Crowning achievement

In a normal year, the students of Newton High School would be gathered inside the gymnasium for the homecoming coronation. On a normal year, school activity groups would be marching in a parade. On a normal year, the cheerleaders and football team would cheer in the town square for a community pep rally.

But this is not a normal year for homecoming.

Restrictions were set in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a reality students are facing nearly every day. The high school’s homecoming ceremonies were not immune to these restrictions. No in-school coronation. No parade. No downtown pep rally. Nevertheless, the school and students made due.

Guests were asked to wear masks and socially distance themselves in the stands of H.A. Lynn Stadium. School activity groups walked through an inflatable cardinal and were recognized by the student council hosts in place of a parade. Performances by the pacesetters and cheerleaders replaced the pep rally.

However, the crowning achievement this year was the coronation, held on the track of H.A. Lynn Stadium. The 16 candidates — eight guys and eight gals — were escorted by their parents in front of the crowd composed of families and students. When winners were chosen, the stadium nearly shook with excitement.

When former high school royalty Nicholas Millbooks crowned Zane Biondi as the 2020 homecoming king, the football team unleashed a loud and wild cheer. Biondi was not surprised by the decision, noting a lot of his friends had encouraged others to vote. It was a nice feeling to win though.

“I had a lot of support from my football players, my wrestling (teammates) — everyone that I’ve been part of a sport with,” Biondi told Newton News in between photos with friends and family. “They just really came together and started helping. It was a lot of support. They all wanted to see me win.”

Admittedly, it was a different homecoming than what people were used to, but Biondi saw the format as a positive in some areas.

“I liked the whole coronation part out here because when we do it in the gym or stuff like that in past years it would always feel hot and cramped,” he said. “This just feels a lot more out and there’s a lot more spacing. I like the parade aspect of it also, but you get what you get. We try to work with what we get.”

Meg Callaghan was grinning from ear to ear when former homecoming queen Molly Coy placed the ornate tiara on her head. Meg Callaghan, who shared candidacy alongside her sister Kate Callaghan, was shocked when she won. For as many people who said she would win, Meg Callaghan still didn’t believe it.

“I knew we had a great group of girls on the court, and all of them are very deserving,” Meg Callaghan said. “I had my money on a lot other people, if I’m being honest. But I am so proud to have been chosen. It feels good! My twin sister was on the court. Sibling rivalry! She was one I had my money on.”

Now, Meg Callaghan gets some bragging rights at home. Like Biondi, Meg Callaghan noted the positive differences in this year’s homecoming ceremonies.

“I think (the school) did a really good job of trying to get something together for the senior class and everybody else,” Meg Callaghan said. “It was different but it was definitely memorable. Obviously, no other class was going to have it this way, so we can say that we had it this way and look back on it in a couple years.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com