The candidates have been chosen, the foe is known, the parade is planned.
Escalon High School is celebrating its fall Homecoming this week, culminating on Friday night, Oct. 12 with the crowning of new royalty and a football rivalry game against Ripon.
In alphabetical order, Homecoming Queen candidates are Sylvia Guevara, Madison Matsunami, Sarah McPherrin, Arely Ochoa and Hailie Webster.
The Queen candidates were announced on Friday and all received their sashes and tiaras – with the exception of Webster, who was out ill – and are busy this week with a variety of events leading up to the Friday night football game.
The theme for this year is Escalon’s Got Game with each day built around a board game theme.
Monday was Candyland, with students encouraged to wear pajamas for ‘Sweet Dreams’ day. Tuesday was ‘Future Career’ day based on the game of Life, with Wednesday a ‘Fake An Injury’ day built around the game Operation. For Thursday, the game is Battleship and the theme is mom vs. dad, with upper classmen coming dressed as dad and underclassmen coming to school dressed as mom.
Friday, the game Sorry is in the spotlight – with the theme of ‘Sorry, Ripon!’ and students encouraged to dress in class colors of gold for freshmen, purple for sophomores, white for juniors and black for seniors.
The Homecoming Night rally was Tuesday and the Homecoming Parade downtown is at 2:30 p.m. Friday, with Grand Marshal Nate Bartelink being honored this year. A former teacher at El Portal, Bartelink now teaches at Vista High and is also serving in his first year as the Escalon High School athletic director.
Friday night football starts with kickoff of the JV game at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity at about 7:30 p.m.
There crowning of the new Homecoming Queen is scheduled at halftime of the varsity contest.
“I’m definitely anxious and ecstatic,” Guevara said after learning of her nomination on Friday. “It’s pretty bittersweet, to be honest, this senior year is going so fast.”
For Matsunami, who already holds the title of Miss Escalon, getting nominated for Homecoming Queen was exciting as well.
“I just feel super honored and blessed,” she said, adding that she is proud of the Miss Escalon title and serving as a role model for younger girls.
McPherrin said the week should be a fun one for all the candidates and fellow students.
“I’m most looking forward to all the school activities and the school spirit,” she said.
Ochoa added that she was excited to “meet new people” both on campus and in the community through the various Homecoming Week events.
Webster, though not available at the Friday morning photo session for the candidates, said in a prior interview with The Times that she enjoyed growing up in such a supportive community and encouraged students to get involved in as many activities a possible during their high school years.
Football coaches and players, meanwhile, are preparing for the Trans-Valley League showdown with rival Ripon and are hoping for a great turnout of past players and fans in the community to show their support on Friday night at Engel Field.
