The Keota High School Homecoming Court; Back Row (L-R): Mallory Woltering (#1 Eagle Fan Escort), Jace Uphold, Cole Stout, Anthony Campbell, Avery Conrad, Jacob Wickenkamp (#1 Eagle Fan Escort); Front Row (L-R): Bianca Cardona, Raigan Sprouse, Baylei McClelland, and Erin Chalupa; photo courtesy of Keota High School

Whether you look at it as the last celebration of the year or the first, Keota is continuing their tradition of January homecoming this week. High school social studies teacher and student council adviser Michael Jacobsen explains, the school shares a football team with Sigourney, which has their own homecoming during the fall. To have a homecoming all their own, Keota has held their festivities during basketball season. Jacobsen adds, “It kind of coincides with the strong basketball tradition that we’ve had here at Keota. It’s a nice way of starting second semester, and also (a way to) be unique and uphold the traditions that we’ve done here.”

In addition to dress up days throughout the week, festivities will kick off Wednesday, as the Keota Large Group Speech Team presents their contest events for the school at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Thursday at 7 p.m. in the high school gym is “Anything Goes” night, which Jacobsen explains is a night for the students to compete against each other in games and contests. The week will culminate Friday with a 2:15 p.m. pep rally in the high school gym, the homecoming game against Tri-County at 6 p.m., the crowning of the king and queen at halftime, and the honoring of the “#1 Eagle Fan,” Andrea Striegel. The homecoming court includes Bianca Cardona, Erin Chalupa, Baylei McClelland, Raigan Sprouse, Anthony Campbell, Avery Conrad, Cole Stout, and Jace Uphold.