Homecoming Week! A Week of MVHS Tradition

By ELISE DALLEY

The Progress

Moapa Valley High School Homecoming week brought a celebration for the entire community. Students, parents and community members alike were bustling with pirate pride as they prepared for each day’s event.

On Tuesday evening, October 4 was the traditional Powderpuff Game. This popular has girls playing the football game while the boys lead the rest of the crowds in cheers from the sidelines. The freshman and seniors team up and play against the sophomores and juniors.
This year’s Powderpuff champion was the sophomores/junior team.

During the game, the “man squad,” dressed up like cheerleaders, entertained the crowd with stunts and other antics.

This included a number of man squad competitions. One of these was a cartwheel contest where man squad member Ethan Witter cartwheeled across the football field, over the fence and across the road.
“Powerpuff was definitely the best event!” said senior Sage Overson. “Our head coach Landon Wrzenski put so much work in for us and I had so much fun with the seniors and freshman. I’ve done it all four year of highschool and I’m so sad it’s over.”

On Wednesday evening, the community gathered on the streets around the high school for the Homecoming Parade and Assembly.

The parade was led by this year’s Grand Marshalls Rod and Camille Leavitt riding in a Ford Model T driven by Gary Robison. The MVHS Marching band followed close behind. Then there was the Homecoming Royalty, the class floats, various athletic teams and much more.

After the parade, the crowd congregated to the football field for the assembly.
The long awaited announcement of who would be the 2022 Homecoming Queen and King was announced at the assembly. The nominees were first presented before the crowd as they marched across the 50 yard line of the football field. The King nominees were Jayden Bunker, Landon Wrzenski, and Joey Barnes. The nominees for Homecoming Queen included Miriam Werner, Sage Overson, and Jorja Freeman.

Then the winners were announced. Sage Overson was crowned as Homecoming Queen while Jayden Bunker was corwned King.

Sage said she was both shocked and honored to be queen. “When I was nominated for queen I was so shocked,” she said. “I feel like there are so many people who deserve it more than I do. I feel so lucky and humbled to be with the most amazing two girls, Jorja and Miriam.”

“I didn’t know there were so many people who cared about me and supported me,” Sage said. “I’ll never forget this homecoming and how Moapa Valley was so kind to me. I’m so grateful for the experience and everything I was given. I love being a Pirate!”

Each class also had its own royalty chosen by class members. The freshman princess was Gracie Fullman with attendants Chloe Dalley and Sadie Hatch. Sophomore princess was Evelyn Ward with attendants Charity Hoe and Bella Heizlebetz. Junior princess Eliana Holland with Kate Blasdell and Deja Bradshaw as attendants. Talli Fairchild was the princess for the senior class with Lexy Fullman and Brooke Sherwood as attendants.

The school days throughout the week were jampacked with activities for students.
Each day was a different dress up day for the students and an entertaining activity was offered after school.

Monday’s dress up day was “Tourist day.” Students around the school could be spotted wearing Hawaiian shirts and bucket hats. Following school, students gathered to paint signs and posters to support local sports or organizations.

On Tuesday it was Designer Trash Bag Day, where students found creative ways to incorporate a trash bag into their wardrobe.

On Wednesday students came to school wearing backwards hats and button up shirts for Frat Day.

On Thursday students looked back to middle school days, dressing up for “6th Grade Day” to showcase how they dressed in 6th grade. On Thursday evening there was a drive-in movie in the senior parking lot for students to watch. The movie was “Megamind” and was a crowd favorite.

Friday’s dress up day was Extreme Blue and Gold Day, supporting the school colors and showcasing pirate pride.

Of course, the Friday evening event was the big Homecoming Football game where the Western Warriors came to town to get beat by the Pirate varsity team. The stands were packed with Pirate fans.
“My favorite event was the football game on Friday and getting to cheer in the student section,” said MVHS junior Raegan Stankosky.

To top it all off, the Homecoming Dance took place on Saturday in the Gary Batchelor Gymnasium at the school. This year’s homecoming theme was “Space” so the room was decorated with black gossamer and fairy lights, which set off the image of space.

Students came to the dance to have a good time, and were given just that.
“The dance was a party and the student council did a great job setting everything up!” exclaimed Raegan Stankosky.

Many students made a day out of it on Saturday, getting together as a group with a whole day of activities planned before the dance.

Homecoming Queen Sage Overson was asked to the date by classmate Ethan Witter. “He was the best date ever!” Overson said. “We roller-skated, then went to the dance and I loved all of it!”