Storm clouds accompanied this year’s homecoming game, instead of the Timberwolf band. After a lightning delay, Cedar Park defeated Westwood 34-10 Sept. 12 at Gupton Stadium.

Along with disrupting the actual game, the rain also complicated the crowning of the Homecoming court. The band did not play during the presentation of the court and most court members were carrying umbrellas, including Homecoming Queen Kat Cuthbertson.

“The weather was terrible,” Cuthbertson said. “I was soaked even with an umbrella.”

The weather almost prevented senior Monica Harkins from walking. Counting on a full half hour delay, she left her house late and narrowly avoided a car accident after hydroplaning her car. However, she scrambled in line just in time to have her dad run up behind her and shove all of the items Harkins was carrying in his pockets.

“I was about to have a panic attack,” Harkins said. “I was on the verge of tears.”

Once Harkins arrived, Cuthbertson, who ran against senior princesses Alyssa Cepeda, Rachel Freeman, Harkins, Katelyn Hawk and Mia Trautz, was crowned for the second year in a row. She earned Junior Duchess in 2013.

“It’s a really awesome feeling,” Cuthbertson said. “I can definitely say I didn’t see it coming. It was a really competitive court.”

In order to win, Cuthbertson personally asked every band member to vote for her and her boyfriend senior Nello Kotyuk, who was nominated with her the past two years.

Homecoming King Godson Iheanacho and running mate Rachel Freeman used a similar campaigning strategy.

“We campaigned a lot last minute because we didn’t know how much the other couples would campaign,” Iheanacho said. “A lot of it was face-to-face. Toward the end we posted about it on Twitter and Instagram.”

Even after campaigning, Iheanacho was unsure if he would win against senior princes Brian Edwards, Ben Jacobs, Kotyuk, Ryan Lemmons and Evan Rosenthal.

“I felt like there were too many people running for me to win, but I knew a lot of my friends voted for me,” Iheanacho said.

The following night, the king and queen attended the black light themed Homecoming dance hosted by Student Council.

“The dance was really well put together,” Iheanacho said. “The DJ played a lot of good dancing songs. It seemed like everyone was having a really good time.”

As for the football game, it was a slow start, but after the delay, the team gained momentum, according to Quarterback senior Joey Carter, who is out for the rest of the season due to an ACL injury from the game against Aledo on Aug. 29.

“We got better as a team over [the course of] the game,” Carter said. “A lot of young players stepped up.”