Mr. Siqueiros, Kadence Hetherington ’28, and Mr. Feehan give information targeted towards Homecoming, which was on October 2, and Cowhide, which is on October 30.
By: Jayson See-Mills
At Redwood High School, Homecoming and Cowhide are two of the biggest spirit weeks of the school year, but they celebrate very different parts of what it means to be a Redwood student. While both traditions bring students together, they create excitement in different ways.
Mr. Feehan, the advisor of Redwoodś yearbook class, said, “Homecoming traditionally comes from when a football team has been away for a while, and then they come back. That’s why it’s called Homecoming,” and it’s also “traditionally a big opportunity for clubs.” The tradition of Homecoming at Redwood has evolved over time and has changed over the years.
“I’m not sure a staff member could tell you what the homecoming theme was five years ago,” Siqueiros said, “where everyone knows that Cowhide is Cow print, Ranger blue, and we play football to beat the other school down the street.” Homecoming also includes dress up days which provides all students to be included and engaged in Homecoming week.
Traditions have stayed the same when it comes to Cowhide, but with homecoming, there’s always a different theme; yet there are always the five homecoming king nominees and five homecoming queen nominees. Siqueiros said, “For Homecoming King and Queen, the biggest tradition is being able to nominate; you’re a top 10, as well as vote for your main King and Queen.”
The five homecoming king nominees are Nathan Joel Gonzalez, Xavier Legaspi, Adrian Lopez Guzman, Roman Alexander Mesa, and Justin Carlo Zialcita. The five homecoming queen nominees are Jillian Alise Craycraft, Apple Areli Espino, Hadlee Jane Galley, Samantha Sanchez Chavez, and Stellamarie Caterina Vaccaro.
This year’s theme was centered around Marvel, but in previous years, homecoming themes have been Barbie and Mario. As for Cowhide, it’s the same football game every year, with our goal always being to win in our generationally friendly rivalry with Mt. Whitney.
“Cowhide is a bit easier in the sense of it; it’s a tradition, so it’s always one theme; same kind of decor; refurbished.” Heterington said that Cowhide is very heavy on football with “the outcome of that game determines who wins the Cowhide.”
The first Cowhide game ever held was back in 1955, so this year’s Cowhide marks its 71st game since then. Feehan said, “Redwood and Mount Whitney were the original two high schools in Visalia; really started because Mount Whitney was a spinoff of Redwood, or you could see Redwood was being a spinoff of Mount Whitney depending on how you look at it.”
The Cowhide football game is always held at Mineral King Bowl every year with Redwood students supporting our football team by wearing cowprint or ranger blue. Hetherington said, “It’s a rivalry all week with dress days, spirit and going all out there and leaving it on the field.”
To prepare for Cowhide, Siqueiros said, “Get the entire school ready to beat the school down the street; communicating events; communicating activities; dress-up days; and building a culture around that special week”
While the events differ in purpose, they both create school spirit and pride to encourage involvement in Redwood activities.
Jayson See-Mills
Jayson See-Mills,´28, likes to write articles about student life to encourage students to get engaged with Redwood culture.
Tags: clubs & lifestyles, cowhide, football, homecoming, rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, redwood sports, rhs, sports, visalia ca
