Homecoming starts next week

The halls of Shawano Community High School looked like your standard halls of learning Friday morning. By the end of the day, they appeared ready for a party. Homecoming returns next week for Shawano, as current and former students come together to celebrate their alma mater. The football game against Green Bay West, homecoming’s biggest event, will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, with the annual Hall of Fame induction at noon in the SCHS commons. The community homecoming parade begins at 6 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Elizabeth and Main streets and continuing north on Main Street. The lineup starts at 5 p.m. Also on Friday are the powder puff football games, where the girls take the field and battle for the pigskin. Semifinals are at 2 p.m. with the finals beginning at 7:30 p.m. On Thursday, the high school will hold a pep rally at 1:30 p.m. During the week, there will be a number of dress-up days and lunchtime activities to further bring out school spirit and pride. Zeke Gueths, student council president, has felt the level of excitement for homecoming build over the last three years from when he was a freshman. “Every year, it seems to get more and more important to yourself. As a freshman, you’re not totally used to it, but when you’re a senior, this is the week that you really look forward to,” Gueths said. Gueths likes homecoming week because it is a chance for current students like him to kick back a little bit, but it’s also a holiday of sorts for the alumni. “When you go to school in Shawano, you’re a Shawano Hawk. It’s a pride thing,” Gueths said. “This kind of brings the whole community together for a week.” Gueths is excited to be preparing for the events behind the scenes as the school’s student leader, and he hopes all the students have a good time. Julia Beck, senior class president, noted that homecoming also gives current students a unique opportunity to meet others in the school that they don’t normally interact with during classes, lunch, sports or other activities. “This always brings everyone together to have a good time and to represent our class,” Beck said. Beck also enjoys seeing the sports fans’ excitement reach a high point during homecoming week. “Everyone is so positive and having a good time,” Beck said.