Davis High Homecoming Week Recap

Student reporters in Multimedia Journalism 1 covered the various festivities of Davis High’s annual Homecoming Week. Here are some of their stories:

Student Government fuels the festivities with months of planning

Homecoming activities: Sept. 21 to Sept. 26 

To most students at Davis High, Homecoming Week may just look like a series of themed outfits, decorated doors, parade floats and football. But to ASB President Giovanni Cervantes and vice president Ruby Deering, it’s not only that, but months of planning, emails and tight deadlines.

 “It is only just 41 of us working on it with our teacher,” Cervantes said. “We are just doing our best to keep the school happy and make the events as fun as possible.”

Most planning for Homecoming week takes place before the school year even begins. 

“We start by getting everything approved through admin,” Deering said. “We try to make the biggest list we can of approved themes.” 

After everything is cleared, Cervantes and Deering delegate most tasks to committees. 

“We’re like a well-oiled machine; if one of the parts falls off, the other parts can still work,” Cervantes said. “The committee system makes any unforeseen accidents better because if one person goes missing, then their group has their back.”

Once Homecoming week begins, there’s even more work to be done. 

“(It’s) the most busy time for all of us in the class,” Deering said. “We also have our floats, so you’re juggling the class time, final touches with the dance, doing Costco runs, doing so much work during class.” 

Although it may seem like a lot of work, Cervantes and Deering would tell you that it’s worth it. 

“There are almost 600 people who come (to the dance),” Deering said. “It’s stressful, but also super rewarding when people say that they had a great time.”

– Layla Pakpour

Students rock themed outfits for Spirit Week 

Spirit Week: Sept. 21 to Sept. 25

During Spirit Week, students have the opportunity to show their school spirit by dressing up in different themes each day. 

The themes from Monday through Friday were: Music Merch, Dancing in Denim, Battle of the Bands, Adam Sandler Day and Jersey Day.

On Thursday, students arrived at school in long basketball shorts and baggy T-shirts in proper Adam Sandler style. 

“This has been my favorite day so far,” junior Sophie Yiakis said. “I loved seeing everyone dress in Sandlercore.”

Some spirit days have prompts divided by grade. For Wednesday’s “Battle of the Bands” theme, each class wore its assigned attire: sophomores in pop, juniors in country, and seniors in house music. Teachers were also matching in their navy Davis Teachers Association shirts. 

English teacher Anthony Vasquez enjoys the unity of staff during Spirit Week.

“It’s fun because that is our team, our union,” he said.

Junior Paige Hulbert, the head of Student Government’s Hoco Spirit Days committee, deliberately planned out a week dedicated to fostering school spirit. Hulbert says her goal was to “get everyone to bond” and “be involved with each other.”

– Delaney McGahan

Sparks conducts Davis High Band during Homecoming Week

DHS Marching Band performances: Sept. 23, Sept. 25

Teaching five classes can be a challenge, but band teacher Brad Sparks takes it in stride.

Sparks teaches concert band, symphonic band, jazz band and mariachi at Davis High, while also teaching mariachi at Harper Junior High.

Originally a high school band teacher in his home state of Iowa, Sparks moved to California to teach at UC Davis as the assistant marching band director. 

When a band director was needed at DHS, Sparks jumped at the opportunity. 

“It was just really convenient timing for me to come here,” Sparks said. “This was exactly the kind of school that I wanted to work at (…) I’m so glad to be here.”

Sparks enjoys teaching all his students. 

“All the things that go into our PRIDE acronym—I think it’s great that the students observe that stuff,” Sparks said. “I think our band students are really good at that.”

An effective teacher, Sparks helps students understand just how fun music can be. 

“Sparks is a cool, fun and knowledgeable guy,” sophomore flutist Tai Tredennick said. “He’s really expanding my repertoire and helping me learn how to better play in a group.”

The DHS Marching Band performed at the Homecoming rally on Wednesday, led the parade downtown on Friday afternoon and played at the football game Friday night. The ensemble is made up of members from all the bands that Sparks teaches at DHS. 

“The kids have been working really hard,” Sparks said. “I’m really proud of them.”

– Bryce Ocampo

Homecoming Rally brings energy to the bleachers

Homecoming Rally: Sept. 23

The Davis High Homecoming rally on Sept. 23 was full of music, dancing and inexplicably, sumo wrestling. The event introduced this year’s Homecoming royalty, as well as the DHS teams playing on Friday.

Student Government called out the names of the Homecoming kings and queens. Sophomores Clara Stoller and Santiago Wehner, juniors Alex Ackerman and Liliana Garcia, and seniors Linden Perkens and Jasper Lee were crowned.

The rally introduced the athletes who will be playing in the Homecoming matches on Friday. The tackle and flag football teams burst into the gym, running a lap around the gym as they hurled T-shirts into the crowd.

The cheer team entered the gym next, with an acrobatic performance full of coordinated flips and pyramids. The dance team followed, pom-poms in hand, showcasing their talent with synchronized choreography. Finally, students wrestled in inflatable sumo suits and a game of musical chairs closed out the rally.

Sophomore Miles Henrichon appreciated seeing the different DHS teams.

“I liked the energy, and how the sports teams got featured,” he said.

For some, the games were the highlight of the rally.

“The sumo wrestling was pretty hilarious, but a bit dumb in my opinion,” junior Lyla Mankin said.

Homecoming rally head Shurui Li considered the event a success.

“My goal going into the rally was really to make it as engaging as we could and spark excitement within the student body,” Li said. “Although it definitely wasn’t perfect, I feel like it really helped set the tone for the rest of the week.”

– Owen Matsuo

Blue Devils rally downtown spirit with annual parade

Homecoming Parade: Sept. 25, 1:30 p.m.

Davis High held its annual Homecoming parade on Friday, which started off at Central Park and made its way through downtown before finally arriving at DHS. 

Every year, clubs, sports teams, and classes participate and make floats for the parade. This year, there were 24 floats in total, mainly sports with some clubs and organizations. 

Student Government spent many months planning this Homecoming parade, starting as early as last school year. 

“I started planning like two to three weeks before school started,” said senior Vayla Bhinder, the head of the Homecoming parade committee. 

This particular event was also very different from other student government events. 

“We have to work with lots of legal stuff, because it’s (also) just waiting to hear back from clubs and sports teams,” Bhinder said. 

Even though the parade was a huge success, according to DHS student government advisor Kristin Swanstrom, there was “a bump in the road, literally.” 

At the intersection of 4th and C Street, the cross country team’s trailer came undone because of a dip in the road. It was a small setback, but luckily, everyone was safe, and the students ended up running part of the parade.

“It was the cross country team (…) it was the right team,” Swanstrom said. 

– Hannah-Bee Seidman

Women’s flag football beats Foothill 54-6 on its Homecoming debut

Women’s varsity flag football game: Sept. 25, 5:30 p.m.

Davis High’s women’s varsity flag football team beat Foothill High 54-6 on Friday, ending a recent losing streak and opening the school’s Homecoming doubleheader with a win. 

For the first time in Davis High history, the team played a Homecoming game.

“We really needed this one,” head coach Geoff Hulbert said. “And we really made it happen today.” 

Foothill scored the first touchdown of the game, but senior quarterback Landry Clark scored the first touchdown for the Blue Devils soon after, turning the tide. 

Senior Shalini Elson intercepted a pass on the next down, putting the ball back in Davis possession. Once the Blue Devils got going, they didn’t stop. The Blue Devils continued to work together seamlessly throughout the rest of the game.

Sophomore Ava Delarue caught a 17-yard pass to score the final touchdown.

As soon as the fourth quarter ended, the whole team ran out onto the field, screaming and cheering, celebrating the end of their recent rough patch. 

“It was an excellent game,” Hulbert said. “The girls fought super, super, super hard.” 

– Daphne Trowbridge

First-time football players prepare for the big game

Men’s varsity football game: Sept. 25, 7:15 p.m.

For the majority of football players at Davis High, the 2026 football season has featured a lot of firsts. For some players, it’s their first time playing football, while for others, it’s their first time on a new team.

This season is the first year that sophomore Jeferson Flores is on the varsity football team. Going from JV to varsity, especially as a sophomore, can be a big jump not only in competition but also in dedication.

“I’m willing to do anything for the team,” Flores said.

He proved his starting position on the varsity team by showing the coaches his commitment and readiness to play any position if it gives the team a higher chance of winning.

Flores believes that all the varsity football athletes value their time on the field and the friendships they make while playing.

“We don’t just go out there to play football and call it a day; we deeply care about it,” Flores said.

Playing football at the varsity level can be difficult for all players, but it is especially challenging for those who haven’t played the sport before, like senior Victor Pallin, who just started this year.

“I was definitely nervous going into it,” Pallin said. “I had no idea what I was doing and it didn’t help that the only football experience I had was watching the Super Bowl.”

As the season progressed, he started to truly enjoy the sport.

“I’m glad I joined; I just wish I joined sooner,” Pallin said. “That’s my only regret.”

Pallin tried out for football because he had lots of friends on the team and heard it was fun. But enjoying this experience as much as he did helped make a memorable senior year that he will always cherish.

– Millah Khaliki

Davis football defeated 48-7 on Homecoming Night

Men’s varsity football game: Sept. 25, 7:15 p.m.

The Davis High varsity Homecoming football game against the Foothill Mustangs ended 48-7 on Friday in a game that was very run-dominant. 

Davis received the kickoff to start the game and, after a first down, found itself going for it on 4th and 9. The passing play was picked off by the Mustangs. 

The Mustangs then drove the ball down the field, ending in a rushing touchdown for their quarterback. The score was 6-0 Mustangs. 

Foothill went on to make two more rushing touchdowns, and after the Blue Devils’ first punt of the game, drove it down for a receiving touchdown. 

After another interception for Foothill, they completed a 65-yard reception to make another touchdown, making it 34-0 Mustangs by halftime.

At halftime, varsity head coach Marc Hicks was inducted into the Blue Devil Hall of Fame. 

“I’m honored,” he said. “I went to school here, grew up here, and played here, and now I’m back coaching here.” 

To start the second half, the Blue Devils tried an onside kick, which failed and resulted in another Mustang rushing touchdown.

After the Blue Devils had another turnover on downs, senior Sebastian Chatten recovered a fumble for their first defensive stop of the game.

The Blue Devils scored their first touchdown with seconds left. 

Senior quarterback Liam Osborne hit senior receiver Brannon Hicklin in space for him to run into the end zone. The game ended after this at 48-7.

“I hope to watch a lot of these other young guys,” Hicks said.

– Fareed Riordan

Students get creative with Homecoming proposals

Homecoming Dance: Sept. 26, 7:00 p.m.

Homecoming proposals have been a lasting tradition at Davis High, where couples or friends ask each other with creative posters or props. 

Sophomores Nick Sousa and Maddy Jaradat have been dating for over a year, and this year is their first Homecoming together. 

“I was really shocked and surprised,” Jaradat said. Sousa proposed to her way before she was expecting—on Sept. 17, two and a half weeks before the dance.

“I’m really excited to go with him,” she said. “I mean, it’s our first time going to a dance at the high school.”

For seniors Van Sun and Gabby Chou, this is their last Homecoming, and they are making it count. 

This week, Sun surprised Chou in a Trojan Horse with the sign, “I Odyssey You at HOCO!” The two are big movie fans, and they’re both excited to spend their time at the dance with friends. 

Junior Matthew Vallero and senior Katya Berdoviskiy are starting their year off on a high note with their Homecoming proposal.

“I think we met back in 2018 when we were doing theatre together,” Vallero said. “We’ve been duet partners, we’ve done songwriting, (…) we’ve been singing together for almost five years.” 

For Berdoviskiy’s last year at DHS, they decided to bring each other to the dance with their friends.

The two recently did a summer program at Yale called Kaleidoscope Vocal Academy.

 “We got to meet a bunch of new people, and it was just fun. We got to do that experience together,” Vallero said. 

– Eli Bader-Natal