Students shine with blue and gold spirit
Gilroy – One look at Marisa Montes and it’s obvious: she’s a Mustang fan.
The 17-year-old senior spent Homecoming Day arrayed in, literally, head-to-toe blue and gold. On her head Montes wore a curly, blue wig. Her face was covered in blue and gold paint, split down the center. Her attire was comprised of a homemade Gilroy High School T-shirt, blue gym shorts and knee-high striped socks.
Dressing up isn’t a drag for Montes, although she did complain about the face paint bothering her “eyes a bit,” because she loves all the activities associated with homecoming.
“It’s awesome because you’re just united with your whole school,” she said.
That seemed to be the prevailing attitude of everyone who came out to cheer on their class during Friday afternoon’s Homecoming Parade.
The students lining the sidewalks as floats, the band and cheerleader-filled convertibles passed by wasn’t very substantial but the majority were decked out in Mustang gold and blue garb and they raised their voices to happy cheers as the parade passed by.
For seniors, homecoming is a bittersweet time.
Montes and her friend Andrea Garcia, 17, said they dress up for all the Homecoming Week events every year, but this year they upped the spirit meter since it’s their senior year.
“Everything seems like it’s going by faster,” said Montes.
GHS Activities Director Jack Daly, who has run Homecoming Week for 11 years, said the fall events are an important aspect of the whole high school experience.
“I think ultimately it’s about being connected to the school,” he said. “And the more you can connect kids to school the more buy-in and ownership (they have).”
Groups of students from each class spent this week building their floats in the parking lot after school. Students built their floats according to the time period each class chose to adhere to the 2004 homecoming theme “A Blast From the Past.”
The freshmen selected “prehistoric” as their theme and built a float complete with a dinosaur and bubble-blowing volcano. Sophomores decided to go with the 1970s decade. The junior class nabbed the wild west era and seniors chose the 1950s.
The week was also filled with fun activities.
On Monday students represented their junior high school by dressing up in old gym clothes, Tuesday was Twin’s Day and Wednesday was Super Hero Day. On Thursday each class represented their chosen decade and Friday was Blue and Gold Day.
Friday afternoon students attended a spirit rally at GHS. In the evening students watched junior varsity and varsity football games and attended a dance.
Homecoming court
• Seniors:
King, Joey Flores
Queen, Brianna Balanesi
Senior Prince, Daniel Bischoff Princess, Kelly Melcher
• Juniors:
Prince, Jacob Cantu
Princess, Alysha Molina
• Sophomores:
Prince, Chris Cid
Princess,: Lindsey Valadez
• Freshmen:
Prince, Joshua Carter
Princess, Heather Zepeda
