OAKVILLE — Glittery sashes, bright shining crowns, and applause — this year’s Nonnewaug homecoming court was the highlight of the night.
The dance was held Sept. 20 at the Grand Oak Villa in Oakville. Music, dancing, and food were just a precursor to what most people were waiting for: which court nominations would come out on top?
Homecoming court is decided by students nominating two pairs from each grade to compete for the court, and then voting on a final couple from each grade through Google Classroom. The most popular voted couple wins the homecoming court for that grade.
Seniors Gavin Sandor and Chloe Weaver won the vote for homecoming king and queen. Sandor said he was happy to win, but also surprised.
“I think another person in my grade deserved to win,” Sandor said. “Noah Sapack and Nikki [Perssico] should have won, so I voted for them. It was satisfying [to win]. I think Chloe enjoyed it more than me; I don’t really care about it.”
For the junior homecoming court, Thatcher Budris and Olivia Gwiazdoski won the vote. Sophomores Luke Lodice and Addison Bushka won their grade’s vote, and Justin Maddox and Brooke Stokes earned their way to the freshman court.
“It feels good [to win],” Lodice said. “I was surprised, especially because I’m new here, that’s why. I knew we were in the running, but I didn’t expect it.”
Bushka, unlike her running mate, expected the outcome.
“If anyone else got it, I think Hazel [Cole] and Jayden [Cardenas should have] because they’re cute together,” Bushka said. “It feels good to win especially and good to know a lot of people are rooting for me. I had a feeling. A lot of people told me they voted for us and we are so cute together.”
Others were surprised at the results.
“I was honestly shocked at who won,” Nonnewaug sophomore Zinnia Marcus said. “When I was in my seat listening to [Student Council advisor Josh Kornblut] say who won freshman homecoming court, I was shocked. I’ve never heard of those people before, and I think that there was a more known couple in that grade.”
Overall, most students, and the court winners themselves, agree that the homecoming court was the most exciting part of the night, with dancing and food not standing out this year.
“The DJ was alright, and I think the food was good, but the hype was lacking,” Sandor said. “A lot of jumping happened, and sweaty people were pushing everyone. I like that I won the crown. It was nice. Next year, we’ve got to party a little harder and go all out. The seniors gotta take our spot, and I think Thatcher Budris should win again.”
Bushka thinks that despite some chaos, the dance was a good experience.
“Homecoming was fun and memorable for me,” Bushka said. “Homecoming was hot and the dance floor was slippery, it was a little crazy.”
