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Classical vocalist claims Miss Wisconsin honors

OSHKOSH — Miss Southern Wisconsin Laura Marie Kaeppeler was selected Miss Wisconsin 2011 Saturday night, besting 20 other women for the title. The annual competition was held at Oshkosh West High School’s Alberta Kimball Civic Auditorium.

Kaeppeler, 23, of Kenosha succeeds Kimberly Brooke Sawyer, 23, of Egg Harbor. Kaeppeler won the state title on her second attempt after placing second runner-up last year as Miss Kenosha.

She earned the state crown by singing a classical vocal selection of “Il bacio” (The Kiss Waltz) by Luigi Arditi, which also won her a Thursday preliminary talent win. She is the daughter of Susan Kaeppeler and Jeffrey W. Kaeppeler, both of Kenosha.

Kaeppeler is a 2010 music education and vocal performance graduate of Carthage College in Kenosha and will now advance to the 2012 Miss America pageant in Las Vegas next January. The last Miss Wisconsin to win Miss America was Terry Anne Meeuwsen of DePere in 1973.

The four runners-up to Kaeppeler, were, respectively: Miss Seven Rivers, Raeanna Marie Johnson, 21, of Holmen; Miss Fox River Valley, Desiree Sue Geffers, 23, of Oshkosh: Miss Madison, Brittnay Lee Wittnebel, 21, of Newark Township; and Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest, Elizabeth Anne Kramer, 23, of Holmen. Miss Milwaukee, Brittany Lyn Roskom, 23, of Slinger was named the public Internet winner for the 11th semi-finalist.

Wittnebel is a 2010 Beloit College graduate who made her second attempt at the state crown Saturday night. She was Miss Beloit in 2008 but did not place in the state competition. She was named Miss Madison last February and is the daughter of Jodi and John L. Wittnebel of Newark Township. She was the Wednesday night preliminary swimsuit award winner, while Johnson, a lyrical dancer, won the talent prize.

Competing as Miss Beloit was Caitlin Schober, 20, of Beloit, a physical therapy student at Carthage College in Kenosha.