Fleetwood school spirit and excitement ran high during Homecoming said senior band member Katie Long.
The crowd cheered loudly after Fleetwood first scored over Muhlenberg 7 to 0, but by halftime, the score was tied at 15.
The Fleetwood Band started halftime with “Party Rock Band” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” led by drum majors Katrina Fullington and Chaney Malick. Before the Homecoming Court was announced, the Fleetwood cheerleaders performed “Gangnam Style.”
“And now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for; drum roll please. Our 2014 Homecoming Queen is Cyre Virgo,” came over the loudspeakers, “and our 2014 Homecoming King is Shaq Cobb.”
Virgo, involved with track and field, basketball and yearbook, plans to attend an out-of-state university where she will pursue a career in track and field while majoring in forensics.
Cobb is active with the football team and plans to continue football while majoring in pharmaceutical sales.
Other Homecoming Court members are Tigers Cheerleader Emily Nowotarski, who is yearbook sports editor.
“She’s always our queen. She’s extra sweet with a double asterisk,” said Cathy Bower, cheerleading coach.
Alongside Nowotarski was Matthew Hook, who is on the football, soccer and basketball teams, track and field and is a lifeguard. He plans to major in cyber security and forensics.
All of those nominated for king and queen are active in sports and other organizations. Homecoming contenders also included Irene Licari with Tyler Rapposelli.
Licari is a member of student council and is the football manager with hopes of becoming a registered nurse. Rapposelli is captain of the soccer team and is involved with the Rage Soccer Club. He hopes to play soccer for a four-year university.
Zach Koenig paired up with his girlfriend, Delaney Karpeuk. Koenig, football captain, also plays baseball and reports for the Tiger Times. His goals include a career in criminal justice and to play football while attending a university. Karpeuk is captain of the field hockey team, yearbook sports editor and plans to pursue a career in psychology or speech pathology.
Shelbi Heffner, who paired with Cobb, has been an active member of soccer for four years, student council, and is also yearbook treasurer. Heffner plans to pursue a four-year degree in exercise science.
Virgo’s contending partner, Tyler Emge, is a member of the football and baseball teams. Emge plans to play football in college while pursuing a career in air traffic control with a major in political science or business.
With halftime over, students rushed to get back to the game. The evening game ended with a final score of Muhlenberg 35 and Fleetwood 29 in overtime. According to sports announcer Thomas Cengeri, the big Muhlenberg offensive line seemed to wear the Fleetwood defense down in the second half.
Fleetwood’s next game will be at the Wyomissing High School, Oct. 11. For more information about Fleetwood High School’s game schedule, go to http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/fleetwood-tigers-(fleetwood,pa)/football/schedule.htm.
During homecoming week, there was a competition between all of the grades. Each grade had to put on a four to ten minute skit that showed school spirit. Although the senior class took second to the juniors, they won the overall homecoming competition. Eleni Zahariadis felt they did really well. She described streamers that fell from the auditorium ceiling and the entire grade up on stage dressed in red and white with Fleetwood pride.
“Our hallway theme was Sentimental Seniors so we did We’re All In This Together, from High School Musical, which is a song about life memories that you make in high school,” said Zahariadis.
With fond memories of her senior year, Morgan Noll, a speech pathology major at East Stroudsburg University, had stepped onto the football field during half time, but this time it was her turn to pass the homecoming crown on to the newly elected queen for Homecoming 2014. Her king, Killian Grider, accompanied her.
Holli and Dan Noll came to watch their daughter in the royal ceremony. To this reporter, Holli showed a picture of when Morgan was crowned.
“She had such fond memories from Fleetwood and such good friends that she had met through Fleetwood so I think it’s really nice that she can continue one more year just with the Fleetwood memories,” said Holli.