Oakmont’s homecoming game and dance took place on Sept. 20 and 21.

Homecoming is a tradition in many American high schools that celebrates the school by welcoming back alumni, hence the name “homecoming.” At Oakmont, this involves a football game, a parade during the halftime show, and the coronation of homecoming royalty. The homecoming dance takes place the night after the game.

The theme of this year’s homecoming was “Neverland,” a reference to the fictional work by J. M. Barrie, which has since been adapted into various movies.

In the week leading up to homecoming, students dressed up according to the homecoming theme.

“It was a lot more themed than dances at Eich [Middle School],” Korbin Anderson, a freshman, said.

Several students voiced their unhappiness with the lack of representation in choosing the homecoming theme. For previous school dances, students would vote on a theme they wanted.

“They should really bring that system back,” Beckett Malian, a senior at Oakmont, said. “Instead of sticking with a theme people didn’t want.”

The Game

Oakmont overwhelmingly won the homecoming game against Colfax 31-15. This 16-point winning margin was a record this season. So far, Oakmont has won all three of its home games this season, currently having a two-game winning streak and putting Colfax on a three-game losing streak. This was the first homecoming win after a long streak of Oakmont losing its homecoming games.

The game was also featured on KCRA 3’s high school game of the week. In the week leading up to the game, teachers and administrators alike repeatedly urged students and parents to vote for the game.

The student section had a white-out O-Zone, and many students were chalked.

At halftime, the homecoming parade featured floats for each of the classes, as well as the homecoming court and royalty. Each grade level had to prepare a float as well as a skit, for each part of the “Neverland” theme of the event.

Seniors Miguel Orozco and Hannah Feusahrens were crowned homecoming royalty during the halftime parade. Orozco had campaigned throughout the week for students to vote for him, posting daily on Instagram, as well as advertising on his teachers’ whiteboards.

“I was planning on how I could win from the start,” Orozco said. “I hope to be remembered as a man whose smile never faded.”

As a part of this year’s “Neverland” theme, the confetti that typically accompanied the homecoming coronation was replaced with glitter. The homecoming royalty were crowned by having the glitter poured over them from red Solo cups by student government members. 

Several students indicated that they believed it may not have been the brightest idea.

“This morning I still had glitter on me,” Orozco said on the 23rd. “I think confetti would have been a better option.”

Another unplanned highlight of the show was the malfunctioning of the speakers.

Matthew Fulton, a senior in Oakmont’s marching band, Royal Blue Regiment, commented about halftime.

“Halftime was kind of a nightmare,” Fulton said. “The speakers weren’t working very well, so the little skits they were doing for the homecoming floats were really awkward and silent.”

The Royal Blue Regiment performed the national anthem and Alma Mater, but did not perform in the halftime show. Instead, the band played music next to the O-Zone.

Speaking on her first homecoming, freshman Ella Rose Hernandez stated that she thought the game and show were quite nice.

“I thought it was cool,” Hernandez said. “I didn’t really know what to expect.”

The Dance

The homecoming dance took place on Saturday the 21st, in the gym. The entrance to the gym was decorated with a red carpet and stanchion ropes. Several students mentioned that the music was better than previous years.

“I think the DJ played some good songs,” Fareeha Moradi, a senior at Oakmont, said. “So everyone was able to dance to it and sing along. It wasn’t awkward or anything.”

This year’s homecoming featured various opportunities to take photos, including a waterfall background, an actual photo booth with a starry background, and a 360 photo booth. The 360 photo booth appeared to be a hit among many of the attendees.

“I liked the waterfall,” Rio Talamantes, a senior at Oakmont said. “It [the dance] wasn’t as bad as previous years.”

The dance also had a snack bar in the wrestling room. There was a designated area for bags that was guarded by parents, as well.

Not all students, however, thought highly of the event.

“It was very hot,” Laila Abicht, a senior at Oakmont, said. “There was no airflow.”

“A lot of people went outside because it was so hot,” Colin Davis, a senior at Oakmont, said.

Nonetheless, many students who attended had a generally favorable outlook on the event and viewed it as a great opportunity to hang out with friends.

“I liked it,” Justin Coyle, a freshman at Oakmont, said. “The sound system was nice, better than at the rallies.”

Seniors Fareeha Moradi and Maria Gonzales mentioned that this homecoming was special to them as their last.

“I had a really good time at homecoming with my friends,” Moradi said. “For my last homecoming it was a pretty good experience.”

“Having that atmosphere one last time was really great,” Gonzales said.