Published: Wednesday, October 18, 2006

A high-school homecoming
At Gunn High, homecoming week brings out school spirit, football fans -- and ear plugs

Photographs and story by Nicholas Jensen

"O-nine, we're so fine! O-nine, we're so fine! O-nine, we're so fine!"

The chanting and syncopated clapping gets louder and louder as a swarm of sophomore girls dressed in what look like green leprechaun outfits makes its way to the Gunn High School gymnasium.

Although it is October, Halloween isn't for a few more weeks. The girls haven't dressed up to ask for candy; they're part of the sophomore "air band," clad in the appropriate class color.

Sophomore Matthew Lee (center) slides over a wet tarp with a baton in hand to claim victory for his class in the obstacle-course competition last Tuesday, beating out Frances Kau (left) and Peter Jordan (right).

When the leprechauns step foot in the gym, they are met with an even louder din, as groups of freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors compete to be the loudest, most enthusiastic class in the room.

This is not an average school night at Gunn; this is homecoming week. And tonight is the night rally.

Homecoming, a tradition at high schools across the country, started last Monday at Gunn with brunch and lunchtime activities that stretched throughout the week. Students played games such as tug of war and the inane but hilarious "pie the homecoming court," in which nominees for homecoming king and queen receive a face full of whipped cream "pies" thrown by their peers.

Homecoming week is also the time for friendly class rivalry and competitions, marked by lots of chanting and shouting about which class is really the best -- usually the seniors -- and which needs some time to learn from the best -- sorry, freshman.

But upsets are possible.

During rally night last Thursday, the juniors came out on top, despite an earful of "Ooh aah, you wish you were a senior!"

The junior air band (essentially a dance group), looking sharp in their class color black, impressed the panel of objective judges brought in from outside the Gunn realm with a mix of swing and hip-hop moves.

The night rally also gave the rowdy crowd a chance to pump up the varsity football team, which was preparing for the Friday night homecoming game against Cupertino High School.

If the activities during the week divide the classes against each other, the football game reunites them in support of their Titans. The home-side stands, under the white glow of the new stadium lights, were filled with students of all grade levels and their parents dressed in Gunn black and red as the Titans clobbered Cupertino 34-6, thanks to senior quarterback -- and homecoming king -- Chris Gumbrecht's four touchdown passes.

The party didn't stop there. Echoes from celebrating fans and the Gunn brass section met with the thump-thumping of the DJ's speakers in the school gym the following night for the culmination of the week: the homecoming dance.

As the shy students and amorous couples headed for open seating on the bleachers, the main floor filled with moving bodies speckled in strobe lights. Friends gathered in groups to dance together, and teachers did their best, as always, to ensure the dance moves didn't become inappropriate. By 9 p.m., the gym was filled to capacity, and teachers had to turn away the latecomers.

And so another homecoming week at Gunn High School passed into memory. This week, teachers are sighing in unison and students are regaining their voices -- and starting to plot for another week of screaming and dancing next year.

The sights and sounds of Gunn's homecoming week have been captured in a multimedia slideshow at www.PaloAltoOnline.com.

--Staff Photographer Nicholas Jensen can be e-mailed at njensen@paweekly.com.

At Westfield Valley Fair Mall in Santa Clara, Gunn seniors Nikita Dodani and Judy Sol look for dresses to wear to the Saturday homecoming dance.	Sophomores cheer on their classmates during the obstacle-course competition, in which the sophomores defeated the seniors in the final round, and the freshmen came in last place.
Homecoming-king candidate Evan Fisher prepares for an incoming whipped-cream pie in the face, during brunch last Thursday.	Judy Sol and Jennifer Lien react after their friend Nikita Dodani comes out of the dressing room.
Homecoming-king candidates (from left) Zak Weiler, Ian Powell, Zach Feinberg and Evan Fisher ambush Chris Gumbrecht with squirt guns after he was announced homecoming king during half-time.	Illuminated by new stadium lights, Gunn Titans play against Cupertino High Friday night, winning 34-6.
Gunn seniors John Barley, Jay Perlman and Sam Zipperstein celebrate after Titan Josh Lee runs 52 yards for a touchdown.	Senior Cecilia Padilla gets down on a platform overlooking the dance floor Saturday night.
Freshman Yuan Tian watches friends on the dance floor Saturday night during the homecoming dance	Members of the Gunn Titans varsity football team cheer for their teammates as they're called to center stage during the night rally Thursday