This year’s Homecoming Court winner was finally crowned Saturday at the Homecoming game against Golden West, during the much anticipated halftime show.
The crowd stayed firmly glued to their seats as preparations were underway on the field for the beginning of the show. For the athletes it was a well needed break, but for the audience the fun was only beginning.
The show kicked off with a performance from LBCC’s cheer team, the squad taking over the field and blasting music from a speaker as they tossed, flipped, and tumbled their hearts out for the crowd.
Right after their exit the most anticipated part of the show began; announcing the Homecoming Court.
Quickly and efficiently staff members assembled a stage on the track complete with balloons, a themed backdrop, and a podium set for the upcoming announcement.
Jose Polanco came onstage, recognizing a few members of the Board of Trustees who came out for the game. Then, it was time to move into announcing the nominees.
Each Homecoming Court nominee was announced and escorted down a red carpet up onto the stage where the crowd could get a good look and cheer for each nominee as they appeared.
Once everyone was on stage, none other than Ole the Viking, LBCC’s mascot, handed Polanco a roll of paper.
The Homecoming runner-up was announced first. Maria Ortiz-Lechuga. Shock was clear on her face the moment she heard her name, followed by a large smile. Some of the crowd cheered as Ortiz-Lechuga was awarded her crown, with a small silver tiara placed atop her head.
Afterward, when the rush of being on stage wore off, Maria gave her comment on being Homecoming Court runner-up.
“Really happy. I didn’t expect it,” said Maria.
Then it was time for the big reveal, the crowning of the Homecoming Queen. With a pause and a flourish, Polanco announced the winner. The crowd held their breath as he read out the name: Ina Marie Timbo.
The stands seemed to explode at the name. And so did the cheer team, still on the track. Their roars of support could be heard even high up in the stands. This was one of their own, and she had won.
Timbo said she felt surprised at the win. “It didn’t feel real. It felt like a dream.”
As the winner, she won not only her crown, but a scholarship. When asked what she would do with the money she said, “I’ll probably save for when I transfer out of here.”