Pinewood celebrates homecoming with “Battle in Bellville”
Left to right: Ever Downs, Bonnie Blocker, Libby Kate Blocker, Mimi Parker, Ella Johns, Maddie Kent, 2022 PCA Homecoming Queen Mattie Parker, Lacy Stone, Sydney Tippins, Caroline DeLoach, Becky Edwards, Genevieve Bradley, and Ava Anderson.
By Ella Johns, Pinewood Senior
Pinewood Christian Academy celebrated their 51st annual Homecoming week with the theme “Battle in Bellville.” Homecoming was also filled with exciting activities such as the pep rally, senior breakfast, tailgate supper, the Pinewood vs. Memorial Day Matadors Homecoming football game, the announcing of the Homecoming Princess, and the crowning of the 2023 Homecoming Queen.
During the half-time show of the football game on Friday, each representative was escorted onto the field followed by the flower girl and crown bearer who were first graders. Penelope Tarver, daughter of Trent and Shea Tarver served as the flower girl. Hayden Sapp, son of Chad and Whitney of Collins, served as the crown bearer.
Flower girl Penelope Tarver and Ring bearer Hayden Sapp
Sydney Tippins, daughter of Amy and Jimmy Thompson of Collins and Wes Tippins of Claxton, was then crowned the 2023 Pinewood Christian Academy Homecoming Queen. The title of Pinewood Christian Academy Homecoming Princess was awarded to Laci Stone, daughter of Dean and Krista Stone of Metter.
The week was filled with fun and exciting days, as the students expressed themselves through varying themed dress-up days.
On Monday, PCA students “crawled” and “hobbled” down the hall for Babies vs Elderly Day where everyone dressed as a baby or grandma/grandpa. The students came sporting bibs, pacifiers, bottles, canes, suspenders, and gray hair to name a few. Later that day, was the Homecoming Parade with Mr. Randy Roderick serving as the Grand Marshal. The 2022 Miss PCA, Matti Parker, along with the 2023 homecoming representatives and Pinewood athletic teams piled onto their floats and cars to parade around Bellville.
Front Row: Gemma Blocker, Gracie Rushing, Addie Cooper, Brooklyn Clarke, Hartli Lewis, Mary Camryn Morris, Gabe Bell; Back Row: Eastin Hall, Emory Sanders, Brigham Beall, Logan McEachin, Weston Beverly, Jack Eason, Mason Yarbrough.
Parade Grand Marshal Randy Roderick
On Tuesday, the students put on their badges or handcuffs for Cops vs Robbers Day. Campus was overrun with criminals and the boys and girls in blue.
Front Row: Brooks Burkhalter, Emma Eason, Mathyn Tucker, Piper Smith, Chloe Young, Ava Benton, Kaden Thorn Lakelyn Langely; Back Row: Liam Denton, Ethan Carter, Moly Durrence, DARE Officer Jeff Thompson, Lanier Sittle, Joy Collins, Shelburne McDonald, and Griffin Long.
Wednesday was Heroes vs Villains Day. Students dressed as a hero or villain from their favorite comic books, TV shows, or movies. There were Marvel and Disney heros and villians alike that filled the hallways.
Front Row: Gaines Holland; Middle Row: Brantley Dutton, Jayden Thompson, Kamryn Waters, Ella-Jane Morris, Amelia McLeod, Jorja Cowart; Back Row: Rylan Dasher, Trice Deen, Tavren McCall.
Hunters vs Animals on Thursday was a twist on Pinewood’s classic Camo Day. The halls were filled with cows, deer, and hunters. Before school, the senior class gathered in the parking lot for the annual senior breakfast.
Class of 2024
The week ended with Spirit Day. Students and faculty were decked out in all their green, orange, and white. The Senior Spirit Parade kicked off the day’s events. The seniors decorated their ATVs, cars, and tractors and drove them around the school while parents, students, and patrons cheered them on.
Left to right: Harleigh Driggers, Jamie Brinkley, Laci Stone, Elysia Coughlin, Jena Hales, Maddie Kent, Mia Hamner, Cassidi Lynn, Ella Johns, Riley Nevil, Grace Rogers, Emily Stidams, Caralea Quick, and Priscilla Dillon.
Front Row: Wesley Tippins, Bryce Burke, Walker Todd; Middle Row: Jake Rogers and Bradley Hearn; Back Row: Ben Swindell and Avant Anderson.
On Friday was another Pinewood tradition, Cheerleader Hush Day. On this day, all varsity cheerleaders wear a name tag pinned to their shirt and are not allowed to talk. If they talk to someone, that person gets their tag and gets to pie them in the face at the homecoming pep rally. The cheerleader also sell spirit items such as pom poms, necklaces, and face paintings to the lower school students.
To conclude the school day, the varsity cheerleaders led the school in a pap rally in the Eddie Durrence Gymnasium to get the team and students excited for Friday night’s game against the Memorial Matadors. The varsity football team stormed through the Patriot banner high-fiving the students getting them pumped up for their big game. The cheerleaders opened the pep rally with a dance routine. Afterwards, a skit featuring the Pinewood Board of Directors was presented by the directors’ middle and high school children. There were games for the underclassman and then the prestigious spirit sticks were awarded to the loudest grades. Then it was time for the seniors to play a game of ships and sailors which they had waited to do since they began at PCA. This annual tradition, reserved for seniors only, served as a way for the spectators to cheer on their favorite senior. The pep rally concluded with the cheerleaders being pied in the face and the traditional singing of the Alma mater.
The pre-game festivities began with annual Homecoming Tailgate, catered by Rusty Pig of Glennville, in the Randy Roderick Gymnasium for fellowship and food.
Minutes before kickoff, spectators gathered at Lowell Coley Field to watch this year’s senior homecoming representative as they were driven onto the field on golf carts. Bradley Hearn, Chris Driggers, Carson Berry, and Avant Anderson swerved as chauffeurs for the senior girls while the other class representatives were announced and walked on to the center of the field. The 2022 Homecoming Queen, Matti Parker, also attended the game to crown the new queen and princess.
Vying for the crown this year were seniors Ella Johns, Maddie Kent, Laci Stone, Sydney Tippins. Lower class representatives included Genevieve Bradley (11th), Caroline DeLoach (11th), Becky Edwards (11th), Libby Kate Blocker (10th), Mimi Parker (10th), Ava Anderson (9th), Ever Downs (8th), and Bonnie Blocker (7th).
The night ended with a homecoming dance for the upper school hosted by the Senior Class in the cafetorium.
This week brought students, faulty, and patrons together as they enjoyed a festive week full of fun and memories topped off with a Patriot victory over the Matadors with a score of 43-27.
