The Homecoming Pep Rally

I was invited to the Muleshoe homecoming pep rally this past Friday, September 25, by Avery Cantu, who had been nominated for Homecoming Queen. Avery had been my gracious Girl Friday helping me out during my recent back surgery recovery. so naturally I wanted to be there to cheer her on.

However, you can’t have a homecoming pep rally without a homecoming bonfire, which I get to experience every year since the bonfire pile is at the back of the golf course driving range which is next door to my house and the team and cheerleaders drive right by the house on the fire trucks to get there. So, Thursday evening activity picked up back and forth in front of the house, and I had my flag out in support of the Mules who would play Compass Academy from Midland Friday night.

The bonfire pile was huge this year, which I also lent my support to with the six trees that were removed from my front yard when I had it converted to a xeriscape landscape this summer.

This year the bonfire visitors parked in the front of the country club rather than at the back by the driving range, and as time passed, I thought the fire trucks might be taking the team to the front also. So I quit waiting for them to pass and wasn’t ready when here they came down the street in the dark; hence, no good picture.

The bonfire was lit, the fireworks exploded, all symbolizing the team’s burning desire to win the game Friday night.

And then Friday came, and it was time for the pep rally. This was the first pep rally I had been to since Colten graduated in 2013. Things have changed. To begin with, I was going to park behind the new gym where everyone parks for pre-game meals and the game. Well, that was blocked off, and I was told everyone had to enter through the front of the building. So i rushed to the front where very few parking spaces were left. I lucked out and found one and took it, only to walk to the front doors to join everyone else who had gone to the front and were waiting to get in! I guess this was all because of heighted security at schools these days. Eventually we were let in and made our way to the gym which was gloriously decorated in lots of black and white and a huge floor to ceiling black and white mum created by Morgan Peterson and her floral design class. I was told giant mums are now seen at most school homecoming pep rallies, but it was new to me.

The archway the team comes through on the field was also up in the gym for the pep rally.

After some cheers, the team entered and sat as a group in their chairs.

Because last year rain came at halftime and created chaos of the homecoming queen crowning and this year the weather report was heavy with rain again, the decision was made to announce and crown the queen at the pep rally rather than challenge the weather. The candidates were introduced and escorted to these chairs by an escort of their choice from the student body. They then left to get ready for the rest of the ceremony coming up a bit later.

The cheerleaders did more cheers and Scott Simmons, the invited speaker talked to the team about never giving up and working toward a goal like his young daughter did while fighting cancer.

Then a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, and an 8th grader did a class challenge, a game called Head, Shoulders, Knees, sort of a version of musical chairs but with one less pompom each round as the kids were told to touch their heads, shoulders, knees, and then grab a pompom. Whoever didn’t get one was out of the game until only one pompom was left between two kids. The 8th grade student grabbed it but lost it to senior Josue Sigala, so I am not sure if the 8th grade or the seniors won the contest, but they all enjoyed it.

The band’s drum line moved to the floor and did a fun drum piece.

Then it was time for the queen candidates to come out with their family escorts, moms, dads, granddads, as a short summary of each one’s school activities, interests, and plans for the future was read. The football team had submitted their choices for homecoming queen which the student body then voted on.

And the winner, crowned by last year’s queen, Marely Ronquillo, was Avery!

The queen and her court: junior Jenisis Armijo; junior Sienna Buenrostro; senior Avery Cantu; senior Jazmine Ramirez; and senior Nicole Vidana.

After the school song, and as the fight song was being played, the Mighty Mules gathered, talking trash to get pumped up for the game and team surfed # 44 Ryan Lopez as the final touch.

As the crowd left, I took a picture of something else that was new to me at homecoming, really elaborate mums. I didn’t get these young ladies’ names, but they graciously allowed me to take their picture.