Homecoming for the 25th anniversary of Granite Hills High School was one to remember.
For an entire week, students competed for the honor of becoming Granite Hills royalty. And during halftime of the Homecoming football game, the winners were announced.
This year’s Homecoming Queen was Angie Torres and the Homecoming King was Salvador German Rico.
Many attended the game to crown the homecoming king and queen. The week was very chaotic for the homecoming nominees, who were Salvador German Rico, Deigo Garay, Tyson Vinson, Abraham Navarrete, Carlos Zavala, Michael Leon, Angie Torres, Alina Soto, Lulu Guzman, Genesis Garcia, Julissa Lopez, and Abril Soltero. They all worked hard and shined in front of their classmates and community.
Angie Torres Profile
Torres is involved in many extra-curricular activities at Granite Hills, including ASB, GTV, Yearbook, Spirit Club, and the varsity soccer team. Her favorite subjects include photography and videography.
Torres was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and moved to the United States when she was seven. Torres was faced with many obstacles such as being teased by her peers because of the language barrier. It was very difficult for her to learn English while those around her grasped the language rapidly.
A challenge she overcame was coming from a different background which caused trouble for her at school. However, that did not stop her from achieving her goals.
Torres enjoys spending her weekends working and caring for animals at a dairy. She loves animals. When she is off duty, she spends quality time with her significant other and family.
In regards to recalling videography, her favorite teacher is Mrs. Chavez. Mrs. Chavez teaches English, Yearbook, AVID, and is the club advisor of Link Crew. Torres claims Mrs.Chavez is like her second mom. She’s been with her through thick and thin.
Her goals for this school year are to make plenty of memories with those surrounding her. Torres is a good-hearted soul and is heavily involved in the school and the community.
After high school, she desires to become a media and public relations manager. Within the next 10 years, she sees herself married, financially stable, owning a home, and working her dream job.
She feels glad she won, blessed, and thankful for her supporters.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Torres said. “You may not see it now, but sooner or later, God will reveal why he let things happen. Always remember that his way is better than our way. Put yours in him. Amen.”
Salvador German Profile
Meanwhile, Salvador German Rico is a senior in the Academy of Careers in Education Pathway.
German was born and raised on the East side of Porterville. His parents were born in Tequila, Mexico then moved to the United States to better the future of their kids.
Every teacher has been there for German but Mrs. Ramos is his favorite. Although Mrs. Ramos has been at Granite Hills for a short period, he says she is a very sweet and caring teacher.
German is involved in band, track and field, and soccer. However, outside of school he is a part of Sunday soccer league and is a singer in a band.
German enjoys singing but it wasn’t always easy for him to sing in front of people. It was very tough for him. With constant performances, he slowly overcame this particular obstacle. He now enjoys performing anywhere, like at school to his peers. This is a unique skill he has, and it makes German who he is.
His goals for this school year are making the most of his senior year, graduating high school, and hopes of bringing another Valley Championship in soccer.
He feels honored and blessed to win Homecoming King.
German quoted famous boxer Canelo Alvarez by saying, “If you have talent and no discipline, you have nothing and if you have discipline and no talent, you have nothing. You need both and hard work.”
In the end, Granite Hills High School made the most of the festivities. To cap off the night, the Grizzlies made it a happy Homecoming by beating Farmersville High School 44-16.
Granite Hills also crowned a prince and princess – Diego Garay and Alina Soto – respectively.
