Oskaloosa Homecoming Court Looks Forward to Friends, Traditions and Community Support

Nine members of Oskaloosa High School’s 2026 homecoming court visit the Oskaloosa News studio to share their excitement about friendships, school pride, and making memories with the community. Thursday’s parade and coronation and Friday’s football game against Washington highlight the week’s celebrations. Court member Jonah DeVore was absent.

In convertibles, seeing old friends along the parade route and enjoying time with friends are some of the things the 2026 homecoming court from Oskaloosa High School hopes to remember long after they graduate.

Recently, nine of the ten students on the court went to the Oskaloosa News studio to discuss what was in store for the week; the talk consisted of some laughter, a certain amount of friendly competition, and a common appreciation for the opportunity to speak on behalf of their classmates.

As Homecoming continues on Wednesday, September 16th, focus shifts to the parade and coronation on Thursday evening, with the Friday football game against Washington following.

For the members of the court, such events provide an opportunity to celebrate with the community and to give an example to the younger students who come after them.

Although she admits that she is a bit nervous about taking part in the parade, she is more excited about it. Ella Walter thanked people for giving her an opportunity which not everybody gets and stated that she regards the court members as positive role models and leaders.

Kaylee Main is looking forward to getting dressed up with her friends and meeting some of the people she knows who are going to be along the parade route; this will include her family, some of her family friends and the younger girls that she knows through dance.

Many of the students stated that the parade is appealing because people get a chance to smile and enjoy the floats. The experience of riding through the downtown area in a convertible will enable them to see the tradition from a different angle, since they have helped to support it as classmates.

Grady Kennedy stated that he is looking forward to the community members meeting at the stadium for the celebration and also mentioned the opportunity to enjoy the contributions of other students, such as the choir.

Carter Winchel said that he appreciates the fact that the court brings together students who have different interests and gave football, choir, volleyball and band as examples of the activities which are part of school life, stressing that students from various groups have the opportunity to take part.

The court members also talked about the responsibility involved in representing their class and wished that younger students should see them taking part, be themselves, and genuinely enjoy homecoming.

The queen candidates this year are Kaylee Main, Naomi Cole, Hannah VanArkel, Ella Walter and Kylynne Roberts.

The men who are going to be king are Tyler Edgar, Grady Kennedy, Ayden Plumb, Carter Winchel and Jonah DeVore.

When asked what kind of memories they would like to have twenty years later at a class reunion, the students mentioned spending time with friends, enjoying laughter, the parade, and being on the court together.

A goal that was competitive also came up over and over again: winning the class float contest for four years in a row.

As stated by the students interviewed, the senior class of 2027 took victory in the competition when they were still freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, and Tyler Edgar was one of those who was looking forward to having another opportunity to come in first.

When asked in the previous interview by the student council, DeVore stated that the seniors expected strong competition from the other classes, and the court members themselves expressed that same opinion during their visit, noting that the younger classes have become more determined than before to beat them.

The students stated that the competitive pressure had encouraged them to improve their own float; since the members of the committee are attending the parade in convertibles, they are relying on their classmates to help show off the senior class’s efforts with regard to their float.

The road trip theme this year links the parade floats with the school dress-up activities held throughout the week, and the students mentioned the preparations which were already being made as they looked forward to the celebration on Thursday.

The homecoming parade is due to start at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, 17th September. The student council have stated that the lineup is expected to start about 5 p.m.

The parade will go down High Avenue and then round the downtown square. It is encouraged for community members to turn up, look at the class floats, and show their support for the students taking part.

The parade will come first, after which the homecoming court will be acknowledged, the king and queen will be crowned, and the winner of the class float competition will be announced.

DeVore stated that anybody is welcome to attend the ceremony that comes after the parade.

The Indians and Washington will meet each other at the Lacey Sports Complex for the homecoming football game on Friday; it is set to start at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 18.

Winchel said that Friday is the part of homecoming about which he is most excited, referring to both the football game and the band’s performance.

In both interviews, the students urged the community to take part in the celebration. The court members look forward most to having families, friends, and younger students attending and being there, as they want to take this experience with them after high school.