Announcing the Homecoming Candidates for 2021
Launch the media gallery 1 playerby Autumn Lambrecht and Ciara Garcia
Pierce High School announced their homecoming candidates for 2021, and they include boy candidates Matthew Christensen, Colton Fritz, Michael Kruntorad, and Ritter Oestreich and Callie Arnold, Kyla Knox, Payten Simmons, and Kennedy Warneke for the girl candidates.
Matthew Christensen is the son of Keith and Kecia Christensen. He has been a member of boys letter club for four years, FCA for four years, and student council for three years. Christensen has participated in journalism one year, football four years, wrestling three years, and track and field three years. He received principal's honor roll four years. He was football captain for two years, a two time all-district football player, and an all-conference wrestler for one year. Christensen is a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church.
The second candidate is Colton Fritz, the son of Scott and Jennifer Fritz. He has been in FFA for four years, and boys letter club for four years. Fritz was sentinel in FFA for one year. He has participated in football for four years, track for four years, and wrestling for one year. He has earned honor roll one year, principal’s honor roll for three years, all-conference football one year. He has also received all-district and all-state for football one year. He has been a part of 4-H and Pierce county fair board assistant. Fritz is a member of Northern Heights Baptist Church.
The next candidate is Michael Kruntorad, the son of Korina and Joseph Kruntorad. He has been in boys letter club for four years and was in FCA for one year. Michael has participated in choir for two years, track for three years, wrestling for three years, and football for four years. He has been on honor roll all four years. He also received all-district one year and all-state for one year in football.
The final boys candidate is Ritter Oestreich, the son of Todd and Carla Oestreich. He has been a member of FFA for three years, and FCA for one year. Oestreich has been a member of boys letter club for four years, National Honor Society for three years, and student council for three years. He is the president of the student council this year, he was vice president for one year, and school board representative for one year. Oestreich was chosen as the Cornhusker Boys State alternate. He was a member of choir one year, basketball two years, football four years, and track four years. He qualified for state track and field two years. Oestreich earned principal’s honor roll four years and was an all-state academic athlete one year for football. He was awarded an all-conference honorable mention in football one year and one year academic all-state in track. He is a member and head usher at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hadar.
For the girl candidates, Callie Arnold is the daughter of Lance and Ilene Arnold. She has been a member of FCA four years, girls letter club four years, National Honor Society two years, and student council three years. Arnold was secretary for student council one year and school board representative for student council one year. She has participated in band four years, basketball two years, wrestling two years, cross country four years, and track four years. Arnold has received principal's honor roll for four years. She was Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association state runner-up for girls wrestling one year. Arnold has qualified for state cross country three years and state track two years. She has participated in Hands for Christ one year. She is an active member of First Christian Church, where she has been part of the Fuel youth group for four years.
The next candidate is Kyla Knox, the daughter of Brian and Janneil Knox. She has been a member of National Honor Society one year, student council two years, and girls letter club for two years. Knox was class president during her junior year, is treasurer of her senior class, historian one year for student council, and assistant reporter one year in FFA. She was a participant in track for one year, basketball for two years, and volleyball for three years. Knox has earned principal's honor roll for three years. She is always an active member at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and Y-disciples.
Payten Simmons is the daughter of Kyle and Jenny Simmons. She has been a member of FCA three years, FCCLA two years, National Honor Society two years, student council four years and girls letter club four years. Simmons was vice president of her freshman class, vice president of student council, vice president of girls letter club, secretary of girls letter club, and historian for student council. She participated in basketball four years, journalism one year, volleyball two years, cross country two years, and track four years. Simmons has been awarded principal’s honor roll four years. She was in the Northeast Community College Scholastic Contest one year. Simmons qualified for state track one year and for cross country one year. She was an all-state athlete for cross country for one year, and track for one year. Simmons is a member of First Christian Church.
The final girl candidate is Kennedy Warneke, the daughter of Justin and Carrie Warneke. She has been in student council for four years, and girls letter club for three years. She is the president of girls letter club, and was the treasurer of her freshman class. Warneke participated in journalism for one year, basketball for three years, and volleyball for four years. She has received an academic letter four years, honor roll for three years, and all-conference honorable mention for volleyball her junior year. In volleyball she has also received Lincoln Journal Star Honorable Mention her junior year, the Omaha World Herald Honorable mention her junior year, and all-state honorable mention her junior year. Kennedy has been a member of Hands for Christ for three years, and is a member at Zion Lutheran Church.
Homecoming royalty will be crowned following the conclusion of the Pierce and O’Neill football game on Friday, October 1. Coronation will take place at the athletic complex.
