Photos By: Flora Lopes Dezen
West Ranch High School’s 2024 Homecoming dance took place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Sept. 6, with a theme inspired by the movie Mamma Mia. As students walked in, they were met with arcade games and sparkling lights brightening the venue. The Mamma Mia theme brought a fun and energetic vibe, with Greece-inspired decorations, and rhinestone glasses everywhere for students to claim. From the mosh pit to karaoke and arcade games, Wildcats were ready to make the most of the night.
However, this big event did not just happen overnight. Planning for the big event started long before the school year began. ASB Executive Board President Jacob Almaria emphasized how much effort went into making it all happen: “We started almost before school even started, almost before summer started. Our social media team did a great job spreading the word about spirit days and the dance itself.” Almaria added that he was especially proud of how many students participated. “We [were] completely sold out—around 1000 tickets!”
At the start of the dance, the ballroom buzzed with excitement. Freshman Miranda Trujillo, attending her first West Ranch dance, expressed her good time saying, “Just how everyone was super hyped, like everyone’s energy. ” she expressed, recalling the mosh pit as her favorite part.
The night wasn’t just about dancing. There were several activities to keep everyone entertained, from arcade games like “Dance Dance Revolution” to karaoke and table hockey. English teacher and veteran chaperone Mrs. Frame pa
rticularly enjoyed watching students have a great time. “Watching you guys do karaoke was fun, and the candy bar was great. I loved all the old-fashioned video games; it was a cool throwback,” she shared. As a fan of Mamma Mia, she was all about the theme: “Loved it, loved it, and thought it was super fun.”
However, the night did not come without its challenges. The extreme heat made setting up tough for the ASB crew, and supervising was also tricky. ASB Director Mrs. Priske described, “The heat was awful.” Throughout the rally, the football game and the dance, 100 degree temperatures were brutal on students. Still, she was proud of how smoothly the night went, adding, “We added two water stations and tried to spread things out a bit more. Registration went smoothly this year with the new FiveStar app, which helped a lot.”
As the night came to an end, students reflected on their favorite moments. Junior Arjun Nair shared his highlight saying, “My favorite part of the dance was going to BJ’s post-dance with my group of friends.”
All in all, the 2024 West Ranch Homecoming was a hit. With a fun theme, lively activities and plenty of memories, West Ranch students will not forget this special night.
