GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Gridley high school homecoming week got off to a bang as the students celebrated their school spirit with a variety of activities.

Notable fixtures of traditional homecoming week were present – float building, football follies games with hysterical antics from the male cheerleaders, and dress-up spirit days to rack up points for an end-of-week win at the homecoming rally.

Friday’s rally pumped up the volume when it came to energy. Classes were pitted against each other, participating in games to earn points with the winners getting out of school for lunch break a few extra minutes early – a huge head-start for students with an open-campus lunch break.

Representatives from each class participated in male cheer routines, hysterical bouts of bubble-bumping and vicious games of musical chairs, which kept everyone laughing as points racked up. Seniors would eventually claim victory.

California love was the winning float. Photo by Seti Long

But before the highly anticipated football games that concluded the week, one last homecoming item had to checked off the list – the homecoming parade.

Friday afternoon, the public gathered just after 3 p.m. along portions of Spruce and Sycamore streets to watch as the Gridley Police Department and our local Cal Fire engines escorted sports teams and seniors threw out loads of candy to on-lookers.

Students had three days of float-building before judging Wednesday, Sept. 24. Floats were constructed to the theme of “City of Stars” with famous cities around the world selected.

The floats debuted to the public during the homecoming parade and later appeared at halftime during the varsity football game. Parade goers got to see the floats sparkling in the light and take in details much closer than those that filled the stadium Friday night.

California love would win out, the sophomore class winning in an upset with their “Los Angeles” float. Seniors followed in second place with “Paris”, juniors in third with “New York” and freshman last with “London”.

Representatives from each class participated in a vicious game of musical chairs. Photo by Seti Long

Princesses, queens and king candidates took to the field, escorted around the track by various hot-rods and high-end vehicles. Royal candidates this year included Homecoming Queen hopefuls Aubrey Quist, Ciara Clipse, Gracie Leishman and Rhythme Kildare. Homecoming King candidates were Asher Kimberling, Eli Punzo, Ethyn Rickertsen and Raul Vazquez. Freshman princess Aaliyah Cedill, sophomore princess Lina Telly and junior princess Jayla Alvarez stood by as the queen/king candidates twisted poppers to reveal the winner.

In a shroud of blue smoke and golden confetti, Aubrey Quist and Eli Punzo were named Homecoming Queen and King. Previous Gridley High School homecoming king and queen, Gus Stogsdil and Karla Barajas, returned to crown the new generation of royalty.

The varsity bulldogs would get back to punishing the Bobcats on the field, retiring their homecoming week with a victory.