Master Sgt. takes Icon crown

  • Published
  • By Nick DeCicco
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AFB, Calif. --  Just a week after 25-year-old David Cook emerged as the victor of the seventh season of Fox's hit reality TV show "American Idol," it was a master sergeant with the 570th Contingency Response Group who vaulted to the top of the competition locally. 

Master Sgt. Rob Martin captured the crown May 28 for the four-week-long Travis Icon, a contest modeled after the TV show's search for the best unsigned vocalist in the nation. 

Second place was captured by Sandra Vanderlaan, a waitress at the Delta Breeze Club. Anthony Ancheta, the son of a 349th reserve maintenance group commander's secretary, claimed third. 

Sergeant Martin topped a field of 15 contestants including active-duty members, reservists and civilians using versatility, performing Peabo Bryson, Luther Vandross and Josh Groban. 

The showstopper, though, was his take on Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive," which he performed in the finals as well as an earlier round. 

"That was a crowd pleaser," he said. "Crowd response is important -- the judges see how you get the audience involved. Their applause could sway the judges." 

The audience counted as one judges vote in the final round. Chief Master Sgts. Michael Williams and Christine Taylor judged the final round. 

"We tried to get as many different judges as possible," said Chief Master Sgt. Rogelio Olaes, 860th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron superintendant and APAH committee event coordinator. 

Last year's winner was cut in the final round. 

Chief Olaes said the Travis Icon event was a boon for business at the DBC. 

"You needed a shoehorn to get in there," he joked. 

The competition was organized by the Asian Pacific Heritage Committee as part of the month-long cultural celebration in May.
Because of the popularity of the event, the manager of the DBC said karaoke will continue on Wednesday nights at the DBC. 

Future contests are planned for July and August. Also, an Air Mobility Command Icon contest is in the works, but is exclusive to active-duty members. For more information, call the Delta Breeze Club at 437-3711.