Wantagh High School comes home with 14-7 win

It was a day of local pride as the community gathered for Wantagh High School’s annual homecoming festivities. A Friday afternoon pep rally, during which the fall sports teams were introduced, set the tone for a weekend of Warrior spirit.

Prior to the game, class floats were led down Wantagh Avenue to the football field by the marching band, cheerleaders, former Little League President and Grand Marshall Ed Ciminelli, and members of Wantagh’s Board of Education and administration. The theme for this year’s parade was “Cities,” and each of the classes decorated brightly colored floats to celebrate New York (seniors), Las Vegas (juniors), Hollywood (sophomores) and Seattle (freshmen).

The Warriors lived up to their name as they battled it out on the field against the Elmont Spartans. Michael Ferraro scored the team’s two touchdowns and led the Warriors to a 14-7 victory.

During the halftime festivities, the cheerleaders and dance team motivated an already upbeat crowd. The high school band, under the direction of Mindy Dragovich and Zach deVries, flawlessly performed the theme from Rocky, “Gonna Fly Now” and “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.”

After the performances, presenters Arianna Caradonna and Avery Kratzer announced the junior class as winners of the float competition. The highlight of the festivities, however, was the coronation of Andrew Bloniarz and Stefanie Wenz as homecoming king and queen, with Nick English and Paige Craig as first runners-up and Louis Doria and Alyssa Kelly as second runners-up.