The Class of ’77 carries their sevens with pride at Cordova High’s Lancer stadium on Homecoming night Friday, October 20th. Photo by Rick Sloan

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Before the game started, there was the annual parade of floats pulled into the stadium by classmates from the freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior classes. This year’s theme was City Lights.  The Seniors were Las Vegas, the Juniors were New Orleans, the Sophomores were LA/Hollywood, and the Freshmen class was New York. When the judging was over the 1st place winner was the Senior class, 2nd place honors went to Freshmen class, 3rd place went to the Sophomore class and 4th place went to the Juniors.

Also, before the game started, there was a presentation of two plaques. One plaque was presented to Cordova High by the Cordova Community Council (CCC). CCC Board Members Rod Borba, President of Cordova Girls Softball and Stacy Delaney, Senior Management Analyst from the Rancho Cordova City Manager’s Office presented it.  Rancho Cordova Mayor Linda Budge and City Councilmember Siri Pulipati presented the 2nd plaque from the Cordova City Council.

The Cordova Community Council and City Council presented Cordova High with two plaques. From the left: Cordova High Interim Principal Amy Strawn, CCC Board member Rod Borba of Cordova Girls Softball,  CCC Board member Stacy Delaney, Senior Analyst from the Rancho Cordova City Manager's Office, Mayor Linda Budge and Council Member Siri Pulipati. Photo by Rick Sloan

Also on display was the newly found Spirit Shield after a 38-year disappearance. It was recently refurbished and polished up for the occasion. Classmates from the 1965 graduating class of Cordova High ushered it in. That year was the first year Cordova had a graduating class. The shield is etched with the class that best exemplifies school spirit. The first class etched in was 1964-65 and the last class etched was 1984-85.

At half time, the annual parade of alumni made their nostalgic trip around the track at Lancer Stadium much to the delight of the many fans and family in the stands. This year’s parade included 6 decades of graduating classmates and was very well attended. Each class carried signs of the year they graduated along with banners and printed themed t-shirts. 

Cordova Lancers show the warrior class spirit of ’67. 
Photo by Rick Sloan

Next on the 60th Homecoming agenda was the announcement of the elected royalty of the four classes.  The Freshmen Class Royalty was Kai Oliver, the Sophomore Class Royalty was Kayley Phan and the Junior Class Royalty was Quentin Marks. This year there were a 1st and 2nd place Senior Class Royalty’s elected. The Senior Class Royalty 1st Place honors for the 60th Homecoming went to Francheska Escobar and Paris Yang was voted as Senior Class 2nd place winner.  The Senior Class won the Homecoming Week as a whole for the 2023-24 school year. Congratulations to all the winners as well as everyone that participated in this historic 60th Cordova Homecoming events.

From the left: Freshmen Class Royalty, Kai Oliver; Sophomore Class Royalty, Kayley Phan; Junior Class Royalty, Quentin Marks; Senior Class Royalty 1st Place, Francheska Escobar and Senior Class 2nd place, Paris Yang. Photo by Rick Sloan

The stands were packed, the Cordova Marching Band played familiar songs, the cheer squad performed spectacular acrobatic maneuvers, the game was exciting to watch and the smells coming from the snack bar brought back special memories.