Walnut Grove ‘26 Homecoming Court is Ready to Have Fun in the Spotlight

The WGHS homecoming court is filled with excitement, waiting to represent their class and take a step onto the center stage.
by Nala Porter, Audrey Ford, and Aubree Durkot

Seniors
The WGHS Class of 2027 has chosen its homecoming court, Ja'Liyah Parks and Trystin Bailey, to bring the energy, making it extra special! Ja'Liyah Parks, a senior representative, said, “I was nervous because this is my first year running, but I just went for it.” She highlighted kindness as a reason for her winning. Similarly, Trystin Bailey said, "Since I’ve come to high school, I’ve learned to come and accept people because I know the difference between loneliness and making friends, and it’s a lot better to be friends. I feel like along the road, it’ll help me be a better person and a better student here at Walnut Grove.” These seniors are using selflessness to make a better last year of high school.

Juniors
This year, the WGHS Class of 2028 voted Lulu Smoot and Jackson Barmann to represent them on the court, proving that winning a spot on Walnut Grove High School's Homecoming Court isn't just about being popular; it's about kindness and dedication. Lulu Smoot, a well-known student around campus, talked about her life in front of the crowd. However, she was still surprised to find out she made it to the Homecoming Court. "It was kind of just a joke, and then I actually won." Lulu claims that she is happy, and it just proves that she is likable. Jackson Barmann, who is also pretty well-known around the Walnut Grove campus, was equally happy about the win. "I feel great; I'm glad to represent my grade." Keep an eye out for both winners as they lead the junior homecoming section on Saturday, September 19th!

Sophomores
Ty Ferguson and Carsyn Layfield join the Homecoming Court. Carsyn ran solely for the fun of it: “I thought it would be cool because that means you know your classmates and you interact with them well.” She is very grateful for the opportunity to be selected. Carsyn further explains, “I hope people voted for me because I’m a nice person and I make people feel included.” Ty, on the other hand, clarifies his only reason for running: “I wanted to win with my girlfriend because I thought it would be fun.” Furthermore, Ty is excited to walk out in front of a crowd of people at football games and pep rallies.

Freshmen
Freshmen representatives Adrianna Muller and Patrick McClary are overjoyed to have the opportunity of being on the homecoming court for the first time. Adrianna believes she won because she is nice to everyone and talks to anyone. She perceives that she’s not popular; however, she labels herself as social. “I’m a nice person. I wouldn’t say I’m popular, but I’m definitely very social; I just talk to everybody,” states Adrianna. Given the circumstances, she was extremely happy: “I was very ecstatic; I started screaming when I found out that I actually won.” Similarly, Patrick described himself as a happy, jolly guy, believing this to be the reason his classmates voted for him. He views the homecoming court as a way to become more known throughout the school. “I just thought it’d be fun because as a freshman, I want people to know my name.”


The Walnut Grove Homecoming Court can’t wait to have fun and prove that it isn’t just about winning; it’s about the experience!