This years homecoming date spurred conflict with multiple groups of students at Central. Central’s homecoming date is decided by multiple factors, the football schedule, the timing of the year, and many other variables. The activities competition schedule is not dictated by the school schedule or vice versa.

The marching band, boys golf team, and girls volleyball tournament all landed on the same day of the dance. Despite this scheduling conflict, all students were able to attend the end of the dance. Marching band did not advance into the finals so the musicians rushed back to catch the tail end of homecoming. The boys’ golf team faced a similar situation and were late to pre-homecoming activities. The girls’ volleyball team had a volleyball tournament the morning of the dance and had limited time for getting ready.

Brandon Estes, director of the Marching Redhawks, sent out a survey to all marching band students to decide on whether to go to homecoming or the state competition.

“I told the kids I supported whatever decision the majority came up with,” Estes said. “It’s all or nothing. We all go together. I don’t take this decision lightly because I recognize and value what homecoming means to people.”

This year, the Marching Redhawks had three people from the band on homecoming court.

“So it’s definitely a special thing,” Estes said.

Sophomore marching band player Andrew Whitlock states his opinion about the state competition day.

“[I voted] no to homecoming,” Whitlock said. “I think that state is important to us. [Most] seniors probably voted  [for homecoming] because it’s their last year [at Central] and they might’ve missed homecoming in the past and want to have that experience.”

Senior Megan Scott discusses why she likes the new homecoming date and the crunch for time.

“I honestly liked the late homecoming date. It gives us something to look forward to throughout the [volleyball] season. I didn’t have as much time as I usually do so I just went home and changed real quick.”