Crowning Cardinals

Surrounded by the menagerie of what calssmates were calling the Peters, Kalkoff, Rupp and Whipple International Circus, students at Newton High School crowned seniors Nicholas Tremel and Laura Wyre Thursday as the Cardinal’s Homecoming king and queen for 2018.

With the school’s gymnasium decorated like a circus tent, students were ready to celebrate their new king and queen.

King Nicholas Tremel, the son of Kelly and Curt Tremel, is a varsity letter winner on the Cardinals tennis team, a drum major in the marching band, and member of the high school’s jazz and concert bands. A member of the student council, a Special Olympics Unified Partner and a member of the National Honor Society, Tremel has also been named the Rotary Student of the Month.

Queen Laura Wyre, the daughter of Stacy Raines, Bill Wyre and Jeff Raines, is also a member of the Cardinal band, as well as a member of the Creative Writing Club, Teens Against Human Trafficking, Thespians and the National Honor Society. An executive board member of the student council, Wyre has also received a leadership award in band.

For NHS special education teacher Kelly Tremel, it was a watershed moment watching her son be crowned Homecoming King. Tremel, who leads the high school’s student council, is also in charge of many of the Cardinal’s homecoming activities. Despite her role, her son’s coronation still caught her by surprise.

“I’m just in shock,” Kelly Tremel said. “I was surprised, extremely surprised.”

Every year as she’s getting candidates organized for their big moment on the stage, Tremel said she always takes a minute to talk to each of the candidates. In years past, she’s had to soothe plenty of nervous would-be kings and queens, but this year’s candidates were as cool as cucumbers.

“I make a point to talk to each candidate as they’re lining up, I didn’t see any nerves this year,” Tremel said. “They’re just having fun together this year.”

To Nicholas Tremel, a drum major in the marching band, Thursday was a day like any other, although he was sporting a tie when he left for school in the morning. With years of experience participating in coronation activities, Tremel said he wasn’t nervous at all as he waited to head up onto the stage. In fact, he was convinced he wasn’t going to win.

“I was definitely surprised. I didn’t think I was going to win,” Tremel said.

As he stood in line at the reception following the coronation ceremony, Tremel mused about the benefits of being king. Instead of marching in the parade with the rest of the band, he’d be in a convertible alongside queen Laura Wyre, waving to fans and spectators along the parade route. Most of all, Tremel said he’s excited to kick off the final few days of homecoming week, one of his favorite times at the school.

“Everyone is so excited. Everyone’s having a good time,” Tremel said.

Like Tremel, Wyre wasn’t sure if she’d hear her name called on the stage either. With so many candidates she felt were just as deserving as she was, Wyre said she felt honored to have been voted in by her peers.

“I don’t think I would’ve been surprised if anyone won,” Wyre said. “It was really exciting. It was really just amazing to be up there with all these people, getting to see everyone dressed up.”

With coronation in the rearview mirror, Wyre can start focusing on her favorite part of homecoming week — Saturday night’s dance. Even though she’s quick to point out she’s no Fred Astaire, Wyre said it’s still the best part of homecoming week.

“I’m a really bad dancer, but I’m still going to have fun with it,” Wyre said.

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com