College royalty elected
The Nov. 3 football game at Saddleback College played host to three different ceremonies celebrating past and present Gaucho students.
Parent’s night for sophomore football players, homecoming, and the 2007 Gaucho Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place on the football field.
Before the game began, sophomore football players and their families were honored during a ceremony. It was a fitting farewell to those who will be moving on next year as their junior college eligibility runs out.
There was much to enjoy at the stadium during the homecoming festivities.For kids, a jump house and large inflatable slide were set up. An inflated jousting stage allowed two competitors to battle with giant inflated jousts.
A Rockstar Energy Drink street team was on location helping everyone stay energized for the impending crowning of homecoming king and queen and hall of fame induction.
The Saddleback Hall of Fame Ceremony during halftime was a celebration of skill and hard work as deserving Gaucho Alumni from 2000-04 were honored for outstanding contribution in their respective sports.
The induction ceremony occurs every four years and was led this year by Athletic Director Tony Lipold.
“We had a great turnout,” Lipold said. “[There were] 33 out of the 78 [inductees] present, which is great. The crowd was really into it.”
The induction ceremony was followed by the announcement of homecoming court.
The finalists for homecoming king were Connor Ames, Case McQuillan, and Anthony Sarashid. The homecoming queen finalists were Verna Abante, Lynzee Nolan, and CJ Park.
The Associated Student Government and the Alumni Association organized the homecoming festivities.
But it all came down to a few tense moments while the packed stands at Saddleback’s stadium provided a foot drum roll as the homecoming court results were read. The results crowned Case McQuillan and Verna Abante as Saddleback homecoming king and queen.
“I wasn’t expecting [being crowned queen] at all,” Abante said. “I think it is a great honor, especially representing a great school like Saddleback.”
McQuillan was equally surprised.
“It was definitely a surprise,” McQuillan said. “It was cool to see the appreciation.”