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Bringing Home Homecoming By Jalen Lindh The senior class of Manitou Springs High School are finally ready to close a chapter on their years of school. This year, Homecoming was a part of their last chapter. Homecoming has been a tradition for many schools, since the year 1914. That’s been 107 years since the first Homecoming game; yet, Manitou Springs High School is still carrying out that tradition, even in a pandemic that has upended almost every other tradition. What made Homecoming 2020-2021more special and more unique was the fact that everyone had to fight COVID-19. Every student is aware that COVID-19 is to blame for all of the cancelled activites this school year - the reason many seniors couldn’t partake in the things
that they love before it is time for them to graduate and move on. But through it all, they managed to pull one last thing, one last victory out of all the bad luck. They brought together a Homecoming, and it went out with a bang. Every year, as Homecoming tradition goes, the school dedicates each day of the week to do something to show and express school spirit. This year there were only four days of the week that got dedicated to school spirit, due to SATs being taken on the Wednesday of that week. Monday was the classic, wear your pjs to school day. Senior Brian Blake’s Elf pjs were stunning. Tuesday was Decades day, where each grade was designated a certain hallway. STUCO members decorated each hallway according to their designated decade. The seniors got to delve into
the 70s, while juniors were in the classic 80s. The sophomores got to dress as if they were in the 90s, while the freshman had to dress as if they lived in the early 2000s. Then on Thursday, it was wear your class color, where the students wear whatever color that represents their graduation year. Friday was spirit day, where students could wear green and gold, while the seniors wore the traditional senior toga.
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Spirit Week. Senior Brian Blake rocks his Elf pjs on the first day of Spirit Week 2021.
cheered.
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Seeing Double. Senior Homecoming Court members Sophie McKeown, Thor Flett, and royalty, Dana Gutierrez, Caden Harris, and Grace Trahey pose with Esteban Munoz (disguised as Finn Evans) and the real Finn Evans, who flipped onto the field late.
The Homecomig football game against Clear Creek was on Friday night. And oh boy, what a game it was. The Manitou Springs High School football team played an exceptional game on the night of April 16th, 2021. Exceptionally well, isn’t really the right way to describe what happened, but in short, Manitou mopped the floor against their opponents. “Y’know, most people just look at the score of the game, and think to themselves, ‘What a game!’ But I believe that it was the kids on that field that made it happen. Just six days of dedication to that day, to really come through and shine,” said Coach Jeck.
Homecoming week was also a week of sports. Volleyball, Boys Soccer, and Football played multiple games, with great fan turnout. All teams did well this season despite COVID-19. The Powder Puff tradition continued as well. The senior girls took on the underclassmen girls in a game of football, while boys coached and dressed up like cheerleaders and
“I think that we got really lucky to be able to play this season. I believe that the leading senior group did a great job. Not just them but the coaching staff as well. It was a group effort to be able to pull everything together. And I think that the effort that the students portray is just about anything that a coach could ask for.” The Manitou Mustangs won the Homecoming game, 58-0. The only thing missing was the fireworks. It truly was an epic game that night, that the football team could go home and brag about.
Role Reversal. Far Left: Seniors Mariah Stevens and Abigail Kilpela rush to the endzone while coaches Lars Marquardt and Caden Harris look on from the side line. The seniors didn’t think that they would get the chance to play Powder Puff this year. Giving Thanks. Left: Senior Thor Flett poses with his parents duing Senior Night. Flett played with intensity and was an integral part of the Mustang 58-0 victory. Below: Team leader and defensive power house Nathan Hass poses with his mom, Holly Hass, during Senior Night before the game. Hass played with passion and grit during his last game. He will attend Colorado State University next year with many of his teammates. MSHS Journalism photo file MSHS Journalism photo file
But Homecoming was much more than the football game. Before kick-off was Senior Night for the football team and the cheer team. Players walked under the Manitou banner with their families and other important people in their lives as they expressed their thanks with a rose. Then, during half-time of the game, the school gathered to find out the winners of the Homecoming Court that night. The Homecoming Court is where usually two students are picked from each grade, 9th-12th. Then one male is chosen to become the Homecoming King, while
one female is chosen to become Homecoming Queen. In Manitou, this tradition changed several years ago to be non-gendered, allowing students to vote for the people despirte their gender. There was a three-way tie this year. The students who were crowned that night were Caden Harris, Dana Gutierrez, and Grace Trahey. Homecoming came late this year, but it came and for many Manitou seniors, it won’t be easily forgotten.
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