MARATHON HIGH CELEBRATES HOMECOMING WEEK

By
Alex Rickert
-

A parade of nearly 40 exquisitely decorated cars, trucks, floats and emergency vehicles gave way to a pep rally, dance and Friday Night Lights as Marathon High School put on its homecoming celebration on Oct. 11-15. Tasked with creating floats to match the 2022 “Around the World” theme, the senior class’ Keys-themed entry – complete with the Southernmost Point, a mermaid, a lighthouse and the Seven Mile Bridge – captured top honors. The junior class took a trip to China for their creation, followed by the sophomores’ journey to Italy and the freshman class’ celebration of Día de los Muertos. At halftime of the homecoming game on Friday night – eventually won in dominant fashion by Marathon, 57-21 – the school’s 2021 royal homecoming duo of Cole McDaniel and Clare Merryman were on the field to lend a hand in crowning Emmanuel Polanco and Riley McDonald as the 2022 homecoming king and queen.

The young Stars of the Florida Keys fill up the truck bed to show their support
Coach Mary Coleman-Sayer, left, keeps an eye on a truck full of Golfin’ Dolphins.
Though it may not have won the top overall prize, the freshman class’ Día de los Muertos float was by far the most colorful.
The Class of 2025 flew across the Atlantic for some Italian touches on their float.
The junior class’ China-themed float. The Dolphins did, in fact, ‘Smoke the Spartans.’
Seniors hype up their Keys-themed float.
A beautifully constructed lighthouse, mermaid and Southernmost Point replica adorned the Class of 2023’s Florida Keys-themed float.
Homecoming court members Fisher Coleman-Sayer, left, and Cassandra Brezil greet the crowd.
Homecoming court members Billy Martin, left, and Ayanda Masango make their way down U.S. 1.
The Marathon High School homecoming queen Riley McDonald, left, and homecoming king Emmanuel Polanco.

Photos by BARRY GAUKEL/Keys Weekly. See more parade and homecoming awards photos at keysweekly.com

Alex Rickert
Alex Rickert
Alex Rickert made the perfectly natural career progression from dolphin trainer to newspaper editor in 2021 after freelancing for Keys Weekly while working full time at Dolphin Research Center. A resident of Marathon since 2015, he fell in love with the Florida Keys community by helping multiple organizations and friends rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Irma. An avid runner, actor, and spearfisherman, he spends as much of his time outside of work on or under the sea having civil disagreements with sharks.

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