Briggs Gruelke and Addison Aalbers were crowned Hampton-Dumont-CAL homecoming king and queen Friday during the Bulldogs’ homecoming festivities.
The coronation took place during a community pep rally following the homecoming parade, with students, families and community members gathering to celebrate.
Aalbers says being named queen is an honor and reflects on what she enjoys most about homecoming week.
“Definitely the dress-up days, those are really fun,” Aalbers says. “And just making memories with my friends, but, this football game is going to be fun tonight too.”
Gruelke says homecoming brings the district together, with Friday night’s game adding to the excitement.
“Honestly just the people here supporting me and everyone else in the court,” Gruelke says. “So it’s cool to see our school and district come together and cheer one another on, so that’s what makes me happy about it. The best part of this week is yet to come, we still got a football game to play tonight. So, I am ready for that.”
Hampton-Dumont Athletic Director Lance Thompson says the support shown for students is one of the highlights of homecoming.
“Yeah, it’s amazing to see how many people come out and support our students and all the communities rally together,” Thompson says. “Great pride here, great Bulldog pride and (it’ll) be fun to watch tonight with the homecoming game and the festivities and the introducing of the homecoming court and royalty tonight, just the excitement that is around here.”
Thompson says he appreciates the staff’s efforts to get a wide range of students involved in activities and leadership opportunities.
“They do a great job here of the willingness to participate and help lead different activities, working to get kids involved,” Thompson says. “And that’s the thing I love here too is we saw all different kids involved with activities. It wasn’t the same group of kids and that’s what makes the school community so much fun and brings everyone together so much.”
The Bulldogs host Denver Friday night as part of the homecoming celebration. The week’s festivities conclude Saturday with the homecoming dance.
