NAVY SINGERS SERENADE BASKETBALL FANS

From the first few bars of "The Star-Spangled Banner," listeners know that the U.S. Naval Academy Men's Glee Club doesn't sing the average rendition.

On Monday, six members visiting Cape Girardeau combined their tenor, baritone and bass voices to make the patriotic song their own.

Cape Girardeau native Clayton Hahs, son of David and Candy Hahs, is a 21-year-old senior at the academy and president of the Glee Club. He convinced six friends and fellow club members to leave Annapolis, Md., and visit his hometown over the holidays.

They performed Monday at the University High School Basketball Tournament, but even more impressive is the group's commitment to sing the National Anthem at the St. Louis Blues hockey game Thursday. The Blues will take on the Montreal Canadiens.

The club members are modest about their popularity as a singing group, but they are accustomed to important performances all over the world. They sang the National Anthem at the Navy vs. Notre Dame football game in Dublin in November. During their sophomore year, they toured Europe.

"It's especially nice singing overseas because a lot of service members are stationed there," member Tony Holds said. "They haven't seen their loved ones in awhile and really appreciate hearing someone from home."

The few Glee Club members landed their Blues performance through Hahs' father, who learned he could submit a sample of any group's singing for consideration. One day before the submission deadline, he recorded part of the 110-man Glee Club just before a performance of Handel's "Messiah" at the academy.

Standing in John Paul Jones' crypt in the basement of the academy's chapel, the men sang into a hand-held tape recorder.

"We hoped they would forgive the sound quality and just listen to the singing," Hahs said.

During their stay in Cape Girardeau, the group has found ways to entertain themselves. They played football, looked at photographs and, of course, practiced singing.

"We could be stuck in the middle of a desert, and if we were together, we would have a good time," member Cory Christensen said.

Being in the Glee Club is worth the time it takes, the group members said. They have to juggle their singing dates with the heavy school load that comes with being a Naval Academy senior.

Hahs said this is an important year for him and his friends.

"Being a senior means dealing with a series of lasts," he said. "You have your last home football game, your last fall tour. There's some sadness, but it's also very exciting."

The six will go on to join the Marine Corps as second lieutenants or the U.S. Navy as ensigns. Hahs will study surface warfare in the Navy.

But the group's music will remain even after the members part ways. They have a CD titled "A Cappella," which can be ordered by calling Hahs this week at his parent's home.

Other members of the group currently in Cape Girardeau are Eric Bronner, who arrived after Monday's performance at the basketball tournament, Nate Shenck, Jeff Chiow and Jeff Widenhofer.