By Jessica Robison
Moapa Valley Progress
The Moapa Valley High School Homecoming celebration took place last week. Crowds gathered at the school on Wednesday October 20 for the annual Homecoming Parade and Assembly. Students, parents, and Pirate fans gathered along the sidewalks surrounding the school to watch the parade go by.
Leading the parade was the school’s marching band, playing the Moapa Valley Fight Song. Directly behind them was the dance team performing a routine for the spectators. Then appeared the Homecoming Queen and King candidates all riding in various beautiful cars. Homecoming Queen candidates this year included Kaitlyn Cope, Molly Markestein, and Caley Wilson. Homecoming King candidates were Bowen Call, Hayden Cooper, and Geof Hilton.
The rest of the parade included the football team riding on a fire engine, cheerleaders from the high school and the middle school, class floats, and more.
After the parade had run its course, the crowd filed into the school gymnasium for the assembly. As is tradition, the assembly was opened with the Moapa Valley Fight Song. Then MVHS Athletic Director Matt Messer conducted a Senior Athlete Recognition. Every senior involved in a school sport was introduced in front of the audience and received a yellow rose with a blue ribbon.
The Homecoming Royalty then made its grand entrance. Freshmen Princess Danielle Udall was introduced first with her escort, Michael Ricco. Next came Sophomore Princess Tabitha Witsken, escorted by Austin Prisbrey. Princess of the Juniors was McCall Smith who was escorted by Dakota Gordon. And finally, Senior Princess Alexis Gonzales made her entrance with escort Josh Thompson.
Once all Princesses were lined up in the gym, the candidates for Homecoming Queen and King were acknowledged. A drum roll began as Principal Grant Hanevold slowly opened an envelope. And the winners were…Bowen Call and Caley Wilson.The two were crowned and all royalty were seated to the side of the gym.
To conclude the evening’s activities, students participated in the Burn the Eagles Death March. This annual tradition builds school spirit in preparation for the football game against the Boulder City Eagles.
The varsity football players carried a wood coffin with BC (Boulder City) painted on the outside. Behind them, the marching band played a solemn funeral march with all the students following.
The solemn procession left the gym and wended its way to the empty lot at the north side of the school where there was already a bonfire prepared. The football players then threw the coffin into the fire. Everyone cheered and sang the Fight Song as they watched it burn.
