Pioneer pageantry

Anderson crowned homecoming queen at Gentry High School

GENTRY — It was an unusual homecoming in Pioneer Stadium on Friday evening, with participants wearing masks throughout the ceremony and the traditional homecoming kiss on the cheek replaced with elbow bumps, but the show did go on and a new homecoming queen was crowned at Gentry High School.

After class maids and their escorts were introduced and took their places on the field, the announcement was made seniors Seiren Reding and Zach Zarnagan were this year’s football captains. They received signed footballs, presented by the kindergarten mascots.

There were six seniors in the running for the homecoming queen crown: Emma Anderson, Taryn Capps, Lexi Harlan, Megan McCollum, Taylor Norman and Halle Reid.

The announcement came over the PA system: “The 2020 GHS homecoming queen is … Emma Anderson.”

Falyn Cordeiro, the 2019 homecoming queen, placed the crown on Anderson’s head and attached the royal robe around her. Anderson was presented with a bouquet of flowers and received an elbow bump from senior captains Reding and Jarnagan.

Then, after a brief break for photos, it was time for football, as the Pioneers took on the visiting Tigers from Green Forest.

Participants in this year’s homecoming ceremonies included freshman maids Kelsi Amos escorted by Aiden Whitehead, Destiny Reinhardt escorted by Eduardo Galvan, and Maya Robinson escorted by Bryson Walker.

Sophomore maids were Kaitlyn Braun escorted by Jonah Summers, Averie Jeffus escorted by Crafton Beeler, and Cady Truman escorted by Jonathan Corter.

The junior maids were Cora Bass escorted by Antonio Hernandez, Baylee Hendrickson escorted by Adam Summers, and Sydnee Parks escorted by William Pyburn.

The senior maid were Emma Anderson escorted by Lucas Guinn and Tommy Xiong, Taryn Capps escorted by Ty Hays and Braedon Warren, Lexi Harlan escorted by Dawson Rayburn and Chris Bell, Megan McCollum escorted by Seiren Reding and Garrison Jackson, Taylor Norman escorted by Jerry Harris and Isaiah Freeman, and Halle Reid escorted by Zach Jarnagan and Isaiah Lopez.

The kindergarten mascots were Everly Leighton Still and Holt Isaiah Lyttle.

In addition, introductions were made for Gentry football players, football managers and cheerleaders during the ceremony.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Randy Moll) Emma Anderson is crowned the 2020 homecoming queen by Falyn Cordeiro, the 2019 homecoming queen, Oct. 9 during a ceremony in Pioneer Stadium. Gentry senior Seiren Reding, one of the two captains, looks on.

Senior maid Lexie Harlan was escorted by Dawson Rayburn and Chris Bell.

Senior maid Halle Reid was escorted by Isaiah Lopez and Zach Jarnagan.

Senior maid Taryn Capps was escorted by Braedon Warren and Ty Hays.

Senior maid Taylor Norman was escorted by Isaiah Freeman and Jerry Harris.

Gentry senior maids pose together for a photo following the homecoming ceremony. The seniors are Norman, Reid, Harlan, Anderson, Capps and Megan McCollum.