Jake Rouches had slipped out of his jeweled crown and back into his stocking cap for some crowd mingling late in the game Friday, Oct. 21.

Mount Si's 2011 homecoming king, elected by a vote of his peers, hoped his royal duties would be light.

"I might have to take some pictures and shake some hands," the senior said. "It's always a pleasure for me to be homecoming king."

Minutes earlier, Rouches was in the limelight with Dana Pecora, a Wildcat cheer captain. Among a row of princesses on the stadium floor, Pecora's jaw dropped when she saw that her bouquet contained the special rose marking her election.The screams from her cheer teammates brought the whole thing home to her.

"I am not used to that kind of attention," Pecora said. "For me, it's not about popularity. I try to be nice to anyone I can."

Rouches, she said, is like a brother.

"We've been good friends since we were little and awkward," Pecora said.

The senior is dedicated to team."My team is the best!" she said.

The surprised Rouches said he hadn't asked students to vote for him, but will represent friends who didn't get the nod. He's also proud of his tennis team, which had one of its best seasons in years.

"It's good to know that tennis is up there with cheerleading," Rouches said.

• The full homecoming court includes senior princes and princesses Anthony McLaughlin and Sarah McDonald, Henry Owens and Megan McCulley, Alex Pease and Eden Altwies, and Josh Mitchell and Rissy Past. Reece Karalus was the jester. The junior prince and princess were Aaron Tevis and Drew McKeen, sophomores were Tristan Schattler and Halle Parker, and freshmen were siblings Lucas and Emma Currie.

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