KING CITY — This year’s King City High School Homecoming Week events kicked off with homecoming royalties being announced to the entire student body and the introduction of Mr. Mustang football candidates.
The freshmen class Lord and Lady are Nathan Politron and Rebecca Garcia; the sophomore class Duke and Duchess are Ignacio Mandujano and Daniela Ramirez; and the junior class Prince and Princess are Jesse Rivas and Jocelyn Romero.
For the senior class, the King candidates are Roland Gotmer, Andrew Diaz and Alan Alcaraz, and the Queen candidates are Aliana Celaya, Louisa Nuno, Quinn Villanueva, Malaya Carrillo and Tabitha Brown.
Community members are invited to attend this Friday’s Homecoming varsity football game at War Memorial Stadium, beginning at 7:30 p.m., to see the royalty be crowned during halftime.
The 2023 varsity football team nominated five senior players to be Mr. Mustang candidates, who will be collecting pennies all week to earn themselves votes.
“The football players cannot run for Homecoming King, so we like to have them participate by collecting pennies,” according to Lauren Page, ASB Leadership adviser.
This year’s five candidates are as follows:
- Isaac Benavides, son of Andrea Benavides, plays running back and linebacker. His favorite football team is the Buffalo Bills, and he plans to apply to a welding trade after high school.
- Octavio Contreras, son of Octavio Contreras Flores and Gisela Villegas, plays free safety and wide receiver. His favorite football team is the Carolina Panthers, and his plans after high school are to major in biology or public health.
- Adrian Garcia, son of Mayra Pina and Oscar Garcia, plays wide receiver and defensive back. His favorite football team is the Dallas Cowboys, and he plans on going to college to study business.
- Chris Gaytan, son of María Elena Gaytan and Claudio Gaytan, plays linebacker. His favorite football team is the San Francisco 49ers, and he plans to attend college at UC Davis.
- Noah Pacheco, son of Jesus Pacheco and Samantha Zamora, plays left guard and defensive end. His favorite football team is the Las Vegas Raiders, and after high school he plans to become an electrician.
“Be sure to come watch these boys in action on Friday, Oct. 6, as they take on North Salinas Vikings for the Homecoming game,” Page said.
Homecoming Parade
King City High School’s Homecoming Parade is also planned for Friday, starting at 3:30 p.m., with a new route that does not include Broadway Street this year.
“The parade route this year is different than what we are used to due to construction on Broadway,” Page said.
The parade route will begin at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds parking lot at 625 Division St., turning right on Division Street, left on Second Street, left on Bassett Street and then left on Mildred Avenue to go back to the fairgrounds.
In addition to Mustang football players, cheerleaders and students on decorated floats, the KCHS Marching Band will be marching in the parade.
“They’re looking forward to marching in the parade for the first time in recent memory,” said KCHS Music Director David Bakken.
Page added, “We hope to see the town on the sidewalk cheering on KCHS. Happy Homecoming Week!”
