By Matt Nelson, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — Despite a 46-38 loss over the Steinert Spartans on Friday night, it was a time of celebration in honor of Homecoming.
The Hightstown High School Homecoming king and queen were presented at halftime following the performance of the Hightstown High School Rams Marching Band.
More than 1,200 people came out to the David J. McIntire Football Field to witness Nicole Kerr, 17, of Cranbury, and Kevin Lenart, 17, of Roosevelt, receive the honor of being the Homecoming queen and king.
Nicole said, “I didn’t expect it. I’m really happy that I went up against the other candidates because I would have been happy with anyone who won.”
She added, “Out of the hundreds of seniors in this school and out of all of them, there are five girls who get picked.”
Kevin said, “It’s special to be nominated as Homecoming king, especially because I am known as the football player who got picked.”
Ten seniors were voted to the Homecoming Court.
Amongst the other students who were nominated to run for Homecoming king included Matt Chipego, 17, of Hightstown, Eric Anders, 16, of East Windsor, Ryan Trost, 17, of Hightstown, and Mike Boateng, 17, of Hightstown.
Matt said, “When I found out that a lot of people voted for me, I felt really good, and I said ‘thanks.’”
Joining Nicole as nominees for Homecoming queen included Imani Thomas, 17, of Hightstown, Kim Jack, 17, of Hightstown, Ardrena Desmond, 17, of Hightstown, and Rebecca Zahora, 17, of Roosevelt.
”It was very exciting to be nominated and walk across the field at halftime with my family,” Ardrena said.
The Homecoming king and queen announcement was one of many events at HHS that were part of Homecoming week.
Homecoming week commenced Oct. 1 and became “Twin Day.” Oct. 2 was known as “Cultural Pride Day.” Oct. 3 was “Neon Day,” followed by “Fictional Character Day” on Oct. 4. Students declared Oct. 5 as “Whiteout.”
Many HHS students wore white shirts Friday in school and at the game. Oct. 4 was the night of the Hightstown Homecoming pep rally where 233 students came out to the main gymnasium to participate in a variety of activities, including musical chairs, balloon stumping, tug-of-war and a mummy contest.
The cheerleading squad also performed multiple routines for their classmates.
In the past few years, the pep rally has been held on the eve of the Homecoming game, but it wasn’t that long ago when the pep rally was held during eighth and ninth periods the day of the game.
Gary Bushelli, athletic director of HHS, said, “We felt it would be better if the pep rally was held at night so that those students who have an interest in the pep rally want to go to the pep rally.”
”There’s more energy from the students and more excitement when there is a smaller audience. These are the students that care about Homecoming,” said Sarah Devlin, 17, of Hightstown.
The Homecoming is also the one time each year eighth-grade band students from Melvin H. Kreps Middle School get to play in the stands with the Hightstown High School Rams Marching Band and watch them play their halftime show.
Hector Bravo, band director at the Kreps School, said, “They get an opportunity to see a high school band program and see the next step and how it grows. It also gives me a chance to see some of my former band students and see how they’ve progressed over the years.”
Mr. Bravo also said, “The crowd is always into it. All the kids in white who throw the powder into the air have a great time.”

