had received along
the way, and credited her spirited performance to the love of
Section 4 she could feel when walking through the hallways.
She also issued a challenge to last year's champion - Loren Turner -
who was unable to participate due to a looming Evidence exam on
Monday. Segal hopes that the two will be able to face off in
the 2007 event in a champion against champion showdown. Segal
nearly won the event in 2005, after a controversial decision awarded
Turner with the championship after strong displays from both
competitors. Segal won the
hula hoop used in victory as her championship prize.
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FINAL RESULTS:
| Round |
Segal
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Woolley
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Soni
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Wilhite
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| 1
* |
15.00 |
17.00 |
18.5 |
18.00 |
19.00 |
17.00 |
16.75 |
17.00 |
16.50 |
15.25 |
13.00 |
14.50 |
| 2
** |
10.00 |
10.00 |
9.00 |
7.50 |
9.25 |
8.00 |
7.50 |
8.50 |
8.50 |
10.00 |
9.50 |
9.00 |
| Final |
25.00 |
27.00 |
27.5 |
25.5 |
28.25 |
25.00 |
24.25 |
25.50 |
25.00 |
25.25 |
22.50 |
23.50 |
| Total *** |
79.5 |
78.75 |
74.75 |
71.25 |
*
Each contestant was given one score for technical merit, and once
score for creativity, 10 points possible for each, with 20 points
possible combined.
** Second round scores award for overall performance with 10 points possible.
*** Section 4 Class of '07 Rules require contestants falling within
1 point in total scores to face off in an additional round to
determine a winner.
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Posted April 29, 2006 at 12:58 AM
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