JUST MY OPINION

Santa Ynez Valley Union High School celebrated its homecoming on Oct. 26. The day was full of non-academic activities, and the administration adopted a minimum–day schedule to accommodate them.

The shortened day allowed students plenty of time to attend the homecoming parade, themed “Blast from the Past,” on Santa Ynez’s Sagunto Street.

Participating in the parade were Santa Ynez cheerleaders, a marching band led by Jessie Burnside Clapp, and floats entered by the Organization of Latinos and Americans, a school-based club promoting higher education, and by the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior classes.

The judges, including teachers Tory Babcock and Chris Mullin, awarded the sophomore float first place.

The varsity football team contributed to the festivities with a home game against Santa Maria’s St. Joseph’s High School.

The last game of the football season produced a huge turnout, and the team did not disappoint. Number 35, Justin Iniguez, impressively scored the first touchdown with a long and uninterrupted run into the end zone. Quarterback Blake Dubois scored a second touchdown soon after Iniguez’s by successfully catching a faked pass.

Toward the end of the second quarter, Evan Reed, Number 80, easily evaded his Knights guard and made the third and final touchdown for the Pirates, bringing the score to 20-0. The St. Joe Knights ended up making a single touchdown near the end of the game, resulting in the final score of 20 to 7.

At halftime the 2007 Homecoming Queen was announced.

The previous year’s Homecoming Queen, Ruby Limon, was present to pass on the crown. This year’s princesses were Jessie Burnside Clapp, Caydi Dommeyer, Isla Gomez, Chelsea Hewitt, Allison Ibsen, Viviana Martin, Whitney Moir, and Holly Porter.

As the princesses lined up in anticipation, Limon paced behind them, regally deliberating. She eventually stopped behind Moir, and, placing the crown on her head, officially named her 2007 Homecoming Queen.