Hohman, Wise win 2014 Ohio Has Talent!

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

As the son of local dance instructor Kim Hohman, Kaden Hohman gets his dancing talent honestly. It paid off Saturday as Kaden and partner Sayler Wise won the seventh annual Ohio Has Talent! fundraiser held at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.

The young dancers, who have also won awards at regional and national competitions, as well as a casting call for “America’s Got Talent!”, were the choice of the large audience that came out on a cold night to vote for their favorite talent. The youngsters earned $1,000 for their win.

Another local act, Van Wert Middle School student Michaela Johnson, was the second-place choice of the audience, earning $500 for her updated version of “His Eye is On the Sparrow”, accompanied by voice teacher Jake Wilder.

The comedy-juggling duo of Coldwater resident Craig Muhlenkamp and Houston resident Danny Scheible earned $250 for their third-place finish. The pair juggled swords and “rat traps on sticks” in an exciting performance that also included judge Tricia Profit-Kuhn having swords zipping in front and behind her.

Auglaize and Shelby County teenagers, performing as the Country band Shelby County Line, earned one of the honorable mention slots. The group includes Ben Tuttle of St. Marys, Cody Paul of Minster, Paul Luft of Yorkshire and Michael Molasky of New Bremen.

Singer Victoria Ruble, a high school sophomore from Garrett, Ind., earned the other honorable mention award for her rendition of “One Moment in Time.”

Other performers this year included local magician Tyler Nygren, who had some amazing illusions; a Fostoria mother and daughter, Yan and May Coppler, who performed separately; three members of the George and Kathy Brake family, sons James and Jonathan and daughter, Ann, who danced while James played guitar and Jonathan sang an original composition.

Also performing were Sidney Lehman High School student Makenna Cabe; the comedy piano duo of Gabriel Benning of Sidney and Versailles resident Caroline Prakel; dance Jon Albert of Fort Wayne, Ind., who combined hip-hop, b-boy and popping dance styles; Katlayne Poorman of Fort Wayne, who sang a pop medley; Parkway Middle School student Shay Bolton, who sang “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid; Spencerville High School students Schylar Miller and Cole Wilson, who sang and played saxophone, respectively; Anna resident Hailey Harshbarger, who sang while her sister, Heather, played piano and harmonized.

Rounding out the competitors were Illinois State University student Danielle Stoller of Latty, who played classical violin; Hayleigh Bacome of Delphos and Amanda Leis of Elida, who danced together; and St. Henry High School student Hannah Tumbusch, who covered a Regina Belle song, “Dream in Color.”

Last year’s Ohio Has Talent! winner, Kettering high school sophomore Alex Wunder, entertained with several classic pop songs while votes were being tabulated to determine this year’s winners.

Judges were Profit-Kuhn, Kim Mason and Gary Adams, while Wally Grimm again magnificently filled the role of master of ceremonies.

The big winner of the night, though, was Community Health Professionals’ Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center, which was the beneficiary of proceeds from the charity event.