Homecoming Pageantry
The annual Ocracoke School Homecoming Court held on October 20th this year was preceded by middle school basketball games and followed by a rousing game of father vs. son basketball.
The high school Dolphins took on their dads (some of whom are former Dolphins) in a contest of old age and treachery vs. youth and skill, with the bleacher crowd LOL-ing and cheering equally for both teams. Best of all, it ended in a tie! (We sense a rematch on the horizon.) Congrats for a game well-coached and well-played to Colby Austin and dad, Wade; Perry Austin and dad, Donald; Liam Caswell and dad, Bill; Darvin Contreras and dad, Oscar; Dylan Esham and dad, David Scott; Sam Evans and dad, Bill; Mason Fuller and dad, Ed; Parker Gaskill and dad, Monroe; Reese Gaskins and dad, Keith; Cole Gilbert and dad, Tyler; Mac Kalna and dad, Garick; and Kalai Samick and dad, Brian.
The traditional Homecoming Court, emceed this year by high school science teacher Jennifer Garrish, was presented before the father-son game. Twenty-five students (out of a possible forty-six) opted to join the festivities this year. Participation in Homecoming is open to all high schoolers; all students in grades 3 and up get to vote for the royalty.
Seniors Lupita Martinez and Liam Caswell were crowned Queen and King; Iris Trejo and Mac Kalna, also seniors, joined them with the royal titles of Princess and Prince. Josie Winstead, the 2015 Homecoming Queen, and Carson O'Neal, the 2016 Homecoming King, came home for fall break from their studies at UNC-Chapel Hill to pass their titles on to the new Court.
Following the Court was the ever-popular photo-op sessions where the kids pose with each other and everyone else so there's proof of how well they clean up.
This Homecoming began and ended with basketball, and the dress-up portion was short and sweet, as always. There's no Homecoming Dance on Ocracoke, and no official party afterward – most of the kids change out of their finery as soon as they can and join the basketball audience. For the Homecoming Court presentation, the kids write their own bios, which are read aloud as they stand under the bright lights facing the paparazzi. The Current snagged a copy from Ms. Jennifer, which is printed in its entirety below the photos.
Lupita Martinez is the daughter of Jose and Eugenia martinez. She enjoys playing soccer and basketball. In her free time, she likes to free draw and read. In the future she would like to study to get a business degree and attend UNC-Wilmington.
Liam Caswell is the 17-year-old son of Bill and Lisa Caswell. Liam is currently a senior, but is in the process of transferring to Chino Hills, California by request of Lavar Ball to be homeschooled and train with Lamelo Ball. In the future, Liam plans on attending Big Baller University with a major in Ball Control. After college, Liam is unsure of his exact plans, but will probably just run for President or something, since at this point, it's pretty much anyone's game. In Liam's free tiem, he enjoys talking trash to freshmen in PE class, never losing in anything ever in PE class, being the best at everything all the time no matter what it is in PE class, and long walks on the beach.
Iris Trejo is the amazing daughter of Rocio and Juan Trejo, and the one and only incredible sister to Christian, and will always be. She is a senior, but says it hasn't hit her yet, but after Senior Night, it will kick in. Iris is a member of the varsity basketball and track teams. After high school, she plans to attend college in the fall of 2018. Her future plan is to become a nail technician.
Christian Trejo says, first off, my sister was wrong: I am the amazing son to Rocio and Juan Trejo. Christian is 14 adn a freshman. He's currently on the varsity soccer team. This year, he also wants to be on the basketball and track teams. His goal this year is to mess around with his sister as much as he can before she leaves.
Starr Ely is the oldest (and favorite) child of Tyke and Cheri Ely. Her life plans are to be a chef or cosmetologist, but who knows? Life is a funny thing. Let's not get philosophical right now, though. So on to hobbies... uh, watching Netflix, cooking food (mostly soup), going to the thrift store, listening to music, and playing Apples to Apples, all with friends. So that's Starr.
Ingrid Contreras is the 16-year-old headache of Antonio Contreras and Flor Garcia. She is currently a junior. She is a member of the soccer team and will join the basketball and track teams. She plans to attend college – she hasn't decided, but somewhere far, far, far away. Hey Sam, you know what's funny? People actually think Michael Jordan is better than Lebron. Also, Sam, you're looking fresh tonight.
Sam Evans is the 16-year-old son of Bill Evans and Alive Burruss. In his free time, he likes to play basketball, soccer, and argue with people about why Lebron is the greatest basketball player of all time. In the future, he hopes to go to college to study sports medicine. #lebronisthegoat
Taylor Fuller is the 16-year-old daughter of Ed and Wendy Fuller. She is currently a junior. In her free time, she likes to ride around in the same circles with Kenzie, Emily, and Vanessa. She hopes to attend an North Carolina university and study sports and exercise science.
Mackenzie O'Neal is the 16-year-old daughter of Carl and Serina O'Neal, and is currently a junior. She is a pro procrastinator and enjoys watching Netflix and spending time with her friends. Her future plans consist of attending a four-year university, but her major is still undecided.
Mac Kalna is the 17-year-old son of Garick and Jacqui Kalna. He is a member of the varsity soccer, basketball, and baseball teams. He is also a member of the National Beta Club and the National Society of High School Scholars. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports and hanging out with friends. His future plans include attending a 4-year university and majoring in business and finance. As he departs from Ocracoke next year, he wishes everyone will keep his eye on his parents now that they have so much time on their hands.
Teresa Hadley is the 16-year-old daughter of Christopher and Krystine Hadley. She is a junior who enjoys playing sports and being creative. She is on the soccer team and is a newly-inducted Beta Club member. She continues to pursue her art and try new venues to use her creativity in. She enjoys spending time with family and is surrounded by lots of little ones who adore her. She recently attended the Satellite Camp at NC State and was chosen for the award that embodies the ideals of the camp. She learned a lot from that experience and hopes to have more like it. She is looking forward to the rest of high school days and what adventures lie ahead for her. She dreams of pursuing her art, perhaps in graphic design, or pursuing her love of children and becoming a an elementary teacher. Who knows? Maybe she'll do both!
Cole Gilbert is the 14-year-old favorite son of Daniela and Tyler Gilbert. In his free time, Cole enjoys playing basketball, going out on the boat, and making fund of Coach B's hairline. After high school, Cole would like to play basketball at the collegiate level and maybe beyond, but if that doesn't work out, there is always the possibility of being a horse jockey.
Caroline Novak is the 16-year-old daughter of Richard and Mary Bryant. Her favorite hobbies are reading, writing, and listening to musicals. After high school, she plans to attend college, where she will focus on English and Theater.
Alston Belch is the 16-year-old son of Ivey and Laura Belch. He is currently in 11th grade. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games, kayaking, reading, annoying his sister Hannah, and insisting he is the favorite chaild. He is looking to go into a career in aviation.
Karen Jordan is the 15-year-old daughter of Ruth and Mike Jordan. She is currently a sophomore and an athlete on the soccer and basketball teams, and she participates in the Beta Club. She frequently travels off-island to play tennis and also like baking. Her favorite hobbies are playing piano and learning guitar. In the future, Karen plans on continuing her education at a 4-year university.
Grant Jackson is the 17-year-old son of Andrea Powers and Tim Jackson. he is currently a senior. In his free time, he likes to ride around, hang out with friends, sleep, and eat. After high school, he plans on staying on Ocracoke and working.
Vanessa Lora is the 16-year-old favorite daughter of Esther Lora and Francisco Garcia. She's currently a sophomore and is currently on the soccer team. In the winter, catch her on the court playing basketball, how 'bout that? In her free time, she enjoys singing along with Moana: "I know everybody on this island, has a role on this island, so maybe I can roll with mine." She also enjoys – oh, wait, she doesn't do anything else.
Perry Austin is the 15-year-old son of Donald and Cindy Austin. He is currently a sophomore and on the soccer team. In the winter, he will be playing basketball. During his free time, he likes to take long walks down Springer's and play with his niece and nephews. He also enjoys swimming. In the future he hopes to join the military.
Mila Raquel Ortiz is the 15-year-old favorite and only daughter of Eve Ferris. She's a sophomore, and in her free time she likes to watch series on Netflix, play guitar with Karen, and share funny pictures with her friends. She is looking forward to hopefully becoming a geneticist when she graduates, although she is uncertain which college she wants to attend. All her dream jobs as a kid somehow related to science.
Parker Gaskill is the son of Monroe Gaskill and Megan Aldridge. In his free time, he likes to play basketball, fish, and put clean dishes away. His plans in the future are to become famous.... and not wear out the Monz too much in the father-son basketball game.
Hannah Belch is the 14-year-old daughter of Ivey and Laura Belch. She is currently a freshman. In her free time, she enjoys annoying her brother and riding around on Starr's golf cart with Cody and Caroline. In the future, she plans to get a degree in education.
Ethan O'Neal is the 15-year-old son of Fletcher and Heather O'Neal. In his free time, he likes annoying all of his many brothers and sister. And he likes sleeping as much as possible.
Kenzie Novak is the 14-year-old daughter of Richard and Mary Bryant. Outside of school she likes to hang with her dogs, read books, spend time with her weird, and be silly with her friends Becky, Hannah, and occasionally, Alexander.
Becky Boos is the 14-year-old daughter of Bubbie Boos and Kristen Potter. In her free time she enjoys harassing her friends Kenzie and Hannah. She also enjoys going on bike rides, binge-watching stuff on Netflix, walking her dog, and traveling with family. For her future, she plans on finishing high school, then attending NC State University to come a veterinarian.
Alexander O'Neal is the 14-year-old son of Johnny and Susan O'Neal. In his free time, he likes to ride around, draw, and try to find his own way in life.
