By Debbie Adams
William Byrd High School seniors Jada Johnson and Evan Copening were crowned the 2024
Homecoming Queen and King during half-time at the Homecoming game on September 20.
Byrd High School’s 2024 Homecoming King and Queen during half-time on September 20. (photo by Debbie Adams)
Traditionally, the 20 candidates for the Homecoming Court are nominated by their
classmates—two freshmen, four sophomores, six juniors, and eight seniors. The king and queen
are chosen by the entire student body and staff in an online vote. They are escorted to the center
of the field by a family member and then the names of the king and queen are revealed.
Johnson and Copening were crowned by last year’s Homecoming Queen Makayla Price and
Principal Travis Anderson, with assistance from flower girl Riley McKenzie Decoster.
and Andrew Decoster, was this year’s Homecoming flower girl and crown bearer. (photo courtesy of Andrew Decoster)
Jada’s parents are Coleen and Tony Johnson; Evan’s parents are Brian and Jennifer Copening.
Other members of the Homecoming Court for 2024 were:
- Freshmen: Jahniya Coles (parents Johnny Coles and Hollie Bailey) and Gray Matthews
(parents Christy Mann and Kevin Matthews) - Sophomores: Ellie McCulloch (parents Jay and Shannon McCulloch), London Hartman
(parents Chuck and Sheree Hartman), Thomas Purcell (parents Angie Purcell and David
Purcell), and Luke Richardson (parents Kevin and Jennifer Richardson) - Juniors: Addison Clark (parents Allen and Sharon Clark), Ava Sexton (parents Stacey
and Bubba Sexton), Maurasia Burnette (mother Ashley Webb), Tate Kotz (parents Mitch
and Shawna Kotz), Darin Witcher (parents Kevin and Suzanne Witcher), and Dawson
Young (parents Clyde and Leah Young) - Seniors: Isabella Posadas (parents Peter Posadas and Loisa Fernanda), Kendall Gordon
(parents Joy and Chris Gordon), Josie Taylor (mother Julie Blevins, father Caleb Taylor,
and stepfather Ronnie Blevins), Ethan Powell (parents Kellie and Jeff Powell), Dawson
Brinkley (parents Stacie Brinkley and Todd Brinkley), and Brogan Dent (parents Kim
Dent and Justin Dent) -
Members of the 2024
Homecoming Court included (from left): Gray Matthews, Thomas Purcell, Luke Richardson,
Darin Witcher, Dawson Young, Tate Kotz, WBHS Terrier Mascot, Ethan Powell, Dawson
Brinkley, Brogan Dent, Evan Copening, Jada Johnson, Makayla Price (2023 Homecoming
Queen), Maurasia Burnette, Kendall Gordon, Isabella Posadas, Josie Taylor, Addison Clark, Ava
Sexton, London Hartman, Ellie McCulloch, and Jahniya Coles. (photo by Cherrybell Damasco-Farrington)
Homecoming celebrations started early with a Pep Rally at 10 a.m. in the school gym, beginning
with the traditional “Hum” Spirit Song, led by Dog Pound leaders Ethan Pekala and Barb
Hernandez.
The Competition Cheer team put on an amazing performance for the entire student body. There
was a Chicken Race between grade levels for the Spirit Stick (students carried a tennis ball
between their knees from baseline to baseline). The Sophomore Class won.
The pep rally concluded with a Powderpuff volleyball game between senior and junior boys
teams. The seniors won this one, 26 to 24.
At 5 p.m., there was the traditional Homecoming Parade, starting in the Spring Grove
subdivision, then proceeding along Washington Avenue and up the hill to the high school, led by
the Navy National Defense Cadet Corps and the William Byrd Marching Terriers. They were
followed by the members of the Homecoming Court in convertibles.
The Marching Terriers performed this year’s program “Reign” in a pregame show.
The Homecoming Game opened with the raising of the American Flag by the cadets, and the
singing of the national anthem by the William Byrd choir, accompanied by the Marching
Terriers.
The highly anticipated moment of the game—the introduction of the Homecoming Court and the
crowning ceremony—came at half-time in a game which the Terriers won 33-0 over Bassett
High School. Finally, the busy week ended on Saturday night with the Homecoming Dance.
(Photos by Mary Wray)
(photos by Debbie Adams)
