Morrison crowned Homecoming queen

Samantha Morrison was crowned queen of the 2006 MHHS Homecoming during halftime of Friday's game.

by Karen Martin

Mountain Home News

Samantha Morrison was crowned queen of the 2006 MHHS Homecoming during halftime of Friday night's game against Kuna, which the Tigers won 23-19.

With the theme of "Rumble in the Jungle" Mountain Home High School celebrated Homecoming Week activities with some significant changes from previous years, starting new traditions.

Classes at the high school took turns sponsoring dress-up days and hosting lunchtime activities while the community took part in the night-time games.

In the Macho Man volleyball game on Monday, the juniors beat the seniors in five games in front of a good turnout at Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium.

A big crowd also turned out to watch the Powder Puff football game on Wednesday at Tiger field. The seniors tied the juniors in a scoreless game. The football action looked different from past years due to some rule changes initiated by the girls.

Amid a sea of orange and black, displayed creatively from head to toe and floor to ceiling, the high school students got ready for battle during the noon assembly on Friday where all of the high school students and staff gathered in the gym for spirit building activities.

For the first time, the freshman class -- ninth-grade students from the junior high -- were invited to the assembly and they seemed a little unsure when the other classes good-naturedly "booed" them.

Janet Waggoner, this year's homecoming advisor, said, "We are trying to include them earlier to the high school environment and give them a taste of the craziness of homecoming!"

The walls and floors vibrated as the students yelled and stomped their feet with increasing intensity. Each class acted out a skit for the audience that depicted the Tigers overcoming the Kuna Kavemen.

Setting an example of school spirit, the Mountain Home Alumni Association performed a skit that included favorite media characters Sponge Bob Squarepants (Rich Urquidi) and Superintendent Tim McMurtrey as Napoleon Dynamite.

Tyson Sessions was crowned as Homecoming King during the assembly.

Following the homecoming assembly at noon, the parade kicked off, winding through the downtown area, lead by a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle from the Idaho National Guard. That entry had been arranged by high school military science instructor Georff Schroeder.

Students from Hacker Middle School were let out of class to attend the parade this year and showed lots of enthusiasm and spirit as they watched the floats drive down Jackson Street.

In addition, some businesses released their employees to watch the parade and some adults were even spotted watching from the rooftop of a house across from Hacker Middle School.

Spectators said it was one the biggest parades they had seen in years. There were 20 floats in this year's parade.

"We really are trying to give everyone a chance to participate including the Freshman volleyball team this year," Waggoner said.

"This is a building year," she noted." Next year will be even bigger."

A warm, clear Friday evening welcomed a standing room only crowd to Tiger field for the varsity football game pitting the Tigers against the Kuna Kavemen.

Like the freshman and JV footballs games before them, the Tigers never gave the Kavemen a chance to get ahead, beating them 23-19.

As is tradition, the 2006 Homecoming Queen was crowned during the halftime show.

A thrilled Samantha Morrison was crowned Queen this year, as her father and the members of her court looked on.

The other royalty selected this year, announced at the homecoming dance later that evening, include Prince Brian Cobos and Princess Hannah Zamora, and Duke Chris Maholock and Duchess Lauren Borgholthaus.

The weeks' activities ended with the school dance, which had a record attendance of more than 300 students. For the first time in years the dance was semi-formal, rather than formal, a fact that Principal Jeff Johnson attributed to helping the improved turnout.

"We really want to thank the community and businesses for the great show of support this year", said Waggoner.

She also wanted to thank the Alumni Association for the flags displayed along American Legion Boulevard and all of the help given to the students during the week.

If businesses are interested in having their windows decorated for homecoming next year, they should contact Janet Waggoner at 587-2570.