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Riverbend's Homecoming King and Queen both members of the football team Date published: 10/19/2009
BY LAURA L. HUTCHISON When Riverbend High School's homecoming king and queen were announced, both came from the football field to claim their crowns. But this wasn't the classic football player-cheerleader combination. The Bears' homecoming king and queen are both football players. Jesse McNeal, 17, is a cornerback and running back, a member of the team for four years. Catherine "Cat" Wallace, 18, has been the team's kicker for three years. The players were on the field during halftime when the winners were announced. Both said they were shocked when their names were called. "It took me a couple seconds to realize they'd called me," Jesse said. "I was like, 'Wow! Thank you, guys.'" "It was definitely mind-blowing," Cat said. "I didn't think, as a football player, that I would be picked." Two weeks before homecoming, students nominate their peers. The top five vote-getters move on, and students vote again for their king and queen. Riverbend math teacher Denise Ford said she wasn't surprised at the students' choices. "They're all-around kids," she said. "They're not stuck on themselves. They're down-to-earth. They do the best they can all the time. I'm in my 30th year teaching in Spotsylvania, and I can tell you, they are a rarity in today's world." Track standout Cat followed in her older brother Nick's footsteps to the football field. "He was the kicker the first years Riverbend was open," she said. "He taught me to kick, along with his coach, Paul Woodside." She tried out for the team as a sophomore. "I was extremely nervous," she said. "I didn't know what the coaches would think of a girl playing. But they've been supportive, as well as my teammates, in every way." Jesse had always played basketball, and in sixth grade decided he wanted to try another sport. "I tried it and liked it," he said. After the Bears' homecoming win last week over Albemarle, 47-6, the king and queen went to the dance, but not together. Cat had a date; Jesse hadn't asked anyone and had planned to attend the dance solo. "It definitely made the dance exciting," Cat said. "We got to wear our sashes and crowns. I felt really proud to wear it." Jesse was proud, too, but said his velvet crown was "really hot. I wore it the whole dance. I didn't have any place to put it." The king and queen didn't dance together. In fact, the dance was so crowded that they never even saw each other. Jesse and Cat both plan to go to college after they graduate in 2010. Jesse hopes to get a football scholarship, and may study engineering. Cat hopes to go to college on a track scholarship and major in athletic training or sports medicine. Laura L. Hutchison: 540/374-5485
why don't they smile? If the photographer encourages them to look mean, mad, etc., then shame on him/her. Otherwise, those kids should smile!
Where's the pic?
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