Theme for the Winter Homecoming at Escalon High School this week is High School Musical and the King will be crowned on Friday night, Jan. 19.

Named as Homecoming King candidates were, in alphabetical order, Shehab Algaheim, Frank Richard Barrera, Angel Castro, Darrius Higby and Nate Krieger. All five will be taking part – along with their fellow students at the high school – in dress up days this week, a rally on Friday, and then be introduced at the Homecoming basketball game on Friday night, prior to one of them receiving the crown.

“I was pretty surprised, it wasn’t really on my mind but I’m excited for it,” said Algaheim of his nomination.

Active in the Spanish Club at the high school, he said he is focusing primarily on school and wants to become a civil engineer.

For Barrera, who came to Escalon last year as a junior, he is involved in basketball for the Cougars.

“I’ve just been enjoying it since I got here for my junior year, the environment,” he said of settling in to Escalon.

He said is planning to dress up as Mr. Young for the ‘favorite teacher’ day during the week.

Serving as an IT apprentice for the high school, Castro said he is “pretty excited” about being in the running for King.

“I definitely am looking forward to walking around the halls wearing my crown,” he said of the days leading up to the actual Homecoming event, with the candidates asked to wear their sashes and crowns as nominees.

Higby, active in football, said his best memory of his time at EHS so far was winning the Section title game against Patterson this past season.

“It feels good,” he added of being nominated. “I love this town, I love this school, and I love everyone here; it’s cool that they like me enough to vote for me, I’m very appreciative and thankful for the opportunity.”

Fellow football player Krieger said winning a state title as a junior tops the high school memory list for him.

“I was a little excited and surprised, I was not expecting this; it feels pretty good though,” he said of receiving the nomination.

All the candidates were looking forward to the dress up days and taking part in the Friday festivities.

“From my freshman year, I said if I was ever the Homecoming Commissioner we would do ‘High School Musical’,” senior Destiny Reyes said of planning for the Winter Homecoming event.

She and fellow commissioner Katelyn Kjellberg have put together the dress up days and are coordinating the rally.

Tuesday was the day to wear your favorite Band T-shirt or dress up as your favorite musical artist; Wednesday is dress up as your favorite teacher. Thursday is the ‘Pick your Clique’ day, an homage to the various cliques in High School Musical, and Friday is ‘Rep your Sport’ by wearing your Cougar colors or favorite team gear.

“Friday we will have the rally and we can have shopping carts as our floats in the gym,” Reyes explained. “All the candidates will have a walk out song and we might have a few special activities.”

Reyes said she and Kjellberg were excited to see the diverse group of seniors in the running for the Homecoming King honor.

Friday night will start with the JV boys game at 4 p.m.; the varsity girls will play at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity boys game at 7 p.m.; Hilmar will be in town for the contests. The crowning of the King will be at halftime of the boys varsity game.