Top 5 HOCO King Nominees: From Spirit Lane to the Football Field

By: Donya Hassanshahi and Bella Aldridge

Top 5 Homecoming King nominees share their perspectives on being elected and how this memorable experience impacts the remainder of their senior year.

During the Homecoming Rally Monday, August 26th, Redwood students discovered the five male and five female Rangers who were nominated for Homecoming (HOCO) King and Queen.

Over the course of this week, elected nominees have partipated in lunch activies and have been preparing for the highly antipated moment of the week: who will be crowed Homecoming King and Queen?

Although winners will not be revealed until the Varsity Football Halftime show, male nominees were eager to share how it feels to be a nominee during the last Homecoming of their high school expereince.

Ambrose Bueno, ‘23 was elected by the Varsity Boys Soccer team. When reflecting on his initial reaction to being nominated, Bueno says he was surprised to be included in the top five. ” It means a lot, honestly. I’m surprised to be here and I appreciate the support from everyone. I’m thankful for the opportunity,” he adds.

As the week comes to an end, Bueno says that his favorite moments have been his partipation in the lunchtime activies and other events held by ASB for the top ten elected seniors.

In addition to the games, Bueno says that another part of this week that has been memorable was his ability to socalize with students, “[His] favorite part so far was meeting new people, meeting the upcoming freshmen, the younger class, talking to them and everything.”

Noe Viveros, ‘23 was elected by members of Ranger TV. His nomination has left him with a sense of gratitude. “It’s just an honor to have everyone’s support and I appreciate it. I just want to say: ‘thank you to everybody and see you Friday after that win’,” he says.

After reviewing his time as a participant in top ten activities, his favorite event to participate in thus far has been the lunchtime activities. “It brings everyone together and it’s a nice, friendly competition,” Viveros adds.

Given he is a player on the Varisty Football team, Viveros is looking forward to the game, “[He’s] excited to be out [on the field] and get our first win.”

Mathew Spalding ‘23 was elected by Ranger Band. Spalding says that his involvement with, not only band but other clubs and athletics, has given him a platform to represent his classmates and peers that do not have representation. “It makes me feel really good that I’m able to represent band, and a lot of my friends who aren’t as involved with different things, and so I can get them involved in these things and make them feel more a part of Redwood.”

Over the span of this week, he says he has enjoyed partaking in the variety of games and activities offered to make students feel involved. The football game and Homecoming Parade are two events that Spalding is looking forward to.

Having the chance to be elected in the top five for male nominees has given Spalding a positive perspective, “I think I’ll look back on it and be glad that I was nominated and know that I had a good time.”

Jordan Nelsen, ’23 was elected by Hiking Club. As a male nominee in the top five, Nelsen says that he is “excited about being elected this year. It’s been a good experience so far with the dress-up days [and] activities during lunch.”

Nelsen says that his favorite part of homecoming week has been the lunchtime activities. Overall, a highlight of his week has been “everyone voting, supporting, [and] making shirts.” As a member of the football team, he looks forward to playing against Tulare Union.

He says that he is satisfied with his ability to represent students of Redwood and members of Hiking Club. Considering this is Nelsen’s last year as a Ranger, he says that when we reflects on these moments in the future “[he] will look at it as a good experience, something [he] was fortunate to be nominated for.”

Aidan Leonard, ’23 was elected by the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club. Although he did not anticipate his nomination, Leonard says that he is “really appreciative of it”.

His favorite part of Homecoming lunch events has been the race activity from Thursday. As for dress-up days, “[he] really liked the squad day because all the FBLA officers dressed up as frat guys and sorority girls and that was pretty fun.”

Leonard’s growth as individual makes this year that much more meaning. In the future, he hopes to “tell [his] kids in the future that I was a nominee; [he] feel[s] that’d be cool.”

The annual JV and Varsity Homecoming Football games will take place in the Mineral King Bowl at 6/8:00 pm Friday night. Halftime shows will consist of club floats, performances, and the crowning of the 2022-2023 HOCO King and Queen. Tickets may be purchased online through GoFan.

Tags: Bella Aldridge, clubs & lifestyles, Donya Hassanshahi, hoco, hocoweek, homecoming, homecoming nominees, homecoming week 2022, humans of redwood, rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, visalia ca