Nick O’Brien won the traditional Buff Man Competition at Manteca High on Thursday.

“I’d like to thank NASA for taking a star like me and placing my presence on Earth,” he said at the event held in the Mulvihill Theater.

O’Brien, who took home the trophy – in this case, a 1996 Valley Oak League swimming trophy – and was crowned and serenaded to by the MHS Quartet, edged out his Buffalo football teammate Eddie Smith and Mario Gaytan.

 The other contestants were Juanzin Espejel, Evan Fisk, Keoki Farrish, Michael Sephos, Anthony Amarante, and Joel Maniago.

As part of Buff Man, they took part in swim wear, formal wear, talent segment, movie scene and Q&A. The acting, for example, was used to demonstrate how the contestants demonstrated their ability to work with others.

Serving as judges were teachers Elyse Silva as Lindsay Loan, Justin Coenenburg as Jase Robertson (Duck Dynasty), and Doug Obrigawitch as himself.

“I felt the intensity,” said Obrigawitch of the competition.

Leadership advisor Stephanie Hjelmstad said that Buff Man was brought back at the urging of her students – most notably, co-emcees Billy Sharmoug and Stephen Ruble – after a five-year hiatus.

“They really wanted to bring it back,” she said.

Hjelmstad noted that the contestants had to be a junior or senior while filling out an application. “We only had nine (applying) so we went with all nine,” she said.

 Proceeds from this MHS traditional male beauty pageant was earmarked for funding Leadership’s student body activities.

Not to be outdone, Sharmoug and Ruble also got involved. Sharmoug did his best “air juggling” act while the two acted out a scene from the comedy, ‘Anchorman.’



To reach reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com