Kim Vendola is 2007 Sparta High School Homecoming Queen

Sparta — A near record number of students turned out for Sparta High School’s 2007 Homecoming dance last Saturday night. At least 700 energetic young people managed to eke out a square inch or two of space in the overheated gym to dance and celebrate the crowning of Kim Vendola and Constantine Venizelos as Homecoming Queen and King. The court was announced at half-time of the Sparta-Lenape game: Brittany Fioretti, John Chichin, Amanda Hallack, James Costello, Mary Claire MacCormack, David Germano, Rachel Molina, Chris Hoffman, Raleigh Sperring, Connor Karl, Melissa Sullivan, Eric Mendes, Carly Taylor, Brendan McDonough, Kim Vendola, Remington Vokoun, Erica Vuolle, Constantine Venizelos, Nicole Wilson and Danny Wilson. Junior class Princess was Christine Platania, Sophomore Class Princess was Lauren Dick, and Freshmen Class Princess was Taryn Rogalsky. Because the administration anticipated a crowd, Sparta’s acting principal James Bevere said that additional safety measures and precautions were in place, and that security would be on high alert to eliminated the possibility of illicit substances entering the gym. Two police officers were on hand to monitor students as they arrived and 16 faculty and three administrators were on duty to supervise the event. The evening went off without a hitch and throngs of happy but slightly sweaty and disheveled students emerged from the building at 10 p.m., happy to be out in the fresh air. Bevere said, “They had a great time, but it was like a sauna in there, it was so hot.” He added, “The kids were very well dressed n at least when they came in,” referring to the droopy hair-do’s and limp dresses on the girls and the soaking shirts and ties around the heads of boys as they tumbled out of the building. “But it was a great evening and there were no incidents to report,” Bevere continued. Homecoming festivities began Thursday night with “The Battle of the Classes.” Seniors were once again victorious over their under-classmen (and women) in such highly skilled activities as pie-eating and apple bobbing. Friday was “Spirit Day” at the high school during which students wore their class shirts and participated in a huge pep rally at the football stadium. The almost rained-out event succeeded in cheering on the football teams without dampening the spirits of participants. Saturday’s big game under blue skies with fleeting clouds and intermittent drizzles was won by Lenape Valley, 7-0, over the Spartans in a fourth quarter squeaker. But fans yelled loudly, cheerleaders cheered joyfully, and those Snack-Shack hot pretzels sold like hot-cakes anyway.