Homecoming ~ a glorious night

Fallbrook was “seeing red” on Friday night at the Homecoming game held at Fallbrook Union High School. Even the clouds were tinged with red as the Warrior fans made their way to the stadium clad in any red garment they could find. The hard-core fans even painted their faces red and some male fans went shirtless to show off their red chests! The swish of the JV cheerleaders’ red and white poms and the flying stunts allowed the audience to see red as the JV Warriors trounced the Rancho Buena Vista Longhorns 21 to 14. Then, the varsity football team put up a good fight against the varsity Longhorns, cheered on by the varsity cheerleaders with their nonstop energy. The Longhorns won the game with a score of 19 to 6.

The traditional Homecoming parade, held around the track during the break between the JV and varsity football games, featured four inventive and colorful floats led by the cheerleaders riding in a fire truck with red lights flashing. Parade Grand Marshal Richard Hulit also rode in the fire truck. The students have been working on the floats for five weeks. The floats, which were built at the homes of four students, were paraded again at halftime.

The freshman float, Class of 2010, was a Greek chariot pulled by a Pegasus (winged horse). The horse, an iridescent white with silver wings, floated on tissue paper clouds of white and blue. Two stately and sparkly silver columns graced either side of the float. “The float represents what the class stands for — to take the reins and ‘Go for the Glory,’” said the announcer. The freshman class float took honors in two categories as the “Best Float for 2006 Homecoming” and also as the “Most Original Float.”

A patriotic theme was present in the sophomore float, Class of 2009, which depicted George Washington crossing the Delaware. “George Washington inspires us to ‘Go for the Glory’ and to be leaders,” said the announcer. The float continued its patriotic theme with Betsy Ross sewing the flag. “Neil Armstrong,” first man on the moon, drew cheers from the crowd in his silver moon suit. As the announcer said, “He inspires mankind to ‘Go for the Glory’ every day. The sophomore class float won the award for “Best Depiction of the Theme ‘Going for the Glory.’”

The Class of 2008, who are now juniors, fashioned an inventive rollercoaster, which resembled a vintage coaster built with white and red boards. The coaster wound up and down and then traveled through the “Tunnel of Graduation.” The announcer told the audience that the rollercoaster symbolizes the ups and downs of life. The junior class float took honors for “Best Use of Color.”

“On a group of rolling foothills stands a building we adore/It’s the Fallbrook Union High School, one we’ll love forever more…” The Senior Class of 2007’s float featured the FUHS alma mater penned on a large open papier-mché book. It also featured an inventive castle and a real live “valiant” knight fighting a clever papier-mché smoke-breathing dragon that sported a shiny green coat and large yellow wings. Because all special effects must be “person-generated,” according to ASB Director Josh Way, there was actually a student in the float making sure the dragon was puffing out smoke. The announcer told the audience that the knight fighting the dragon symbolized the ‘Warrior Spirit’ students exhibit when they fight all obstacles in their way. The senior class float took honors as the float with the “Most School Spirit.”

Parade Grand Marshal Richard Hulit, a former FUHS teacher, was “honored to be chosen.” It was a “complete surprise” to Hulit, who has been associated with the school since 1983. The choice of Grand Marshal is kept a secret and Hulit didn’t find out until 4:30 in the afternoon the day of the parade. “My wife [Violet] knew, but she didn’t let on,” he said.

Hulit taught health and coached freshman football and baseball as well as JV baseball. He is still involved with the school as an announcer for basketball and baseball games. Hewlitt holds both a Bachelor of Arts degree as well as a Master of Arts degree, both in education. He earned his Masters at USC. Hulit was commissioned in the Marine Corps as a second lieutenant. “When I ‘retired’ I came to work at Fallbrook High School,” he said with a smile. He taught and coached at FUHS from 1983 to 1993. “All four of our children when to school here. This is my high school,” he said.

David Trautman, who was unable to attend the event, was voted Most Inspirational Teacher by the students. This is the second year that a Most Inspirational Teacher has been announced in conjunction with the Homecoming festivities. Trautman was unable to be reached for comment.

This year’s Homecoming Court, voted on by the student body, included princesses Branche Foston, Jackie Kohls, Adriana Ponce and Andrea Tsavahidis. Homecoming princes were Aaron Holt, Danny Munoz, Alderez Siaton and Jaime Vizzuett. The princesses arrived on the Homecoming floats, escorted by their fathers. The princes rode in cars provided by the Fallbrook Vintage Car Club, with their mothers at their sides.

Tsavahidis was voted Homecoming Queen and was crowned at halftime by last year’s queen, Angie Scoma. Queen Andrea took a royal turn around the track on the freshman class float, driving the chariot pulled by Pegasus. The float was chosen for the queen’s ride because it was the overall winner. Vizzuett was crowned Homecoming King at the Homecoming dance on Saturday night.