Ocracoke School celebrated Homecoming on October 17th with an evening of festivities. A middle school coed basketball game began at 5:30pm, while pizza, BBQ sandwiches, and baked goods were served at the concession stand. The traditional Homecoming Court, emceed this year by junior Ariana Trejo, began at 7pm.
Each of the high school students was escorted by another and presented at Court. The crowns went to Hunter Belch (King), Katie O'Neal (Queen), Kevin Perez (Prince), and Abby Morris (Princess). Following the Court was the ever-popular photo-op sessions where the kids pose with each other and everyone else so there's proof of how good they looked all dressed up.
The girls then took to the bleachers in their beautiful gowns, while the boys suited up for basketball. The high school Dolphins played Ocracoke School coaches and staff in an entertaining display of lay-ups, 3-pointers, and slam dunks. As often happens, old age and treachery overcame youth and skill, and the forty- and fifty-somethings team (Walt Padgett, Denny Widener, Chrissy Waller, Adam Burleson, Bill Evans, David Allewalt, and David Scott Esham) beat the less-experienced youngsters (Brandon O'Neal, Evin Caswell, Dalton Kalna, Matteus Gilbert, Waylon Underwood, Liam Caswell, Mac Kalna, and Darvin Contreras.)
Island kids clean up nice!
Ariana introduced the Homecoming Court and read short bios of each student, which are excerpted below.
Freshmen:
Iris Trejo says she likes to listen to music in her free time, and hang out with her friend, Ingrid, trying not to get into trouble.
Liam Caswell was totally stoked to be there, dude.
Jade Lopez just moved to Ocracoke from Santo Domingo, Mexico. She misses the mountains there, but also like sbeing close to the beach.
Mac Kalna claims to be his parents' favorite son, and plans to take over his brother's room soon.
Lupita Martinez plays volleyball and basketball, and likes to hang with friends.
Sam Marinace is interested in becoming a commercial airline pilot.
Sophomores:
Sydney Austin play volleyball and basketball, and she enjoys hanging out with friends, watching Criminal Minds, and getting her brothers into trouble.
Carson O'Neal is on the basketball, baseball, and cross country teams. He likes to fish with his dad.
Brieanna Boos enjoys spending time with her family and hanging out with Bricia.
Waylon Underwood brought his A-game to Homecoming. He credits his mother with his success so far. Looking sharp and dangerous, Waylon, sharp and dangerous.
Hunter O'Neal likes to duck hunt and commercial fish.
Kaylee Gaskins runs cross country and plays basketball for the Dolphins. She likes to go to the beach and go out in the boat.
Spencer Gaskins plays baseball, and enjoys hunting, fishing and hanging out with friends.
Bricia plays volleyball and basketball. She likes to watch movies with Brieanna, annoy her little brother, J.J., and do a lot of online shopping.
Kyle is a basketball and cross country Dolphin. He also enjoys hunting and beating Dalton in Super Biker 2.
Stacey O'Neal plans to go to culinary school to become a baker.
Eldon Robinson doesn't always do Homecoming write-ups, but when he does, he makes them short and sweet.
Karen Perez runs cross country and hopes her team makes it to the state finals this year.
Matteus plays basketball and runs cross country. He enjoys writing for the Ocracoke Current (yay!) and defeating everyone in fantasy football.
Dylan Sutton is looking forward to playing baseball in the spring.
Juniors:
Josie Winstead plays volleyball and basketball. She plans to pursue her dreams in the medical field.
Evin Caswell spends his free time checking in the mirror to make sure he has noticeable chin hair stubble. He also plays basketball and runs cross country.
Dalton Kalna plans to buy Walmart and force every frnachise to have its employees wear short skirts and Velma glasses.
Kevin Perez enjoys having free time and running, reading, surfing the web, thinking, scheming, plotting, eating, and walking with girls who are taller than him.
Brandon O'Neal plays basketball, and spends his free time playing video games, riding around and trying not to get into trouble.
Seniors:
Katie O'Neal plays on the volleyball and basketball teams, and runs cross country. She hopes to pursue a career in geography or education.
Abby is a member of the cross country and basketball teams. She plans to attend Cape Fear community college and become a dental hygienist.
Lucy O'Neal plays volleyball and basketball. She plans to attend ECU to become a nurse practitioner.
Hunter O'Neal enjoys hunting, fishing, and riding around in his truck and fixing cars.
Samantha Styron is captain of the volleyball team and loves playing music and spending time with friends.
Hunter Collins plans to join the U.S. military and have a large dog named Alphonso.
