Bull Dog pride is running high this week as students and alumni of Columbus North High School prepare for the school’s annual homecoming celebration today.
The excitement has been building all week in the high school’s halls, where students have been dressing up in themed outfits to celebrate Bull Dog Spirit Week.
This year’s Spirit Week was all about color — or the lack thereof.
On Monday, students wore all black, while Tuesday was all about white. All-denim Wednesday was followed by Thursday’s “groutfits” — completely grey outfits.
But today, the most important day of the homecoming week, students let their colors and North pride explode for the Friday “Bluau Luau.”
“This gives us a chance to show all of our school colors,” said Emma McAlister, a North senior.
Spirit Week is only the beginning of the homecoming celebrations.
At 1:30 p.m. today, students will leave class early for a time-honored Columbus North tradition — the 14th annual trike races.
Student teams — 23, in all — will race across the football field in trikes of all makes and models, trying to prove who is the fastest and most athletic.
“This raises the hype of the week,” said Allison Bates, another North senior.
At halftime of the trike races, one of the most important elements of every high school homecoming celebration will occur, the crowning of the homecoming king.
But students will have to wait until halftime of tonight’s football game against Terre Haute for the crowning of the homecoming queen.
After a parade of floats created by each class — with the princes and princesses riding along — rolls past the football field, the senior queen candidates will ride in Corvettes in front of the west stands, with the king candidates walking in front, and the 2015 queen will finally receive her crown.
But the homecoming court will not be celebrating its victory at a traditional dance. Instead, a school-wide movie night will immediately follow the game.
“We already had the winter formal dance, so the homecoming dance wasn’t a big deal,” McAlister said.
Five minutes after the final score is announced, students will pile into the high school’s second gym with blankets and pillows for a free screening of the 1998 Adam Sandler classic, “Waterboy.”
But before the students begin their own celebration, Bull Dogs of the past also will have their time in the spotlight when four alumni are inducted into the Columbus North Hall of Fame.
Glenn Thompson, 1917; Jamie Hyneman, 1974; Steven David, 1975; and Michael Martin, 1982, each will be honored at an induction ceremony at 6:15 p.m. prior to the game.
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Columbus North Alumni Hall of Fame induction: 6:15 p.m., student commons
Columbus North vs. Terre Haute football game: 7:30 p.m., Columbus North football field
Homecoming float parade, crowning of queen: Halftime, Columbus North football field
“Waterboy” screening: Five minutes after the game, Columbus North Gym 2
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