Capping off a busy, festive week in style, it was a happy Winter Homecoming for students, staff and families of Riverbank High School on Feb. 6.

“The Bruins wrapped up an eventful Homecoming week with a pep rally on Friday, along with the girls and boys varsity basketball games,” said RHS English and Leadership teacher Janelle Luu, who is also the head coach for the varsity basketball girls. “The rally was energetic, complete with a group dance from the Homecoming court, and a half court competition from the girls and boys basketball teams.”

Both varsity teams were winners in their Mother Lode League games against Linden on Friday night, putting an exclamation point on the celebration.

Members of the Homecoming Court were introduced at halftime of the varsity boys game, with King and Queen hopefuls escorted on to the basketball court by family members, as Luu shared a bit about each. Taking home the honors were Homecoming Queen Mia Perez and Homecoming King Jayden Spears.

Both are varsity basketball players for Riverbank.

“I feel good, good, but I just want to finish out the game, we’ve got to get the win now,” Spears said, eager to get back on the court and focus on the task at hand.

He scored seven points in helping Riverbank to the league victory.

Spears said his future plans are to go to college to become a fire paramedic and his best memory of high school was “Being able to play basketball all four years with my good friends and all the memories” that go along with it.

“The most fun was probably the dress up days,” newly crowned Homecoming Queen Mia Perez said of what she enjoyed most about the week overall, adding that it felt “good” to be queen, as she was surrounded by several young family members and friends chanting her name.

She plans to attend college and study to become a teacher after graduating from high school.

“Some advice for underclassmen is don’t slack on your work, be kind to others, and enjoy high school,” Perez added.

The other King nominees were Omar Gomez, Gustavo Ortiz, George Serna and Jeancarlos Torres while Nathalie Garcia, Maya Guzman, Raquel Jimenez and Brittany Montes were also nominated for Homecoming Queen.

“The seniors were the Spirit Week champions during this Homecoming week with the current champions, the Class of 2028, giving up the Spirit Week trophy,” added Luu. “The student section was energized … the RBKrazies are officially back.”