Homecoming celebrations began Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 following the latest COVID-19 protocol, with an afternoon of games for students and continued Saturday with soccer, lacrosse, and football games for alumni and friends. A large crowd turned out despite threats of bad weather that never materialized.
Friday afternoon students divided into groups by shop and class year to play kickball, gaga, olympic handball, volleyball, futsal, flicker ball, and dodgeball at various locations on campus. The games were organized by Peter Bowersox, director of student engagement, and run by faculty and staff.
Toward the end of the afternoon the senior groups played dodgeball to see which shop would compete against the faculty/staff team. Power Plant Technology won the opportunity to go up against the faculty/staff team and won.
The overall winner of the day’s games was Paint and Coatings Technology, who get to display the winner’s trophy for the year.
That evening after the games, students, faculty, and staff enjoyed the Homecoming Cookout at the Pavilion with plenty of food and more games. Later that evening, students enjoyed an outdoor movie.
Homecoming Day on Saturday started early with an exciting soccer game in which the varsity soccer team went up against a tough alumni team, coached by John Curran 0W5. The alumni trailed 4-1 before tying things up 4-4 with 12 seconds left, only to lose 3-2 in a shootout. (To read more about the game go to this link: http://www.williamsonathletics.com/article/1233#.YW707xwpDws)
Next, legendary lacrosse coach Jim DeRose put his varsity squad up against an alumni team of seasoned veterans. Though things looked bad most of the game for the varsity team, who had not yet started their regular season and at one point trailed 7-1, they came back, defeating the alumni 11-10. (To read more about the game, go to this link: http://www.williamsonathletics.com/article/1234#.YW710xwpDws)
The highlight of Homecoming is always the football game and this year’s did not disappoint as the Mechanics took on a fired-up New Jersey Warriors team looking for revenge after losing to Williamson earlier in the season. The score was 12-0 early in the game with the Mechanics on the wrong side of the score. The team got on the right track in the fourth quarter, though, and ended the game with a 20-18 victory. (To read more about the game go to this link: http://www.williamsonathletics.com/article/1232#.YW8c3RwpDws)
Bruce Everett 6W9 won an alumni swag bag of Williamson items from the College Store in the Alumni Raffle. Throughout the day, guests also enjoyed a Kid’s Scavenger Hunt, visiting the shops, purchasing Williamson items in the College Store and, of course, meeting with old friends and spending time on campus.
The day also included a large group of young men and their families attending an Admissions Talk and campus tour to learn more about Williamson.
Homecoming concluded at the end of the football game with the entire student body and President Michael Rounds on the field singing the alma mater.