Well, Knights…here’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for! After two weeks of our favorite boys competing in grueling challenges, acts of cognitive strength, and having to face Lucas Conklin in a fluorescent, lilac wig, the winner was finally crowned on Tuesday! So, I’m proud to announce to you lovely readers that the winner of Mr. ACP: The Reality Show is…Giovanni Giella! Winning over our audience with his impressive drum skills, sick dance moves, and subpar trivia knowledge, Gio managed to steal the hearts of all 800+ of us. Luckily, I had a chance to chat with the man himself about his impressive victory; without further ado, let’s get into it, folks!

Q: Congratulations! How does it feel to win Mr. ACP?

A: With a humbled heart, it was truly an honor to win Mr. ACP! I felt that it really pushed me out of comfort zone this year, and, overall, I had a amazing experience working with the guys. I couldn’t have asked for another group to do it with! All the guys were so supportive of each other, and I loved taking on big risks with them throughout the show.

Q: What challenges did you face with the new format of the show? Is there anything you enjoyed most about it?

A: Obviously COVID changed the entire format into a T.V. show this year. With restrictions preventing us from meeting after school, we filmed the entire show (except the results episode) in two block periods over two days, which required a lot of practice on our own time. Since we basically filmed everything at once, it was pretty difficult not telling anyone what was going to happen in the next episode. We did lose the fear factor from performing in front of a live audience, but I truly enjoyed turning Mr. ACP into a reality T.V. show this year and adding all the scripted backstage drama.

Q: What was your favorite segment to do and why?

A: Even though I was the least prepared for this part, I’d definitely say the “Try Not to Laugh” was my favorite segment. It required me to take a shot at comedy, which hasn’t always been my strong suit, but I truly enjoyed watching the other contestants get creative with their attempts at making us laugh. Shoutout to David for calling his mom during the segment! Besides “Try Not To Laugh,” I believe all the contestants uniquely shined in their talent portions.

Q: How long have you been drumming for? What initially got you into it?

A: I’ve been drumming since 6th grade, but I didn’t get serious about it until my sophomore year. My pastor taught me the basics in 7th grade, and, ever since, I’ve been playing for my Church worship team. Initially, in 2013, I was watching Imagine Dragons  perform on T.V. for the 1st time, and the way they incorporated the drums made me really want to try doing the same thing. To this day, I’m always inspired by other drummers such as Matt Mcguire and Travis Barker of Blink 182.

Q: Finally, a big one…the people must know! How heartbroken were you after Lucas turned you down?

A: I was confident that my pickup line was going to be success, so I was very heartbroken when I was turned down. It still hurts, but haha I definitely feel much better now 🤧

Remember, you can always check out all five episodes of Mr. ACP here! I want to give a huge thank you to Gio, the other boys, and all the crew and STUGO members who helped to make this event possible! All of you truly gave our school something to look forward to and enjoy every week; for that, we’re all extremely grateful. Happy binging, guys! Always remember to strive for the impossible, be extraordinary, and prepare for those hotter months coming up.