By After a month of classes being in full swing, Carroll students, staff, and families took to the stands, parking lots, and stadium for a busy week of Homecoming celebrations.
The festivities began on Wednesday, Sept. 24, with the annual Fighting Saints March. The gathering of students from various athletics teams marched down Last Chance Gulch.
Starting with the pep band leading the way with the fight song, the cheer and dance team performed throughout the walk, and ended with the remaining Carroll teams supporting each other and waving to friends, family, and Carroll supporters.
“The march is always a mixed bag, but I think this year students came out to show up, and it exceeded my expectations,” said Landon Connor, senior biochemistry/molecular biology major from Corvallis, Montana.
The volleyball matchups for the week began on Thursday, Sept. 25, with a match between the Carroll Fighting Saints and the Montana Tech Orediggers. The Fighting Saints swept the Orediggers going 3-0 in the matchup.
Then on Friday Sept. 26 the volleyball team took on the Montana Western Bulldogs. Once again the Fighting Saints came out on top bringing down the Bulldogs in a 3-1 matchup. After their homecoming matchups the Carroll volleyball team sits at 4th in the conference.
“It’s exciting,” said head volleyball coach Maureen Boyle. “This week gave us a good opportunity to grow. We started homecoming week but we get to be done and enjoy the rest of the weekend.” Boyle became the head coach of the Fighting Saints Volleyball team in 2005.
Friday was also a busy day for many non-athletic Carroll events. The biology and environmental science departments held a barbecue at 3 p.m. The annual hand blessing ceremony for nursing students took place in All Saints Chapel at 4 p.m. At 6 p.m. families of Carroll students and alumni were welcomed for both Parent Weekend and the airing of a new Carroll football documentary focusing on the 4-peat championships football seasons between 2002 and 2005.
Friday concluded with the second weekend of showings for the theatre department’s performance of Puffs. Multiple showings occurred over homecoming weekend at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday with another showing at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
By Saturday at midday the parking lot outside Nelson Stadium was full of fans, parents, students, and alumni. The tailgate had food, drinks, and games for everyone to enjoy while anticipation for gametime grew. The gates were opened and the game began with an electric crowd at 6 p.m.
The football team started even more electric than the crowd. Scoring two touchdowns, including a 34 yard pass to sophomore running back Peter Minnaert, put the team up 14-0 at the end of the half. Minnaert is a biology major from Boise, Idaho.
During halftime Carroll fans and students recognized this year’s Homecoming royalty and bed race champions. The winners of homecoming royalty this year were Tanner Joyce, a civil engineering major from Crane Oregon, and Ava Dhanens, a biology major from Battle Ground, Washington, Ava Dhanens were prince and princess of the freshman class.
Nursing major Kaden Cox, from Wellington, Colorado, and biology major Lydia McCulloch, from Smithfield, Utah, were prince and princess of the sophomore class.
Philosophy major Sean Monaco, from North Augusta, South Carolina, and environmental science major Tess Guerrera, from Littleton, Colorado, were prince and princess of the junior class.
And this year’s senior king and queen of homecoming was pre-elementary and special education major Joseph Ceccacci, from Missoula, Montana, and pre-elementary education major, Madison Lewis, from Corvallis, Montana.
The bed race wrapped up the halftime festivities in a tie between the ROTC team and the sophomore class team. Patrick Harris, director student activities, recognized both teams at the end of the race. With the festivities wrapped up, the football game continued.
Rocky Mountain attempted to mount a comeback during the second half but were no match for the Fighting Saints who scored two more touchdowns in the second half. The final score was 27-13 bringing the Fighting Saints to 3-1 this season.
After a long weekend of celebration, sports, and excitement, members of the Carroll community came together for a more reflective Sunday morning. Mass at All Saints Chapel on Sunday morning allowed for one final gathering of members from across our community. Students, parents, alumni, and faculty members gathered to pray and close out another busy homecoming weekend.
