This year’s theme for Homecoming was decided as “One Autumn Night.” The gym was decorated with fake leaves, small strings of lights and hay bales. The 2014 Homecoming king and queen, as well as the nominees, danced throughout the night.

However, Homecoming is not only a dance, according to the court nominees. It is a representation of school spirit and bonding of the community.

This year, the nominees for king were seniors Reed Abbott, Cory Conley and Glynn Leininger. Queen nominees were seniors Tessa Phongsavath, Meredith Wolfe and Abby Cater. The winners were Abbott and Phongsavath.

All were in agreement that being on the court is an honor.

“It’s kind of cool to be able to say to your kids ‘yeah, I was on Homecoming court’,” Conley said. “Maybe that’s something for them to look up to.”

Phongsavath, Abbott and Cater felt that Homecoming is a good representative of De Soto High School’s school spirit.

“Having a good time and making the school spirit stronger [is what it’s about],” Abbott said. “It’s always just having a good time.”

Cater thought it was fun when Homecoming was right after the football game on Friday night, which is how the school organized the dance a few years before.

“It used to be right after the football game which I really liked,” Cater said. “Most kids went because it was right after the game.”

Although school spirit is a big contributing factor to these seniors, having fun is also a very important aspect.

“[I enjoy] the atmosphere in general,” Wolfe said. “Being able to dress up and go out with your friends just brings the whole community together.”

Phongsavath also agreed that school spirit is a big part of Homecoming.

“When I think of Homecoming, I think of spirit week and the whole school participating,” said Phongsavath. “I think of the Homecoming game and all of the events leading up to it.”

Leininger views his nomination as support from his peers and friends at DHS.

“It’s pretty cool being on it the second year in a row,” Leininger said. “It’s cool that my classmates voted for me and wanted me to be Homecoming king.”

Taking advantage of the time you have in high school is another important thing according to Conley.

“I just enjoy the time we get to dress up together and have fun,” Conley said. “I don’t really hate any of the dances because I know I’ll never get to do them again so I might as well enjoy them while I have them.”

In addition, winners for the junior class court were Kristen Saucerman and Robby Mayes. Sophomore winners were Becca Clancy and Ty Kempf, and freshmen winners were Connor Strouse and Abigail Post.