Dog Dayz

By Braden Dohrmann

Hello everyone and welcome back to another edition of Dog Dayz. Since we last talked school was starting up officially and since then it has been pure madness. With football everyday, and a tough schedule that provides plenty of homework, this month’s column has been the hardest to date to find time to write.

My class schedule, as I said is going to be challenging this year. I really have to be on top of everything. I have to be very focused during school and after practice when I attack the homework phase of things. This month I got sick and stayed home for two days. That was rough. It took me about a week to catch up on all my work and my grades took a hit as well. It will be tough to sustain my 4.0 GPA, but I’m going to do everything I can to keep it. Which unfortunately often means missing soccer and volleyball games in the evenings.

While I am writing this, varsity football is 4-0. My JV team is 2-1. However by the time this is printed, hopefully we will have added another win to each after we are done with Forks (Montesano defeated Forks 44-6). For varsity we have had a lot of key injuries, but they have only been minor setbacks, because guys have been stepping up big time. Soccer and volleyball have only just begun league play and soccer is undefeated and volleyball is 2-1. Golfers and cross country runners will be making a run at state this year.

As many of you remember or can tell from what you are seeing on social media or around town, it is time for homecoming. Homecoming week starts this week. While the dance itself may be on Saturday, there’s so much more that goes into it. The students and teachers who are willing, come together and make it a great and memorable time every year. On the weekend before homecoming week, each class will decorate their hallway based on their class color and theme. For example, last year our color was red and our theme was “red carpet Hollywood.” We had red carpet, stars and even a Hollywood sign at the end of the hallway. It looked very cool. This year, the sophomore color is purple. It was tough to come up with a theme, but we finally decided on Willy Wonka. We have lots of plans and know it will turn out awesome.

Once we are all decorated, it is spirit week. Spirit week is fun because people are very creative and have fun outfits and costumes for each day. This year Monday is pajama day, Tuesday is twin day, Wednesday is class color day, Thursday is tacky tourist day and of course Friday is maroon and gray day. I am definitely going to take advantage of pajama day and I have something planned for tacky tourist day as well. Still need to work in the twin idea.

On Wednesday of homecoming week there is a parade through town hosted by the high school. There are floats for each class showing their class colors. There is also a band float, cheerleader and football float. At the end there is a big bonfire for everyone to enjoy. It’s a tradition that has gone on for a long time in Montesano and I love that I get to take part in it rather than watching from the streets. It is something I think every kid growing up here looks forward to. On Monday there is a homecoming assembly where they announce the homecoming court. There are six couples from the senior class, and one from the other three classes. At the parade, they will all sit on top of the fire truck wearing their crowns through town.

Finally, on Saturday is the dance itself. Pictures can begin as early as 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. and most couples go to dinner before heading to the dance. The dance begins at 9 p.m. and goes until midnight. The dance is held at the high school commons, which is decorated by students throughout the week. During the dance is the coronation of the homecoming king and queen. The whole process is a lot of work ( I didn’t even mention the asking and the tuxedo fitting or dress shopping aspects), but it is a fun experience.

Hopefully this gives everyone a better understanding of what homecoming is like at Montesano and they can see that I have a lot to look forward to in the next weeks. Hope you all have a great October and Halloween. Thank you for hanging with me.

Braden Dohrmann is a sophomore at Montesano High School. He writes about what it’s like growing up in Montesano. He participates in many school sports and activities, works hard in class and enjoys taking vacations with his family.