Some of Effingham County’s best young vocalists showcased their talents Friday night in the first “Effingham Idol.”

Sixteen singers – 14 soloists and one duet – each performed one song in the “American Idol”-style competition that got the seventh annual Olde Effingham Days festival off to a rousing start.

Casey Lovett, a sophomore at Effingham County High School, won the high school division with her performance of “Your Song.”

“I had no idea that was going to happen. I was just doing it for fun,” Lovett said. “I have never won anything like this before. I am blown away right now.”

Second place in the high school division went to Natalie Starling, who sang “My Favorite Things.”

Ebenezer Middle eighth-grader Mia Sivilla won the middle school division with her rendition of “If I Ain’t Got You,” and Tara Babin took second place for her performance of “I Won’t Let Go.”

Fans were also encouraged to make donations for the people’s choice awards, with the proceeds helping fund the festival. The people’s choice winners were Hunter Gnann in the high school division and Chanses Bowers in middle school.

“We have a lot of great talent here. I think it was a super showcase, an event that will get even bigger in the years to come,” said Olde Effingham Days chairman Clarence Morgan.

The top finishers in each school’s competition qualified for “Effingham Idol,” where they were evaluated by three technical judges and three celebrity judges.

“I like to sing. I’ve sung since I was about three years old, when I saw ‘American Idol’ on TV and I tried to copy the songs,” said Brooke Simmons, who sang “Set Fire to the Rain” in the middle school competition.

The performers also included soloists Hannah Dodson, Brittany Henson, Anna Kessler, Amber Miller, Michael Mitchell, Stephanie Sharron and E’kene Telfair, and duo Jesse Mosely and David Lariscy.