Local finalists vie for honor to sing the anthem

By Katie Seminara | February 18, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

The main event at the Chevrolet Centre doesn’t come until Saturday, but some nonboxing competitors will go head to head tonight.

The arena will host its own version of “American Idol” for the finalists hoping to sing the national anthem for the Kelly Pavlik-Marco Antonio Rubio fight.

Seven finalists ages 18 to 42 will use their voices to duke it out in front of a panel of judges from The Vindicator and Team Pavlik.

“I would be really honored to sing for this event,” said Shafica Kaleel, 21, of Boardman, one of the finalists. “It’s great for our hometown.”

Kaleel has sung the national anthem numerous times, including appearances at the Youngstown SteelHounds and Phantoms hockey games. The biggest crowd she ever sang in front of was about 1,000 people, she said.

“I rounded up my family and friends, they’ll be there to cheer me on [tonight],” Kaleel said.

The youngest competitor, Alyssa DiBernardi, 18, of Boardman, is also no stranger to showing off her talents in front of large audiences.

“I started singing for events at age 9,” DiBernardi said.

DiBernardi has sung for Mahoning Valley Scrappers baseball games and said she’s “real excited” for tonight’s competition.

“It will be fun no matter who wins,” DiBernardi said. “It’s just an honor to have made it this far.”

After singing, DiBernardi hopes that a lot of cheering for her performance will help persuade the judges.

“I have a big Italian family and I’m in a sorority at YSU, so I should have a lot of people there,” she said.

The other finalists are Matthew Wolfe, 20, of Lowellville; Lisa Burley, 42, of New Castle, Pa.; Melanie Williams, 23, of Greenford; Elissa Grundy, 23, of Howland; and Max Ryan Hanni, 20, of Canfield.

If you want to go to the event, there’s no admission charge. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and concessions will be available.

Those attending should understand that they are there to cheer on the competitors, not to try out to sing the national anthem, said Bridget Wolsonovich, the center’s director of marketing.

“People should expect to see some good singers,” she said.

Not only will those in attendance see some good singers, but also meet the winners of the ring girl competition created by Valley24.com.

The ring girls will just be introduced; they will not be competing, Wolsonovich said.

“We hope to see a lot of contestants’ family and friends come out to support the event,” she added.

kseminara@vindy.com