BY LISA HOLTZENDORF
Special to the Telegraph-Times-Monitor
Union County High School had homecoming festivities the week of Sept. 25-Oct. 1, with a theme selected by the student council of “Celebrating 100 Years of Union County, History, Heritage and Home” to tie in with the county’s 100th anniversary.
Festivities began with a Sept. 25 dance that saw the UCHS gym decorated with a New York City skyline and featuring tiny, twinkling lights to simulate NYC at night. Students entered as if attending a red-carpet event and were greeted with lots of greenery, I-Love-New York signs and a colorful photo booth. The dance was put on by the senior class and was a fundraiser for Project Grad.
Tiger Growl, which has been held for the past 53 years (started by the Class of 1968), took place Sept. 30. In honor of the theme and the county’s centennial celebration, homecoming kings and queens of the past were invited to attend and be recognized. Those who showed up were: Dale Hollingsworth Clyatt (1950), Shirley O’steen Howard (1951), Gail Duke Emerson (1956), Shirley Sapp Gowens (1961), Sandra Langley Tyre (1962), Nancy Webster (Consolidated School, 1963), Julie Sapp Croft (1963), Dorothy Lacy Green (Consolidated School, 1965), Shirley Lacy (Consolidated School, 1966), Carol Bennett Kelley (1966), Ella Mae Littles (1973), Hattie Sermons Tennell (1979), Corky Welch (1980), Twyla Reed Roberts (1981), Lisa Cunningham Powell (1984), Kim Nesmith Kennedy (1985), Frankie Rigdon O’steen (1986), Kim Huntley Bailey (1989), Christy Floyd Whitehead (1990), Tricia Fortner Dukes (1991), Anitra Highland Simmons (1995), Mindy Browning Bennett (1997), Stephanie Anderson Crawford (2001), Joanna Hunter Jackson (2002), Whitney Worthington Oden (2004), Leah McDowell (2005), Michelle Hunter (2006), Robin Thomas (2008), Dustin Floyd (2008), Jordan Reynolds Horton (2009), Jessie O’steen Howard (2010), Morgan Dukes Starling (2011), Alexa Park Perez (2014), Valerie Seay (2015), Alli Perez (2017), Shelby Spratlin and Trace Croft (2018) and Victoria Park and Ryan Harden (2019).
Roberto Saravia and Desiree Edwards, the king and queen from 2020, returned as well to crown this year’s king and queen: Dezmond Edwards and Laura Park.
The past kings and queens were presented with carnations by Superintendent of Schools Mike Ripplinger.
Also in honor of Union County’s past, Hazel Hoffman Wall was escorted by car around the track, receiving a standing ovation. Wall, 103, is the oldest registered voter in the county. She was joined by Supervisor of Elections Debbie Osborne and Sheriff Brad Whitehead.
Capt. Emma Fulton, Cadet Command Sergeant Major Adam Ali, Cadet Captain Violet Romero and Cadet Major Alauna Brown of the UCHS JROTC presented the colors to begin Tiger Growl, with junior Major Gaffney singing the national anthem. Senior Student Body President Tahj Merriex gave the invocation.
Football players, cheerleaders and their escorts were introduced, with a new jumbotron broadcasting all the activity for the benefit of those in the stands.
UCHS and Lake Butler Middle School cheerleaders performed, as did Pop Warner cheerleaders in the Tiny Mites, Might Mites and Junior Pee Wee divisions.
Following the introduction of the golf and volleyball teams, members of the All-Star Twirling Academy, coached by June Stoeber, took to the field to stun those in attendance with fire batons and high-flying baton antics.
Each of the classes performed skits related to the theme, with the seniors setting the bar high with their “Chronicles of Rip,” acting out the past 25 years in Superintendent Ripplinger’s life
The junior skit portrayed the years 1971-96, Students, trapped inside the Centennial Hall of Fame after hours, received words of wisdom on how to get out and how to beat homecoming opponent Akelynn’s Angels Christian Academy from museum exhibits that came to life.
It was the Greasers vs. the Meatheads in the sophomore skit, which covered the years 1946-71. The two groups would eventually join forces to defeat the Wildcats on the field.
Bonnie and Clyde were terrorizing the county and chased by Sheriff Whitehead in the freshman skit, which portrayed the years 1921-46. Due to a polio quarantine, students had to round up players for the homecoming game. Babe Ruth, Albert Einstein, Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz,” the Three Stooges and Rosie the Riveter got the job done as UCHS defeated the Wildcats in a “Rumble in the Jungle.”
The freshmen won the competition, followed by the juniors in second, the sophomores in third and the seniors in fourth.
Most everyone eagerly awaits the coronation of class royalty, which took place following the skits. Philip Noah Williams and Ava Kate Walker were the freshman prince and princess, while the sophomore class was represented by Tanner Dale Connell and Sydney Ann Box. The junior prince and princess were Cole Andersen-Davis and Bailey Jade Handley.
Seniors vying for the positions of king and queen were introduced. Laura Park and Dezmond Edwards, Anna Ward and Jake O’steen, Josie Croft and Andrew Laux, and Kyra Jordan and Jackson Crook.
Park and Edwards were crowned, the results of voting which took place on Sept. 27. The crowd joined in singing the alma mater and took to the field to congratulate the winners.
The ceremonial senior bonfire followed, as did the announcement of the class float competition. The freshmen took first place, followed by the juniors in second, the sophomores in third and the seniors in fourth.
This year’s senior class sponsors were Victoria Polbos, Malcolm Odum, Ciara Woodall and Landon Klein.
