September 2017

W September 25, 2017 homecoming 3
Framing the Memories
TIME MAY MARCH FORWARD BUT ALUMNI HOMECOMING MEMORIES SHOW THAT TRADITIONS STAY STRONG
BY MARTYLINETTE SANCHEZ AND NATALIA WOLNY
features editor
and asst. features editor
While Maine West has been
home to current students
for less than four years, for
alumni, Maine West has been a place that
they have kept close to their hearts, even
though decades have passed since they
last walked past the podium at gradua-
1962
tion.
Special education
1962
teacher Thomas
Stettner, class of 1985, explained how
homecoming used to be more of a town
effort, rather than a school wide event.
“When I attended Maine West there
was a parade that went through
Downtown Des Plaines. We
went down Lee and Miner
Street, and all the stores had
their windows painted for
homecoming. It was very much
a local event,” he said.
The parade featured buoyant
floats instead of decorated
cars and trucks. Decorated with
structures framed by chicken
wire and covered with tissue
paper, “they were housed over
by D-wing and the week before
homecoming students would
all go and work on their floats,”
Stettner said.
Besides floats made by clubs and student organizations,
students in each grade would try and outdo each other every
year.
“Each class would make their own float and they would
have competitions. Then the winner would be announced
at the football game after the parade,” organizer of the
Maine West Alumni Association Fred Suevel, class of 1972,
said.
Beyond the parade, assembly and football game, the
homecoming court was not always the tradition. “At that
time we didn’t have a homecoming king. We only had a
homecoming queen and her escort during the parade and
dance,” Suevel said.
The process of choosing the homecoming court has
always been a school-wide effort. “You would nominate
somebody from your homeroom to be on the homecoming
court and you would just vote,” dean secretary Monica
Murillo, class of 1975, said. “You wouldn’t go to the cafe
or parade around like students do now.” By the 1980s,
“kings” became part of the court after being selected by the
student body, too.
Contrary to some beliefs, Powderpuff was not a schoolwide
tradition until one brave Maine West student decided to question why
girls did not get the opportunity to play football.
“I was always bothered by the idea that guys got to play football and
girls didn’t. One day, some friends and I decided to act on this. As Student
Council president, I told my Student Council advisor and we agreed to get
Powderpuff started at Maine West,” Kathie Clifford, class of 1982, said.
Even though traditions such as Powderpuff have been added to Maine
West, the spirit jug has been here since the beginning.
“The competition for the most ‘spirited class’ has always been stiff and exciting.
It has been awesome to see each class try to win it every year,” PE
teacher Maureen Moeller, class of 1979, said.
Murillo explained how even though Maine West has always
had spirit, in past years students have surpassed her expectations.
“You guys have the most spirit I’ve ever seen. In
my time it it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t anything like it is now,”
Murillo said.
Another difference, as Clifford explained, is how the dance
used to be mainly couple oriented. “In the 80s, I did not
notice how rare it was for students to attend without a date.
1961
As I have seen my own kids attend Maine West Homecoming
dances, I am glad that they now feel the freedom to go with a
date or with friends,” Clifford said.
Although going to the Homecoming
dance can seem like a daunting task,
counselor Rosanna Giricz, class of 1998,
1985 1985
PHOTOS COURTESY OF: LEGEND,
WESTERNER, KRISTIN ROMANI
AND KATHIE CLIFFORD
1975
plained how attending is a unique expe-
ence.
“Homecoming is one of the few
times in in your teenage years that
you can just have fun with your friends,
dress up, and enjoy life,” Giricz said. “In
that sense, things have not changed
much since I was in high school. We all
have memories that stay with us forever
and are embarrassing; I’m glad I got to
live through these moments with my
friends at Maine West.”
Clifford recounts how some of her
fondest memories have been made at
Maine West. “As Student Council
president, I was given the opportunity
to grow as a person,
while leading a whole assembly
and having every single eye on me.
I’ll never forget all the fun I had here,”
Clifford said.
Despite the minor differences between our
exri-
homecoming now and the homecomings held
years ago, assistant principal Dave Matkovic, class
of 1982, says the Warrior spirit has been innate.
“Homecoming is a chance to come together
as Maine West Warriors no matter what year
you are,” Matkovic said. “What we have now
reminds me very much of the energy and school
spirit we had back then. Hair styles and fashions
may change,
but the Warrior
Spirit lives on.”
2002