Benjamin Awoniyi, one of Cyclone Idol’s finalists, says the scariest thing about taking the stage isn’t the people, but something else entirely.

“I get stage fright because of that light — if I can’t see people, then I don’t know who’s out there,” says Awoniyi, junior in industrial technology.

The Cyclone Idol finals, held Friday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union, gathered a capacity crowd wanting to see the best of the best. Awoniyi, who has been in the finals three years in a row, says he doesn’t see the event as being all about competition.

“You have to go to school with these people and see them walking around — some of them are on my Facebook,” he says.

Three times wasn’t the charm, however, as Awoniyi wound up not placing in the top three at the end of the night.

People new to the Cyclone Idol finals, like Alyssa Ericson, sophomore in music, looked forward to taking victory as well. Ericson says she had been anxious the whole way though the competition, but luckily had the support of her fellow Alpha Chi Omega sorority sisters, who came out in droves to support her.

“We actually had initiation tonight, so we moved it back to earlier so everyone could come out,” Ericson says.

When the winners were announced, Ericson wound up placing fourth.

Throughout the night, raffles were held, doling out prizes for those in attendance, and comedian Jeff Capri emceed to keep a lighthearted tone. The major event, however, was the appearance of “Surreal Life” star and “American Idol” contestant Ryan Starr, who judged and later performed when scores were tabulated.

“I was very impressed by the talent; I came here not having high expectations, but I was blown away right off the bat from the first singer and it just got better as the night went on,” Starr says.

“They would have done really well if they were on American Idol.”

Monica Ehrhardt was crowned this year’s Cyclone Idol. Ehrhardt had the audience singing and clapping along with her rendition of Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman.” For her victory, Ehrhardt, senior in agricultural education, received $500 and the honor of being a Cyclone Idol.

Student Union Board director of performing arts Cieandra Tindall, the person who made Cyclone Idol happen, says she sees big things on the horizon.

She even says going to Stephens Auditorium next year isn’t out of the question, as the Great Hall was at capacity and people were lined up at the doors.

Tindall says she thinks another American Idol contestant may be fitting.

“It went so well and flowed great, I think everybody had a great time,” she says.