PAST MISS DYNGUS WINNERS
Christine Deidrick – Miss Dyngus Day 2026
Christine Deidrick is a proud Cleveland native with deep Polish roots, whose four grandparents emigrated from Poland through Ellis Island to Slavic Village. Her parents were born in the U.S. and both lived in Slavic Village, where they met at a dance years later and were married at St. Stanislaus Church.
A longtime member of the Cleveland Polka Association, she was recently nominated Polka Ambassador and also serves as the photographer for CPA events. She is a people person who has spent decades celebrating her heritage through music, dance, and community events.
An accordion player and devoted polka enthusiast, Christine attends as many Polish events as possible, loves to polka dance throughout the region, and cherishes traditions such as Wigilia, Oplatek, Swieconka, and family gatherings centered around Polish food. She continues to honor her family’s legacy by making pierogis with her family and baking sweet bread using her busia’s recipe, while sharing her love of Polish culture, music, and traditions with family and others. She crocheted and gave away 100 pierogi necklaces, along with samples of her sweet bread, to the crowd at Dyngus Day.
Karen Colwell – Miss Dyngus Day 2025
Karen Colwell (née Pietrovich) was raised in the Polish National Catholic Church at St. Mary’s PNCC on Broadway. She loves polka dancing – especially to “In Heaven There Is No Beer” – and rarely misses a chance to dance.
She enjoys cooking traditional Polish foods like gołąbki, kielbasa, and pierogi, with a special fondness for ricotta-filled dessert pierogi. Having helped make pierogi since childhood for church and family gatherings, her roots in Polish tradition run deep. Karen fondly recalls celebrations like Wigilia and Poprawiny, and takes pride in sharing her heritage and passing Polish traditions on to the next generation.
Christine Przybysz – Miss Dyngus Day 2024
Born and raised in Brook Park, Christine grew up celebrating her family’s Polish and Slovak traditions. Her love of polka – especially at the Café Polka – comes from her dad, while her passion for Polish cooking and baking comes from her mom, even earning a blue ribbon at the Cuyahoga County Fair for her pierogi.
One of eight siblings, she also credits her family for her strong appreciation of Polish vodka. As Miss Dyngus Day Cleveland 2024, she is honored to celebrate and share Polish traditions with the greater Cleveland community, bringing a little Polish joy to all.
Molly Walsh – Miss Dyngus Day 2023
Molly proudly embraces her Polish heritage, with deep family roots in Cleveland’s Slavic Village, where her grandparents first met. With family names like Posendek and Polak, her background speaks for itself.
As part of a younger generation, Molly is passionate about sharing Polish traditions and culture, with a goal of spreading love, joy, and heritage to ensure it continues for years to come.
Lynda Abraham – Miss Dyngus Day 2022
Erika Thompson-Skovich – Miss Dyngus Day 2021
Erika Thompson-Skovich is known for her humor, energy, and deep love of polka. With strong Polish roots (and a personality to match), she brings Dyngus Day spirit wherever she goes – from classrooms to weddings, and beyond.
Introduced to polka by her grandfather, Erika keeps family traditions alive through music, dancing, and festive gatherings. She proudly carries on the legacy of Dyngus Day, sharing Polish pride, joy, and plenty of polka cheer with the Cleveland community.
Katrina Kokolari – Miss Dyngus Day 2019
Katrina, a Cleveland native now based in Columbus, has a lifelong passion for Polish culture rooted in family traditions. From making pisanki and celebrating Święconka to dancing polka at parish festivals, she has always embraced and shared her heritage.
An avid cook, baker, and host, Katrina loves bringing people together through Polish food and traditions. Her dedication even led her to study Polish culture in graduate school, focusing on food and immigrant identity. As Miss Dyngus Day, she is proud to continue celebrating and sharing the traditions that have shaped her life.
Marlene Thompson-ski – Miss Dyngus Day 2018
Marlene lives in Akron with her cat, Larry, and proudly celebrates her Polish heritage with the support of her family and friends. Inspired by her grandfather’s memory, she embraces Dyngus Day as a meaningful way to honor her roots and keep traditions alive.
Grateful to the Dyngus Day Committee, DJ Kishka, and her “Dyngus Squad,” Marlene brings enthusiasm, humor, and pride to the celebration. As Miss Dyngus Day, she is excited to continue sharing Polish spirit in Akron and beyond.
Patricia (Trish) Karabowicz – Miss Dyngus Day 2017
Trish proudly celebrates her Polish heritage and the joy of Dyngus Day. A longtime Ohio resident, she has remained active in the Cleveland community, attending festivals and events that promote Polish culture and local traditions.
She enjoys connecting with the Dyngus Day community, from volunteers and participants to organizers and supporters. Passionate about her culture, she embraces traditions like Wigilia and Easter celebrations, and shares her love of Polish food, music, and polka wherever she goes.
Michelle LoBuglio – Miss Dyngus Day 2016
Michelle proudly embraces her Polish heritage, with grandparents who emigrated from Poland in the early 1900s. Known for her love of pierogi, piwo, and especially polka, she grew up dancing to “Polka Varieties” on Sunday mornings, a tradition that began with her father and continues through her family today.
From father-daughter dances at weddings to sharing polka with the next generation, Michelle carries on meaningful family traditions rooted in music, memory, and connection. She continues to celebrate her heritage with pride, honoring her family’s legacy every time the polka plays.
Sara Fredericks – Miss Dyngus Day 2015
Sara grew up in Parma and currently resides in Sagamore Hills with her husband, Brandon. She works as a nurse at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.
With great-grandparents who emigrated from Poland and met at a Polish dance hall in the U.S., Sarah’s heritage has long been rooted in Polish traditions. Raised on polka music and family gatherings filled with dance and Polish food – especially pierogi – she continues to embrace and celebrate her culture with pride. She proudly represents her family’s legacy and Polish traditions.
Kim Hanko-Dale (aka Hankodaleski) – Miss Dyngus Day 2014
Kim has played a key role in bringing Polish traditions and polka music back into her family. Along with her husband, Jonathan, she enjoys celebrating with family gatherings filled with music, dancing, and Polish customs.
A lifelong polka enthusiast – often called the “Polka Princess” by her family – Kim proudly embraces her heritage. She continues to share that love with her family, cherishing traditions that bring everyone together and reflect the joy of Dyngus Day.
Julie (Kocurko) Bray – Miss Dyngus Day 2013
Julie was drawn to apply for Ms. Dyngus Day as a way to celebrate her heritage and honor the memory of her grandparents, Walter and Julia Zurowski.
Her connection to Polish traditions is reflected in her love of cooking, including making pierogi and borscht with her family each fall in preparation for Wigilia. She also enjoys polka dancing and spending time with her husband and children, continuing to embrace and share her Polish roots in everyday life.
DeAnna Domino-Sierputowski – Miss Dyngus Day 2012
DeAnna Domino-Sierputowski was crowned Miss Dyngus Day 2012 with the campaign slogan, “A pierogi in every pot and a polka in every heart.” A Cleveland native, she resides in Tremont with her husband, Jeffrey, and their polka-loving cats.
A proud advocate of Polish culture, DeAnna believes polka makes everything more enjoyable. She treasures her travels to Poland and continues to celebrate her heritage through music, traditions, and community, proudly representing the spirit of Dyngus Day.
Eugenia “Chi Chi” Gorski – Miss Dyngus Day 2011
The inaugural Miss Dyngus 2011 is Eugenia “Chi Chi” Gorski. Born and raised in Cleveland, she has been making pierogi since birth! She also holds the world record for the fastest polka ever at 78 revolutions per minute!