Ellis serves up homecoming

10/4/2012

By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

dobrien@dailynews.net

Homecomings at Ellis High School are a little different for Brandon Armbruster than when he was attending school there in the mid- to late 1980s.

Armbruster still enjoys the week of activities nonetheless.

But now, instead of participating in spirit week as a student, Armbruster is a faculty member who teaches physical education and health, and coaches wrestling in the Ellis school district. He also serves as the high school athletic director.

He still has a competitive edge to him, too.

Instead of one of the senior football players looking forward to their final homecoming game -- he was crowned homecoming king in the fall of 1987 -- Armbruster now is a mainstay on the faculty team in the faculty-student volleyball competition.

Last year's sophomore class defeated the faculty, and Armbruster and his faculty buddies haven't forgotten it.

"It's a lot of fun," Armbruster said of the volleyball matches with the different classes. "Gets a lot of kids involved."

Friday will be a conclusion to a busy week that included class activities and a different theme each day.

In addition to the volleyball competition Friday, there also is a powder-puff football game.

The teachers also are sponsoring a barbecue for lunch Friday, and the homecoming parade is set for 2:30 p.m., followed by several activities at the football field -- a booster club barbecue at 5 p.m., the crowning of the homecoming king and queen at 6:30 p.m. and the game against Wichita County at 7 p.m.

There also is a barbecue at 5 p.m. today, along with auctioning off football jerseys and the bonfire at 8 p.m.