Homecoming court selected by students

At Waynesburg University and college campuses across the United States, Homecoming weekend is one of the most celebrated annual traditions. Among the key aspects of the weekend is the Homecoming Court, which culminates with the crowing of the King and Queen at halftime of the school’s football game.

Wednesday, Sept. 20, Waynesburg University announced the nominees for this year’s court. Of the nine men and 14 women who applied, five men and five women will walk alongside each other at halftime of Waynesburg’s football game against Grove City this Saturday, Sept 30. The pairings are: Maura Fenske and Ian Bish, Kayla Goncalves and Andy Burnett, Marla Holland and Brad Gillespie, Kathryn Kondrick and Mason Morgan and Cara Paraka and Zac Yonko. Voting for King and Queen took place Thursday, Sept. 21, and the winners will not be announced until the court is introduced at halftime.

Holland did not decide that she wanted to run until the day before the deadline for applications.

For Holland, just being a part of such an important weekend for the university was an honor.

“I was kind of excited just to represent Waynesburg and the class of 2018, so it was pretty cool,” Holland said.

Holland takes part in several activities on campus. A psychology major, Holland runs track, is in the symphonic band, pep band and brass ensemble, is a member of the Student Activities Board (SAB) and is vice president of psychology club.

Holland said she also looks forward to walking alongside Brad Gillespie, who is one of her best friends.

Morgan did not intend to be in the running for Homecoming King. When a close friend said that he had signed Morgan up, Morgan did not believe him. After Morgan was signed up for the first ballot, he didn’t picture himself making it far. When he found out that he had made it to the court, it was both amusing and exciting for him.

“I honestly thought [being selected] was hilarious,” Morgan said. “I was like ‘this is awesome.’ Then I looked to see the people I was with, and I was happy to see the people that were on there because I’m really good friends with a lot of them.”

In particular, Morgan has a close friendship with his partner, Kondrick.

Like Holland and Bish, who both will be playing in the pep band, Morgan will have additional duties for Saturday’s game, interning with Head Athletic Trainer Andy Palko.

Although Morgan said that he might be a little nervous, the fact that he will not be alone on the field is comforting.

“I feel like [being on the field] will be a lot different that it’s not just me,” Morgan said. “There’s a lot of us out there, so we’re all going to be equally as awkward and equally as worried about everything.”

Morgan is a member of SAB, a Resident Assistant in Willison Hall and the president of the bowling club that is in its first year of existence.

Similar to Morgan, Bish was notified by a friend of his nomination. Bish said that his selection came as a surprise.

“I figured, why not [run for King]?” Bish said. I didn’t think I’d get this far at all, but here I am.”

Bish is also member of SAB, as well as the Yellow Jacket pep band, multicultural club and a Pokemon Go community that Bish says has over 45 members, including Morgan.

Although Bish has experience with these types of events, as he was on the court for the “Cinderella Ball” when he was a student at Waynesburg Central high school, Saturday will come with jitters, he said.

“I’m going be in front of a ton of people,” Bish said. “I’m usually pretty good with that, but we’ll see.”

Unlike her partner, Kondrick had been thinking about being on the court since before the school year started.

“I decided to [run for Homecoming Queen] probably over this summer, and I got the idea again whenever school started back up.” Kondrick said.

This fall will be Kondrick’s final semester as an undergraduate, as she will be graduating in December.

“This is my last semester, so this was something that I wanted to do to kind of make a statement and say ‘goodbye everyone, see you later’ [that] type of thing.”

Kondrick is looking forward to stepping on the field at John F. Wiley stadium, which she said she has never done before, as well as the excitement of the day.

Being in front of a large audience is not unfamiliar territory for Kondrick. Last spring, Kondrick received the “Fuzzy Award,” named for the late James “Fuzzy” Randolph for best ensemble member in Waynesburg’s spring musical, for the second time, as she also received the honor her freshman year. Kondrick is also president of the history club, a member of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society and is the stage manager for this year’s fall play.

“I’m looking forward to dressing up and standing next to my nine friends,” Kondrick said. “Seeing everyone’s faces in [Wiley Stadium], getting that field perspective and just whenever the names are called, just that excitement of ‘wow, they did it.’ To kind of just experience all of that.”

For Morgan, whatever the results are, being a part of long-standing tradition is a thrill.

“I’m really happy to be there for the experience,” Morgan said. “If [becoming king] happens, it happens…I’m just happy to be there with the people I’m with. It’s going to be great.”