Following in a tradition that has been established over the past few years, the Western Wayne School District invites the community to attend to its annual homecoming game this Friday, September 28 and accept the challenge of helping others. Along with coming to cheer on the students, they ask that spectators bring donations of canned goods and other nonperishable food items for a drive that will benefit those in need in Wayne County.
From left are the senior girls on Western Wayne’s 2018 Homecoming Court: Allison Mattern, Paige Barillo, Samantha Atcavage, Maya Black, and Gianna DeBastiani.
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Pictured are the senior boys on Western Wayne’s 2018 Homecoming Court. From left, seated: Nicholas McGlone and RJ Clemens. From left, standing: Jake Kunz, Dylan Walck, and Bryce Urian.
The Western Wayne Homecoming Game against Lakeland will begin at 7 p.m. with the presentation of the Homecoming Court about a half hour before kick-off. The ten seniors on this year’s court feel extremely honored and excited to be a part of this ensemble.
Members of the court include: Jake Kunz, Maya Black, Nicholas McGlone, Samantha Atcavage, Dylan Walck, Gianna DeBastiani, Bryce Urian, Allison Mattern, RJ Clemens, and Paige Barillo.
The part of the homecoming game that senior Jake Kunz looks forward to the most is the support from his fellow Western Wayne students and community members in the stands while he plays.
“I look forward to seeing all of the kids in the stands having a good time,” Jake said.
Jake plays both football and basketball for Western Wayne along with being a member of the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America.
He very much enjoys his time on the football team because he gets to spend time with his friends while working hard on the game.
Jake aspires to study business marketing in college.
Fellow homecoming court member Maya Black also likes playing sports for Western Wayne.
Maya participates in track and field.
“I really enjoy winning with my teammates and bonding through track,” Maya, who does the long, triple, and high jump events, explained.
Maya additionally is part of the Technology Student Association, NHS, and FBLA.
Next year, Maya wishes to attend Temple University to study broadcast journalism.
Maya is also involved in fashion classes at Western Wayne and looks forward to dressing up for the spirit week leading up to the game along with getting to wear her gown on Friday night.
Like Jake and Maya, homecoming court member Nick McGlone participates in FBLA as well.
Nick feels most proud of placing in the top five of last year’s FBLA regional conference. This allowed him to go to the FBLA state conference in Hersey where his event was advertising.
Nick, also a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, looks forward to continuing his academic efforts at college next year and plans to soak in all of the excitement from the student section at the game.
“Everyone will be very hyped up,” Nick explained.
Likewise senior Sam Atcavage looks forward to feeling all of the positive energy at the game.
“I look forward to making a memory with my friends who are on the court,” Sam said.
Sam, who wishes to study nursing in college, also likes to bond with her friends in the various sports and clubs she participates in at Western Wayne.
She is part of the tennis team, indoor track club, and outdoor track, along with being a member of NHS and FBLA.
Sam has many great memories from her time on the tennis team.
“We have a small team and put in a lot of hard work while playing a fun sport,” Sam explained.
Fellow homecoming court member Dylan Walck agrees that some of his favorite high school memories come from the time he has spent in Western Wayne sports programs.
Dylan, who plays multiple positions on the football team, has a passion for the sport.
“I like the brotherhood we create,” Dylan, who plans to student pre-medicine in the fall, explained. “It is a learning experience for all of us and we get to see the results on the field.”
Dylan greatly looks forward to the energy of the crowd at the homecoming game.
Dylan’s friend senior Gianna DeBastiani likewise looks forward to experiencing the excitement of homecoming with all of her classmates on the court.
“I look forward to hanging out with my friends,” she said.
Gianna plays on the volleyball and track teams at Western Wayne along with being a member of NHS, FBLA, and Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science.
She has especially enjoyed her time on the volleyball team working with all of her teammates to have good seasons.
She plans to study business administration.
Homecoming court member Bryce Urian, like his classmates, has had a lot of fun in the many activities he participates in at Western Wayne.
Bryce performs with the Western Wayne Band along with being a member of NHS and the Video Game Club.
He wishes to study chemistry in college and really looks forward to adding to his high school experiences the honor of being on the homecoming court.
“I can’t wait to feel all of the spirit and enthusiasm on Friday night from the student section,” Bryce explained. “They are all very supportive.”
Fellow band member Allison Mattern also looks forward to her time Friday night at homecoming.
“This will be a new experience for me,” Allison explained. “I would have never thought that I would do this.”
Allison is a member of NHS, FBLA, PJAS, the Scholastic Team, and the tennis team.
She especially loves her experiences with the tennis team.
“We are a small team,” Allison, who wishes to study biochemistry next year, explained. “We are all very competitive and challenge each other at practices while having a good time.”
Like his friend Allison, homecoming court member RJ Clemens likes to have a good time while participating in a variety of activities at school.
RJ is in NHS, PJAS, TSA, Political Science Club, Scholastic Team, Spanish Club, Envirothon, Band, Drama Club, musical theater, and the Reading Team.
RJ, who wishes to study science in college, is glad to participate in all of his academic clubs along performing a variety of lead roles over the years in Western Wayne musicals.
“I like learning from books I read and applying that information in competition,” RJ explained about his experiences with the Reading Team.
He looks forward to getting to dress up for all of spirit week, especially for the homecoming game.
Finally, homecoming court member Paige Barillo agrees with RJ that dressing up is one of her favorite parts of homecoming along with getting to spend time with friends and being recognized by her peers at the game.
Paige, who plans to study nursing in college, is involved in a variety of clubs and sports including NHS, PJAS, FBLA, Wayne Memorial Community Health Board, track and field, indoor track club, and the cross country team.
“I love the cross country team because it’s such a small team and we are so close with each other,” Paige said.
Paige and all of the members of the homecoming court look forward to bonding with each other and making memories during homecoming at Friday’s game. The court along with the rest of the Western Wayne community invite the public to join them on Friday, Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m. for the homecoming festivities followed by the game.
Bring some canned goods to donate and contribute to the positive atmosphere of Western Wayne Homecoming.