Meet the HoCo King Nominees for Redwood High School’s 2026 HoCo Week

As Redwood’s 2026 Homecoming, HoCo, week comes to an end and final voting begins, nominees for HoCo King share their passion for school spirit and their clubs.

By Greer Olson

One of Redwood’s Homecoming King nominees, Justin Zialcita, ‘27, was unavailable for interviews at the time of reporting; though he will still appear on student ballots.

Being well organized is important to Roman Mesa, ‘27, as he is AVIDs, Advancement Via Individual Determination, homecoming king nominee. Having been involved in AVID for now six years, Mesa says that he really appreciates being nominated because he is proud to “represent the school and [his] club”. 

Being in AVID has had a deep impact on Mesa’s life as it’s taught him to be punctual and efficient, “with [his] work in school”. Because of that, he has “a lot of dedication to AVID” and the club. Because of Mesa’s dedication, he believes this proves him to be incredibly school spirited as he displays the qualities of a ranger, as he can be trusted and is true during “opportunities outside and during school”.

Mesa says that he is a ranger, displaying qualities like being “hard working, smart, and punctual,” along with saying that [he] is generally just a good guy and candidate for HoCo King.

Along with being a leader, Nathan Gonzalez, ‘27, is a two-year yearbook student, the editor for the sports section, and is Redwood Yearbooks HoCo King Nominee. Gonzalez says that he appreciates yearbook for the nomination, but also for the “friendships, meeting people, and the position” he has in yearbook.

Yearbook class and being a contributor impacts Redwood as Gonzalez says, “yearbook is a big part of school and spirit”. Being a part of yearbook has made him leave his comfort zone and has pushed him to “be more active in all the events that go on,” making him involved in student culture. 

“Yearbook is a positive impact” on the community, Gonzalez says. He says that by contributing to this impact, he too positively impacts Redwood and makes him a good guy to represent Redwood.

Xavier Legaspi, ’27, love for Redwood doesn’t stop at being the Vice-President and nominee for ASB, though his school spirit doesn’t end there. Legaspi says that being nominated isn’t just a title, but more an extension of his “love for Redwood”. 

With or without a nomination, Legaspi shows his school spirit every day in ASB. Legaspi says that being chosen for a nomination shows, “the impact [he] has on the class. That the work [he] does is paying off”. Being in ASB allows him to be more closely involved with Redwood culture, and being a nominee allows him to “represent clubs and, in general,” Redwood. 

Being a nominee means pulling “from different areas of campus and letting everyone have a spotlight” for the week. Legaspi says that he makes sure to represent everyone at Redwood and that it makes him a good candidate along with his love for Redwood.

While Adrian Lopez Guzman, ‘27, spends plenty of time with ASB as the president, he was nominated by Redwood Orchestra. Guzman says that being nominated is such “a blessing” and that he is “so stoked to be a part of top five”. 

Being nominated is important to Guzman because he spends a lot of his time connecting with friends and other students at Redwood and feels like this is, “an opportunity to show the school the type of person” he really is. He likes to be able to show people school spirit and “that there is nothing to be afraid of going out of your comfort zone”. 

Guzman’s impact on his community, he says, is through “organizing events” for Redwood. He considers all perspectives and “different groups of people like FBLA and Science Olympiad”.

Guzman says that he wishes everyone good luck in voting and is excited to have a good time at the game tonight. 

Student voting for nominees closes at 5:00 pm on October 2nd, 2026, and the homecoming game begins at 7:30 pm, where the winners will be announced at halftime. Click here to vote.

Tags: clubs & lifestyles, hoco, HoCo2026, homecoming, rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, RedwoodHoCo, rhs, visalia ca