Earning the designation of being the first freshman to ever be named Mr. Blue Devil by the Brunswick High School Link Crew began somewhat as a lark for Frank Ritzert.

“I saw a lot of fliers around the school,” Frank said of the Mr. Blue Devil contest. “My art teacher suggested I try out and I knew I was good at comedy, so I worked a skit up. I thought it would be a good experience and would give me a head start for Mr. Blue Devil next year, but I never expected to win.”

According to Link Crew adviser Jessica Thompson, the staff and student judges at the contest stated that Frank had more charisma than most adults they know.

“When he came to the tryouts, he was very prepared,” Thompson said.

The pageant format found participants in Mr. Blue Devil performing an opening dance routine, talent portion, fielding questions from audience members, a “Dancing With The Stars”-based impromptu-choreographed dance number and a series of “serious” questions from Principal Tracy Wheeler, Thompson said.

Mr. Blue Devil was conceived four years ago by the Link Crew — a leadership program “linking” freshmen to upperclassmen — as a fundraiser for the group’s Leadership Scholarship as well as the winner’s charity of choice.

Frank chose Project Save, a homeless advocacy program based in Cleveland.

“I have volunteered for them through my church and it was a great experience,” Frank said. “So I wanted to do more.”

His Mr. Blue Devil win will include a $250 donation to Project Save in Frank’s name.

Along with participating in activities at his church, Frank Joseph Ritzert IV – known to most as “Joe” — is a member of the Brunswick cross country team and plans to go out for track and “maybe lacrosse.”

He is the son of Tammy and Frank Ritzert and has two younger siblings — 13-year-old sister, Gracie, and 7-year-old brother, Jake.