Students crowded outside the doors to Finnegan Fieldhouse on Feb. 28 at 8 pm in buzzing anticipation while waiting for the doors to open at 8 pm for the annual “Lip Sync Battle,” hosted by Franciscan University household, Guardians of the Divine Will. It is one of campus’s most beloved annual events.

Setting the energized mood for this three-hour event, the show started with five Guardians members lip syncing to the song “Welcome to My House” by Flo Rida before the rest of the Guardians rushed up on stage to further hype up the crowd. 

Once the first song was over, the judges, Ana Novotny, Andrew Davies, Brother Simon Mary, and Father Patrick Whittle were introduced. 

The first lip sync battle was between Seraphic Valor and a few Guardians members led by Paul Bremberg. Seraphic Valor became the first winner with their energizing routine, showcasing a man who danced to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen before he was “arrested” and placed in jail during Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock.” It ended with said criminal getting out of prison with an Elvis impersonator amid the song, “The Search” by NF and then “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson. 

Though they did not win, the Guardians’ competing routine to “The Lonely Goatherd”from The Sound of Music “unlocked so many core memories,” as stated by one of the judges. 

Following the first competition Head Coordinator of the Guardians, Nick Carpentier, led the audience in prayer imploring God to, “look down kindly upon us as you watch your children play.”

The next battle was between Warriors of the Word and more Guardians members. Warriors of the Word won 3 – 1 with the songs, “Party Rock Anthem,” “Witch Doctor,” “Hot ‘N Cold,” and “Bad Romance,” as sung by Alvin and the Chipmunks and the Chipettes.

Brother Simon Mary applauded the performance, saying it “brought me back to when I was a kid.” However, judge Ana Novotny still declared herself “genuinely speechless” by the Guardians performance to “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, which included two friars in its dance routine. 

Battle number three was held between AMDG’s IFCs and more Guardians members, led by Michael. The teams tied 2 – 2 and crowd member Juliette Noel was allegedly called up to break the tie, handing the Guardians their first win.

Their performance to “Bet On It”from High School Musical 2 was proclaimed to be “monumental” by Judge Ana. Even though they did not win, IFC members still excited the crowd with their routine of “What Makes You Beautiful”by One Direction, and two songs sung by “The Trebles” from the movie Pitch Perfect.

Next up was Magdalena and more Guardians members, with Magdalena performing to a selection of songs by Michael Jackson. Guardians performed a variety of songs by Abba, including three members’ fiancées joining in their dance in the end. It ended as a tie, broken by audience member Julia Skalniak giving Magdalena the winning title. 

Battle number five was between Theotokos and Guardians led by Nick Carpentier. Theotokos performed with a medley of songs, containing: “Lets Go Crazy”by Prince and the Revolution, “Where is my Husband!” by RAYE, “Maria” by Justin Bieber, “Bad Blood”by Taylor Swift and “Clarity” by Zedd, featuring Foxes.

“If this was a dance Olympics this would be a gold medal” declared one of the judges. Theotokos won the battle, defeating the Guardians’ emotional interpretive dance to “Hope”by NF, which judge Ana Novotny praised saying, “you knew what you had to do, and did that and more.”

The final battle was headed by Prince of Peace, who performed to “Rock that Body” by the Black Eyed Peas. They tied with the senior members of Guardians, who performed to “Classic”by MKTO. Audience member Leah O’Connell declared Guardians the winners of this final round, thereby rounding out the exhilarating evening.