By: Lisa Goodling
On Friday, September 25th, the Juniata Indians Varsity football team hosted Steelton-Highspire at Dietrick Field for this year's Homecoming game. With the large turnout— students, cheerleaders, band members and community fans alike— the atmosphere was energetic and electric. All of the spectators were eagerly awaiting the crowning of the new 2026 Homecoming Queen.
Following the Juniata Marching Band's halftime performance, the six homecoming candidates (who were selected by our student body to represent various in-school clubs and organizations) were driven around the track in cars owned by community members. Juniata High School selects their Homecoming Queens through a generational tradition in which there are six boxes placed on a table and, one at a time, each candidate selects a box. Then, at the same time, they open their boxes. Five of the boxes have a red rose inside, while the sixth box has a white rose inside. The candidate who selects the white rose is crowned Homecoming Queen. This tradition makes the selection of the Homecoming Queen completely randomized through letting “fate” decide.
A special congratulations to everyone who made it onto the 2026 Homecoming court: Natalee Wolfe escorted by Adrien Turcios- Cruz, Calla Mianulli escorted by Alex Armstrong, Hope Miller escorted by Drew Geedey, Maddison Copeland escorted by Hayden Burd, Destiny Yohn escorted by Jordan Froshey, and Julia Martin escorted by Asher Wriglesworth
And an extra special congratulations to Julia Martin for winning this year’s Homecoming Queen!