On the night of October 6th, the gold and black balloons floated into the sky above the football field. Cheers and cries of exclamation filled the stands. The Homecoming Royalty had just been announced and the balloons symbolized the winners. 10 seniors filled spots in the Homecoming court; they lined up on the field with their parents in front of them waiting to open boxes filled with balloons that would reveal the results. Gold balloons meant that the person had won a spot as Homecoming Royalty. The two winners that night were Prisha Sheth, Class of 2024 president, and Tanner Gray, who unfortunately couldn’t make it to the game due to a Varsity Cross Country match. Sheth was crowned by former Homecoming Queen Lexi Neubauer before taking her victory lap around the field in a Mercedes.
Prisha Sheth is extremely involved in Granada. A part of Math Club and Girls Who Code, she has also been class president for 4 years and said that it is her favorite part of high school. Sheth is a member of the swim team and has been since Freshman year. Tanner is also a part of the Math Club and runs Varsity cross country and track year-round.
Sheth’s favorite Granada tradition is “the final aloha rally when seniors walk all around the gym. I can’t believe that’ll be us this year.” Sheth participated in and helped put together homecoming for the class of 2024 since Freshman year. From planning skits to making decorations for preskit, she’s been a part of it all. Her favorite high school memory is participating in and watching preskits. Tanner’s favorite high school memory is in a similar vein of high school events, Junior Prom. Tanner says the one thing that he could not live without is his family, and Prisha says Trader Joe’s Strawberry O’s.
Being a part of Homecoming Royalty is a special experience not just for the winners but for all the nominees. There’s a royalty breakfast for the senior nominees, nomination announcements with bundt cakes, and walks down the red carpet dressed in their nicest clothes at the rally and game. Tanner said that his favorite part of the nomination process was the bundt cake that came with his announcement. Prisha stated, “I loved all the queens I was nominated with, I’ve known most of them since middle school so we had fun together in the stands and throughout the process.”
Seeing the gold balloons float out of the boxes that had Prisha and Tanner’s names on them was a special moment. Sheth was in absolute shock when she saw them; she expressed, “I am so honored to be this year’s homecoming queen, it is a dream.” Tanner, who unfortunately could not make it to the game due to Cross Country, is equally as honored to be part of the Homecoming Royalty.
Homecoming Royalty is a tried and true tradition and despite changes in the past years in the structure, is still to its core about the student body recognizing students who are deeply involved in Granada and who best reflect their class. This is clear through this year’s winners and nominees. Congrats to all the nominees and an extra special congratulations to Prisha and Tanner!
