Tharptown celebrates first football homecoming

By Staff
Kim West
THARPTOWN – In a year that includes many firsts for Tharptown High School, the school will celebrate its first traditional homecoming game tonight at 7 p.m. against non-region rival Brilliant.
The homecoming pre-game festivities include a pep rally and parade, while the homecoming queen will be announced at halftime. The Class of 1998 will also hold a 10-year reunion dinner and be recognized during the game.
"We will be getting out of school early, and the parade and pep rally will be at 1:30 p.m. (today)," said Brandi Gholston, elementary guidance counselor and homecoming sponsor. "Some of the classes will have floats in the parade, which is the first one we've had. This is our first senior homecoming, and we're really excited."
Tharptown, a former junior high school, featured its first sophomore class in 2006 and initial junior class in 2007, and this year's senior class will be the first one to graduate. In past years, the school celebrated homecoming during basketball season with a freshman chosen as homecoming queen.
Hollie Hines, Lauren Scott, Kylee Chaffin, Brittne Campbell, Beth Lane and Laken Michelle Barnett were elected to the senior homecoming court by their classmates, while grades 7-12 will participate in the voting for queen. The six senior representatives will enter the stadium in convertibles and each chose to be escorted by their fathers during the halftime ceremony.
"Any of them would be a good choice," Gholston said. "They represent what you look for in a homecoming queen because they're all active in extracurricular activities and leadership roles. They're all friends and just a good group of girls."
Gholston said the school has received a boost from the Tharptown community and expects a large crowd for the game.
"The way the community supports this school is astounding," she said. "I believe the crowd tonight will be phenomenal because it's our first football homecoming."