As newcomers on campus, many freshmen slink into their chairs on the first day of school, trying to avoid the eyes of upperclassmen. However, in an effort to win the homecoming float competition, freshmen are stepping up to counter the juniors and seniors.
Homecoming 2008 will be held at Clark Intermediate at 7 p.m., Oct. 3. The class floats will be displayed during half time of the varsity game.
With the theme ‘The Rhythm is Gonna Get You,’ the beginners chose the bluegrass genre and adorned their float with banjos, hay and overalls. But with two weekends to work on it, the class feels the pressure to finish and beat the sophomores.
“We have taken advantage of the short amount of time we have,” class representative Amanda Merzon said. “We all work hard at the few meetings to get it all done. I’m so excited to put the finishing touches on the float and see it completed on homecoming night!”
In previous years, the classes constructed floats on flatbed trailers towed by trucks. This year, however, the floats will be stationary due to the preparation of Clark Intermediate’s new all-weather sponge track, according to leadership adviser Aaron Bryan.
“I think it’s kind of stinky,” class representative Brady Lee said, “but it’s a whole new aspect of it. Whoever can utilize the new aspect the best can be another competing unit.”
Regardless of whether the new concept reveals another competitive edge, the freshmen remain determined to beat the sophomores.
“We are building an outhouse and a porch on our float, and we are trying to make a running stream,” Kyser Anderson said. “I think the judges are going to be astonished at how much the freshmen stepped up.”
Some freshmen relish in the opportunity to build a float for the first time. Others, however, remain aloof of the veteran competitors ahead.
“I don’t really have anything to do with the float,” Tyler Zaentz said. “It doesn’t seem too important. I’m more focused on the game than the float.”
For more information on homecoming floats, visit the Sept. 29 article, Sophomore float clashes rap eras and the Sept. 17 article, Seniors plan final float hurrah. For a map of Clark Intermediate, click here.
