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The Race to Homecoming … Literally

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Where to begin? This past weekend was a whirlwind of emotion and excitement. This year, Fall Festival, Homecoming and Halloween all fell on the same weekend. And to add to that, my Cross Country team’s conference championships were on Saturday too! For the past 3 years, I’ve never been able to attend the Homecoming game because it’s always fallen on the same day as Cross Country Championships. It’s never been too big of a deal to me. I obviously always wished I was able to attend both, but whenever I miss out on something because of running, I just think about how I’m getting to have a whole other awesome student-athlete experience that most people don’t get. This year, however, I was nominated for Homecoming Queen. Plot twist! How could I be in Connecticut for Conference Championships at 11 a.m. and then get back for the Homecoming game at 3 p.m.? With awesome parents, of course!

The weekend started Friday night with the Spirit Rally. They did things differently this year (or so I’ve heard, considering I’ve never gotten to go before). There was a little reception for the Homecoming Court with some hot shots on campus (whattup Prez Guarasci?!) and then a parade around Cunard Loop led by the marching band, cheerleaders and dance team. Each Homecoming nominee had to have an escort for the weekend's activities.

My escort, Mike, and I taking the Spirit Rally parade VERY seriously.
My escort, Mike, and I taking the Spirit Rally parade VERY seriously.

After I finished up with the Spirit Rally, my parents drove me to Connecticut where my conference championships were being held. My teammates were already there, so I stayed over at the hotel near the course. My best friend Tori and I have been roommates for every away meet we've had in the past 3 years. It was pretty crazy to realize this would be our last meet together. Tori is my rock, and I'm so grateful to have had her by my side for every step (literally, when we're running) throughout college.

Our race went off at 11 a.m. and, just like everything else this past weekend, it was crazy. To start with, I was on the starting line, literally 2 minutes from the race's start, and I realized I wasn't wearing my racing jersey or my bib number. I sprinted back to the bus where our stuff was, grabbed my jersey, and sprinted back to the starting line, putting my jersey on as I ran. I was hyperventilating and near tears from the stress of nearly missing the race's start, but Tori, in her usual style, just looked at me, laughed, and said, "You idiot!" After 3 years of friendship, I expect nothing less. I managed to calm down moments before the gun went off. The race went very well, and I'm so happy to have ended my college running career on a high note!

My team after the race. Love these girls!
My team after the race. Love these girls!

I finished up, took some quick pictures with my teammates and my coach, then jumped back in the car with my parents to rush off to the Homecoming game. Once I got back to campus, I had about 30 minutes to get myself ready for the game. Thanks to the help of two awesome friends, Bianca and Ali, I was able to pull off the transformation. Once all of the candidates and escorts were together, we hung out and killed time before halftime, when the Homecoming King and Queen would be announced. Unfortunately, it was raining and pretty windy, which meant they kept us away from the game. I was super bummed because I really wanted to watch the football team play, but I was getting score updates from some friends who were at the game.

Mike was definitely bored out of his mind by this point, but he put up with my selfie anyway. The sign of a true friend.
Mike was definitely bored out of his mind by this point, but he put up with my selfie anyway. The sign of a true friend.

Halftime eventually came around, and we were all escorted to the field. After we were each introduced, the King and Queen were announced. My friend Sam and I won! All of the girls who were nominated are incredible, and I feel so lucky to have been nominated along with them. I walked off the field and got mobbed by my teammates, friends and AOΠ sisters who nominated me. I'm so grateful specifically to Alpha Omicron Pi and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee for being supportive of my nomination.

hqb

 

So nothing really has changed since I was named Queen ... other than people bowing down before me, calling me "your majesty" and kissing the ground I walk on ... It's pretty casual, really. I promise to rule the kingdom of Wagner with a fair and just hand.

Hopefully anyone reading this knows I'm completely kidding by that. Just being nominated was such an honor, and I feel so fortunate to be appreciated in a community that I am so appreciative of. Wagner really has become my home.

I have to give a special shout out to my parents for putting up with the madness of this past weekend, though (and the past 21 years of my life). If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish any of the things I'm most proud of. So thanks, Mom & Dad. I love ya : ).

The coolest parents in the world at the Spirit Rally, Conference Championships, and Homecoming
The best parents in the world at the Spirit Rally, Conference Championships, and Homecoming ... all in less than 24 hours.  🙂