West High founded its Homecoming parade three years ago, and ever since, it has brought the community together to showcase the best of West. This year, the parade kicked off at 6:00 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Church of Latter-day Saints west of the school and marched through the Galway Hills neighborhood. 

The parade featured many sports, clubs and organizations at West, from the football team to Theatre West to the Trojan Marching Band. The parade also showcased this year’s Heroes of Troy nominees, seniors nominated by their peers for their achievements and impact on their community. 

This year’s nominees were Minna Abdalla, Lydia Evans, Abeer Guama, Carter Birch Houchins-Witt, Waleed Ibrahim, Sudarshan Kasturirangan, Juju Manson, Oliver Mikulski, Ali Mohamed, Eva Ortega Lopez, Jack Overholt, Shanza Sami, Andres Sanchez, Thomas Tong, Aria Warren and Grace Walker.

The parade ended back at the Church of Latter-day Saints around 7:00 p.m. Parade-goers could then meet in the West High courtyard for a small pep rally with the Trojan Marching Band drumline and the cheerleading team.

Gallery • 13 Photos

Charlotte Stephens

At the third annual homecoming parade kickoff, grand marshals Kathy Brennahan and Ernie Found led the parade Sept. 22.

After the parade, juniors and seniors faced off in the fifth annual Trojan Games. The men’s volleyball game started around 7:00 p.m. in the south gym. The seniors won the first set but fell to the juniors in the second. However, they came back to win the third set 15-8, securing the win.

Afterwards, powderpuff football kicked off around 8:30 p.m. on the Trojan Field. After a long battle, the seniors won 21-18.

Gallery • 12 Photos

Evelyn Kraber

Chris Mayambu ‘26 sets the ball, setting the seniors up for a hit.

Throughout the week of Homecoming, students dressed as everything from their teachers to “frat bros” to twins to show off their school spirit. They ended the week in West’s signature green and gold.

Although Spirit Week is a staple, West’s Student Government also introduced something new: students could nominate the best Spirit Week outfits each day.

Wad Haroun ’29 won for Frat Out, and Emmerson Reimers ’28 placed second for her Pink Out outfit. Haroun received a $40 30hop gift card, and Reimers got a $25 Marquee gift card.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Sophie Bergman

Emily Rabe ’26 and Colin Wehrle ’26 match with Band Directors Ryan Middleton and Brian Zeglis with their signature West track jackets.

After a shortened school day, following a Thursday schedule, the pep rally began in the main gym at 3:00 p.m. students were welcomed by the drumline before getting seated in the gym by grade level.

The dance team and the football team opened the pep rally with a group dance. Then, different clubs and organizations competed in rounds of tug of war. Debate beat the Business Professionals of America, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes beat Student Government.

Heroes of Troy nominees Juju Manson, Shanza Sami, Waleed Ibrahim, Oliver Mikulski, Eva Ortega Lopez, Abeer Guama and Thomas Tong beat Carter Birch Houchins-Witt, Lydia Evans, Andres Sanchez, Ali Mohamed, Sudarshan Kasturirangan, Jack Overholt, Minna Abdalla and Grace Walker competed against each other in a tug of war.

Afterward, Student Government President Waleed Ibrahim ’26 selected 10 students from the crowd to compete in a game of musical chairs. After an intense round, Brady Thoma ’26 came out on top.

The K-Poppies, West High’s K-pop dance club, danced to recent hits in K-pop, from “Gnarly” by KATSEYE to “Shutdown” by BLACKPINK. Ibrahim joined the group for their closer: “Soda Pop” from the movie “K-Pop Demon Hunters.”

The cheerleaders performed a routine before senior-freshmen sibling duos ran a balloon-pop relay race. Ibrahim also announced the winner of the teachers’ door decoration contest: Athletic trainer Sheila Stiles.

For the finale, Principal Gross awarded the Spirit Sword to the grade that cheered the loudest. The seniors won the challenge, storming the court to take the sword.

Gallery • 10 Photos

Lea Abou Alaiwa

Principal Gross points the Spirit Sword to the grade that cheers the loudest.

Before the game started, the 16 Heroes of Troy nominees were introduced on the field with their teachers, family and friends to commemorate their accomplishments.

The game kicked off, and the Trojans soon scored two touchdowns and a field goal to end the first quarter 17-7. Liberty quickly caught up, ending the second quarter 24-24.

During halftime, the crowd enjoyed performances from the dance team, cheerleaders and marching band.

The Trojan Marching Band presented their full show for the first time, entitled “The Music of Queen.” They opened with a medley of the band’s most popular songs, then played “Don’t Stop Me Now” and finished with “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

In the second half of the game, after three touchdowns from the Lightnings, the Trojans’ likelihood of a win shrank. They ultimately lost 31-44.

Gallery • 14 Photos

Evelyn Kraber

The student section brought colorful crushed chalk to throw in celebration of a touchdown, in contrast to their black out theme.

The week ended with the Homecoming Dance on Saturday, Sept. 27, in the south gym. 

Two weeks prior, Student Government announced the dance’s theme: Midnight in a Jazz Age. 

The gym was flush with red carpets and gold accents, complete with Great Gatsby-inspired photo walls. There was also a traditional photo booth in the dance room where students could pose with friends and jazz-inspired props for a 4-photo print.

The main action was in the gym, where a DJ played hits like “CARNIVAL” by Kanye, “FE!N” by Travis Scott and “HOT TO GO” by Chappell Roan.

Throughout the night, they also announced the Homecoming Court, which consists of the six Heroes of Troy nominees who earned the most votes from the school body.

The winners were Minna Abdalla, Lydia Evans, Waleed Ibrahim, Juju Manson, Thomas Tong and Grace Walker.

Gallery • 6 Photos

Sophie Bergman

Students gather in a dance circle.