Krouse represents Cubs in pageant

As the annual Dyersville baseball queen pageant was getting ready to take place, Monticello’s representative in the competition, Anisa Krouse was prepared and excited.

     An upcoming senior at Monticello High School, Krouse was honored to take on the task of representing the Monticello Cubs in the pageant. She competed in the event Aug. 2 at Dyersville’s Commercial Club Park.

     Her boyfriend Andrew Mescher plays for the Cubs, and she explains that he’d been hinting to her that she would be asked to participate in the competition. That would come to pass on Krouse’s birthday, when one of the players approached her at a game and formally asked if she’d be willing to run, which she gladly agreed to. “It was just really, really special,” she says of that day.

     According to Krouse, part of the reason that the team felt she would make a good candidate for baseball queen is her previous pageant experience, as she has participated in the National American Miss pageant in the past. Additionally, Krouse also models and acts, and is currently signed to a talent agency. She is a member of the high school choir, and is also heavily involved with dance, both at Monticello High School and at Almost Famous Dance Studio. As part of her involvement with Almost Famous, she will be volunteering at their upcoming Relay For Life event. Krouse also volunteers at the local Animal Welfare shelter, where she enjoys having the opportunity to interact with the many animals there. 

     Krouse was not a finalist in the pageant, but said her favorite part was having the chance to dress up for the competition. She is also looking forward to riding in a convertible, something the participants do every year. For the contest, Krouse has had to undergo interviews with multiple judges, where they ask her about her involvement with local baseball, as well as questions about herself. “The toughest question  for me was when they asked me what my biggest hurdle in life was,” she explains. “They also asked me about what set me apart from the other girls, and asked me to describe myself in a few words.”

     The winner of the pageant was Caitlyn Kennedy of Placid, who was crowned Friday. Her duties will include attending games in the area and handing out awards at the championship game. She will also make an appearance next year when she passes the title on to the next winner. Krouse hoped to be crowned queen so that she could partake in the fun and excitement that comes with the role.

     After high school, Krouse plans on attending Grand View University in Des Moines, where she hopes to receive athletic and academic scholarships and be a member of the dance team. She currently lives in Monticello with her grandmother Judy Krouse.