Shippensburg University has talent, and it was on display at the Luhrs Performing Arts Center Thursday night. 

At the start of the annual “Ship’s Got Talent” competition, following a tense-but-friendly dance-off between Big Red and Shippo, the university’s two mascots, emcee Fran Forti hinted at what was to come.

“A lot of stuff” was in store for the audience, Forti promised. “Maybe some interpretive dancing; maybe some record breaking.”

Judging the acts would be four names that received their own share of applause —  Ashley Spencer, director of new student and family programs; Tammy Garrett, long-time university dining employee; Steven Lopez Rodriguez, assistant director of residence life; and Jeff Ward, associate director of housing operations.

The first performance of the night was a comedic interpretive dance routine performed by Trey Shoemaker and Kyler Everly. Following their choreography, complete with a musical medley, the duo would attempt to “break” two world records.

The first record would be for the most cheese balls held in the mouth simultaneously. Shoemaker took point on this task while Everly worked at a Rubik’s cube in solidarity. Shoemaker would go on to hold 31 cheese balls.

According to RecordSetter, which brands itself as “the new home of world records,” the current record for the most cheese balls held in the mouth at one time is 51, and was set by Valeri Lattell of Boston, Massachusetts, in 2020. 

Not to rest on their laurels, Shoemaker and Everly made an attempt to break the record for the most leapfrogs in 30 seconds by a team of two. The duo successfully performed 30 leap frogs in 30 seconds, just shy of the Guinness World Record of 34 leapfrogs in 30 seconds set in Pakistan in 2012. Shoemaker and Everly did, however, beat the American record of 28, according to RecordSetter.

Next up was SU’s Dance Troupe, which performed a contemporary hip-hop routine in matching pink and white uniforms. 

The third act would be the night’s winner, Abbie Morgan, who wowed the judges with her fiddle-based cover of “Don’t You Worry, Child” by Swedish House Mafia and John Martin. The only thing that was missing “was a roof to play it on,” one of the judges said. The judges would not be the last of her admirers.

“I am literally so excited and proud of her,” said Larissa Cooper, Morgan’s friend and roommate. “She’s one of the most talented people I know. So, she definitely deserves this.”

Morgan, 19, stood on the stage behind a giant $500 dollar check while reflecting on the experience. She said her victory felt “great” and invoked her faith. “All glory to God,” she said with a smile.

Morgan says she has been practicing her routine for the past three weeks. And while Cooper says she enjoys her roommate’s playing, she missed the bulk of it when she left for winter break.

Morgan, of course, has been practicing for longer than three weeks. She says she has been playing the fiddle since she was 4 and further expanded her musical knowledge by learning piano.

Aurora Florek would follow Morgan’s fiddling around with a rendition of “Hallelujah.” Originally slated to perform slam poetry, according to a copy of the night’s program obtained by the Slate, she would command the song’s long notes to applause from the audience.

“The twins,” Rylie and Haylie Kurilla, performed an acoustic cover of the eponymous track from the Taylor Swift album “Red.” The track was popular with the crowd, who erupted in cheers during the song’s chorus. 

Mason Peters and Anthony Walker would clinch third place with their guitar and beat boxing routine. The guitar riff was reminiscent of mid-’90s Carlos Santana, and the beat boxing filled out the performance with an early Lincoln Park style. 

The night’s runner up, Elite Modeling Team, brought style and attitude. The fusion of fast fashion and dancing was performed with the additional encumbrance of eight-inch heels. 

Morgan Powell was the penultimate act of the night. She played an original song that seemed to draw inspiration from the grunge bands of the early ’90s. Strumming away on a black Stratocaster, Powell had the only electrified instrument of the night.

Closing out the night was rapper SB, real name A’sia Chambers, who brought an original song with backtrack mixing elaborate enough to make a production major drool. The performance received uproarious applause from the audience, particularly in the front, where fans of SB had gathered.

Following SB, the theater lights brightened, and the winners were called. While Abbie Morgan and her fiddle took home first place, Shippensburg University showed just how much talent it has. 

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