The Early Homecoming Date Still Made It Possible For Students To Get Everything Done

By: Megan Yang

Redwood Students make it possible to prepare for the 2022-2023 Homecoming game by getting everything in order.

The Homecoming game was on Friday, September 2, 2022, against Tulare Union High School. Even with the early date, it allowed for clubs, dance teams, and band to get everything ready and prepared on time.

Hailey Aston, ASB director, says the reason Homecoming was early this year was because “[they] wanted to make sure it was a home game that was not a Visalia school and to give enough time to plan Cowhide.”

Piper Lambert, class of 2024, a dance force member, says, “We did have to give up some after-school time to go over and clean up [the dance].”

Lambert says “it was a little scary because as a dancer you want it to be perfect and when it’s not, it stresses you out, but I think it came together very well.”

Matthew Bartolo, class of 2024, hip hop dance member, says, “We had about two weeks and did [our dance] every single day.”

Bartolo says, “In the end, it was so much fun and I was so excited about performing.”

Carly Jensen ’24, varsity cheerleader, says, “I thought the early Homecoming date was fun because it got everyone’s school spirit going and excited for the new school year.”

Jensen faced the challenge of “having to learn harder new stunts in such a short amount of time, but [they] were able to make it happen.”

Jensen says, “Personally, it was a long and stressful week, but it all paid off in the end. I’m really proud of my team for putting in all the time, effort, and sweat together that we have and it’s gonna be a great season.”

International performed at the Homecoming rally and Evan Gonzalez, class of 2023, international dance member, says the early homecoming date, “didn’t really affect my after-school life because we worked hard in class.”

Gonzalez would have “liked to have the date a little bit later… but [thinks] everything worked out.”

Jacob Abbot, class of 2024, trumpet player for band, says, “We didn’t really change anything we would have done, which was band camp starting in August and then practices Monday and Thursday.”

The early Homecoming date “didn’t cause any difficulties.” Abbot says, “We were more or less prepared because we had already finished most of the show.”

Emma Souza, class of 2023, Vice-President of the Art Club, says, “Being in the parade felt fun. I loved showing off our props.”

Preparations “took the entire homecoming week.” Art Club had painted “all of their decorations and props for their float.”

Souza says, “I think everything went as planned, besides the time we were supposed to go out to the bowl. We had to wait 2 extra hours just to present our floats to the crowd, but once we got in, it was exciting.”

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