McHenry Co. Fair queen thinks of grandfather

A cliché question for any pageant is asking contestants what they would wish for. World peace is the popular refrain.

At the 2008 McHenry County Fair Queen Pageant Wednesday night in Woodstock, the question was essentially phrased in what the five finalists would like to see in the newspaper headlines the next morning.

Carly Dikun, a 19-year-old from Harvard, didn't say world peace. Her grandfather, George Dikun, died from cancer Tuesday, so she hoped to read about a cure for cancer instead.

"It hits closer to home for me," Dikun said after being crowned the 2008 queen and being named Miss Congeniality by her peers. "I would have loved for him to be here."

Amanda Goerlitz, 18, of Lake in the Hills finished first runner-up. Ashley Redmond, 17, of McHenry was the second runner-up. Molly MacInnes, 17, of Cary and Mallory Ahrens, 20, of Wonder Lake rounded out the final five of the 18-woman field. Kelanie Murphy, 19, of Crystal Lake was named Miss Photogenic.

Dikun's answer was a powerful moment for her family, especially her dad, Scott.

"When she gave her answer, I was holding the phone up and my mother in Cincinnati heard every word (Carly) said," Carly's dad explained. "(Carly) always strives to be the best whenever she tries something. She is the kindest, most considerate lady you'll ever lay eyes on. She's just something; she's just something."

This was the first year that organizers opened up the pageant to the entire county. Before 2008, a person entering had to win a contest in her hometown. McHenry has 14 cities, so that was the maximum until this year, when 18 entered.

Other entrants were: Lauren Magnetta, 16, of Marengo; Jessica Briguglio, 17, of Huntley; Rachel Kentor, 18, of Crystal Lake; Alexandra Engle, 18, of Harvard; Lauren Jordan, 17, of Spring Grove; Hailee Pecoraro, 16, of McHenry; Jamie Sarius, 16, of Fox River Grove; Stephanie Tanski, 18, of Lake in the Hills; Kelsey Johnson, 16, of Spring Grove; Marissa Sopchyk, 17, of Huntley; Megan Calbow, 16, of Marengo; and Kirsten Crowden, 19, of Woodstock.

Dikun, who was the second runner-up in the 2007 contest, will represent the McHenry County Fair Association in January at the Miss Illinois County Fair Contest in Springfield. The fair, held in Woodstock, runs through Sunday.

She is a 2007 graduate of Harvard High School and a sophomore at Illinois State University in Normal. After she graduates, she wants to be a speech pathologist in a hospital.