Homecoming is a staple to a high school experience — for 10 students, it’s much more than an experience. Homecoming royalty candidates are submerged in the week’s festivities through rehearsals, photo shoots, games at the pep rally, and, finally, two members of the court being crowned at halftime of the boys varsity basketball game. 

“When I found out I was on court, it meant a lot to me, and I was so excited to get to experience it with so many great people and my best friends. I love Spring Hill, and I think our traditions, school spirit, and people are the best, so I was so glad to be a part of it,” Margo Todd, 12, said. 

In the fall, Todd was voted on by their peers to be on homecoming court. Just days before the dance, Todd underwent surgery to address an injury received during volleyball. 

Todd said it “was [the] highlight of [their] week after having surgery.” 

Todd and Martin Frigon, 12, were crowned homecoming king and queen during halftime at the home game against the Piper Pirates. 

“[Being on court] definitely changed homecoming [for me]; it made [the week] more fun. I got to be more involved, and that was

fun,” Frigon said. 

Sydney Buscher, fall queen candidate, 12, has been involved in volleyball and basketball throughout high school and enjoys showing their school spirit with their friends. Buscher explained that they had so much fun with their friends during homecoming week and being on court just added to their senior homecoming experience. 

“We had such a great group. The court was so much fun, and the parade was such a blast,” Buscher said. 

In recent years, winter homecoming started to take on its own identity as a semi formal event. This year, winter homecoming had a completely different element with the pep rally, game, and coronation being on Thursday instead of Friday. However, this didn’t change how much fun the candidates had. 

“It was fun to be a part of something that I knew I kind of wanted to be on [court] eventually, so [being on court] definitely made [winter homecoming] more fun,” Campbell Mermis, 12, explained.  

Mermis was taken aback when they were crowned winter homecoming queen. Mermis explained that they were so grateful to be voted on court but never thought that they would win. Mermis and Miles Pankey, 12, were crowned king and queen during halftime at the basketball game against the Tonganoxie Chieftains. 

“I did [enjoy my experience on court],” Pankey said. “The whole group in general was just a good group and we had a lot of fun.”