Fiddlers’ Festival – Results and Prize Winners

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – Mother Nature did her part and the musicians certainly did theirs as the sweet sounds of fiddle music could be heard throughout Davy Crockett Memorial Park on a gorgeous Saturday morning and afternoon.

The 80^th Annual World Championship Fiddlers Festival was held on Oct. 22 and the event attracted over 50 fiddlers and accompanists from as far away as California and Idaho. In addition, included amongst the musicians were eight former World Champion fiddlers!

The participants ranged in age from over 60 all the way down to six years of age and were divided into four divisions. The divisions were: the Senior Division, for contestants 60 years of age and above; the Youth Division for fiddlers up to the age of 18; the World Championship Division; and the Accompanist Division.

In the Senior Division, Brad Riley from Waller took home the first place trophy along with $300. Second place and a check for $250 went to Jesse Mears of Alvarado. Mabank’s Cliff McCall took home third place honors along with $200 and Sherry Wortham from Elkhart finished in fourth place and earned $150.

The Youth Division saw 17 competitors take the stage during the late morning / early afternoon. There were 10 possible places plus participation recognition. The competitors were:

• 1^st Place/$300 – Ridge Roberts, Age 13, Granbury, TX
• 2^nd Place/$250 – Shira Ellisman, Age 16, Encinitas, CA
• 3^rd Place/$200 – Sawyer Porter, Age 16, Middleton, ID
• 4^th Place/$150 – Elliott Dean, Age 15, Buda, TX
• 5^th Place/$100 – Leah Sawyer, Age 15, Weatherford, TX
• 6^th Place/$75 – Noelle Nugent, Age 17, Burleson, TX
• 7^th Place/$50 – Madison Dietrich, Age 16, Casa Grande, AZ
• 8^th Place/$25 – Elijah Baker, Age 12, Birch Tree, MO
• 9^th Place/$25 – David Sawyer, Age 13, Weatherford, TX
• 10^th Place/$25 – Christiana Nugent, Age 13, Burleson, TX

11^th – 17^th places (listed alphabetically) received participation recognition and $10 each. The competitors were:

• Carina Baker, Age 15, Birch Tree, MO
• Aspen Dietrich, Age 5, Casa Grande, AZ
• Brie Dietrich, Age 6, Casa Grande, AZ
• Ranelle Dietrich, Age 8, Casa Grande, AZ
• Jonathan Dow, Age 15, Sinton, TX
• Rylan Marak, Age 10, Hallettsville, TX
• Linda Masters, Age 10, Huntsville, TX

In the Accompanist Division, there were seven total competitors and five possible places. They were:

• 1^st Place/$300 – Ray Franklin
• 2^nd Place/$250 – Anthony Mature
• 3^rd Place/$200 – Hyatt Hopkins
• 4^th Place/$150 – Steve Williams
• 5^th Place/$100 – Simon Stipp

The World Championship Division (Open) also saw 17 competitors take the stage. They were:

• 1^st Place/$1,000 – Matthew Hartz, Boise, ID
• 2^nd Place/$900 – Wes Westmoreland, Temple, TX
• 3^rd Place/$800 – Carl Hopkins, Porter, TX
• 4^th Place/$700 – Katrina Nicolayeff, Meridian, ID
• 5^th Place/$600 – Trustin Baker, Birch Tree, MO
• 6^th Place/$500 – Katie Crawford, Burleson, TX
• 7^th Place/$400 – Jason Andrew, Whitewright, TX
• 8^th Place/$300 – Karissa Nugent, Burleson, TX
• 9^th Place/$200 – Devon McCauley, Brock, TX
• 10^th Place/$150 – Michael Thompson, Roce, OK

11^th – 17^th places (listed alphabetically) received participation recognition and $100 each. The competitors were:

• Ed Carnes, Franklin, TX
• Faith Nugent, Burleson, TX
• Luke Masters, Huntsville, TX
• Alfred Mouledous III, Dallas, TX
• Eddie Davis, Cuero, TX
• Hollie Williams, Kress, TX
• Philip Pryor, New Waverly, TX

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].