Mars homecoming brings a community together

MARS — Homecoming spirit filled downtown Mars before kickoff Friday, Oct. 9, as students, families and neighbors gathered for the annual parade.

Police vehicles and fire trucks led the procession, followed by ROTC students carrying the flag, the marching band and cheerleaders ranging from kindergarteners to high school students. Homecoming court members, including several football players, rode in sports cars as parents, grandparents and children lined the streets to cheer them on.

The parade opened a weekend of festivities centered on Mars Area High School’s homecoming football game, the crowning of the homecoming queen at halftime Friday night and Saturday’s dance.

“That’s what homecoming is all about,” said Meghan Boland, a high school biology teacher and student council advisor. “It’s all about school spirit and community involvement.”

Friday’s parade included the band, local fire and police departments, youth sports organizations and the 16-member homecoming court. Spectators crowded the route as children collected candy tossed by parade participants.

For some of the youngest children, the excitement came with a bag of treats. Others had their own place in the procession, wearing team uniforms and carrying Mars banners.

Principal Lindsay Roswag said that early connection matters.

“From the parade to the little kids getting a chance to be part of the community and building that starting at that age,” Roswag said, the celebration reaches all the way through high school.

Roswag had two children of her own among the youth cheerleaders participating.

Youth programs give children opportunities to explore their interests, she said. Homecoming then invites them into a larger school tradition, long before they become high school students.

This year, that invitation reached more teams than ever.

Boland said the parade had its greatest youth sports participation during her time organizing the event. What once primarily included youth football and cheerleading has expanded to hockey, lacrosse and softball.

“We had a lot of groups reach out this year that wanted to be added to the parade lineup, which was great,” she said.

Behind the procession and the weekend’s festivities stood months of planning.

Boland and student council began organizing this year’s homecoming on the last day of the previous school year in June. Students selected the theme, decorations and spirit week activities, laying the groundwork for a celebration that would arrive months later.

More than 80 student council members helped carry out the plans.

“It takes all hands on deck to carry out all of the homecoming festivities every year,” Boland said.

The celebration began inside the school with spirit week. Students dressed according to daily themes chosen by student council, earning points for their grade levels. The class finishing with the most points won the spirit stick and money toward its prom.

Friday brought a pep rally, followed by the downtown parade and the homecoming festivities at the football game. Saturday’s dance completed the weekend.

Boland’s responsibilities included coordinating with borough and township officials, arranging parade participation and road closures, overseeing the school events and helping with cleanup. Along the parade route, she also kept the procession moving at a pace that allowed the district photographer to capture the participants.

Asked when she found time to sleep, she laughed.

“I don’t this week.”

Roswag credited Boland with bringing the many pieces together.

“Mrs. Boland, our student council sponsor, is really the brains behind the operation,” Roswag said. “She runs it all and we just help her where we can.”

At halftime Friday, the celebration turned to senior Marin Raible, who was named homecoming queen.

“Very excited, very grateful,” Raible said shortly after receiving the honor.

She also admitted the announcement surprised her.

Nearby, her parents, Jessica and Ray Raible, shared in the excitement.

“She’s worked hard this school year, and she’s just such a great kid, so we’re happy that she had this fun experience,” Jessica said.

Marin’s father, expressed his happiness for his daughter; “Just excited for her,” he said. “I know that it’s been a fun week for her.”

For the Raibles, the moment became another chapter in their family’s experience at Mars. An older daughter previously attended the school, and their youngest son is now a freshman.

Brian Biaku was named homecoming king at Saturday’s dance.

Joining Raible and Biaku on the homecoming court were Gus Coffield, Adam Genevro, Jenna Smith, Maddox Schumann, Jordan Bender, Lila Schrecengost, Blake Cote, Layla Lewandowski, Jameson Garvin, Katie Blake, Chase Stamper, Kaya Gillespie, Jameson Dickman and Paige Lauten.

The crowns marked two students’ special moments. Along the parade route, the celebration belonged to many more: the children reaching for candy, the young athletes wearing Mars colors and the families gathered to watch them.

“It’s a fun event, not just for the students in the district, but the community in total,” Boland said.