Tigers name Homecoming royalty

Douglas High School’s Homecoming Royalty for 2024 were crowned during halftime at the Tigers’ heartbreaker Homecoming game against Spanish Springs.

Daniel Ward and Ayla Nelson were voted king and queen on Friday. The couple dressed as Woody and Bo Peep from “Toy Story” at Wednesday’s Fall Fest.

Douglas High School Homecoming committee laid out the red carpet Wednesday during the annual Fall Fest at Minden Park.

The Fall Fest is an annual event that has brought students, families, and Douglas High School fans together to celebrate homecoming and cheer on the athletes since at least 2017, according to Leadership Advisor Karen Lamb.

“It’s all thanks to the kids,” said Lamb. “They plan and come up with everything and they just do an amazing job and it gets bigger and better every year.”

This year’s homecoming theme is “A Night in Hollywood,” which dressed the court in Hollywood classics; “Toy Story’s” Woody and Bo Peep, “Top Gun’s” Maverick and Goose, “Grease’s” Danny and Sandy, “Teen Beach Movie’s” Brady and Mack, as they made their way down Esmeralda Avenue and around the park.

The Douglas High JRTOC Color Guard, band, cheerleaders and sports teams also joined the parade.

Douglas High School clubs including Drama, Creative Writing, Key club, Block D, FFA and the Academic club set up booths with games and activities. Even Pau-Wa-Lu and Carson Valley Middle Schools joined the festivities with a pumpkin painting table and face painting.

Also set up with booths were Carson Valley Hospital, Moxy Up, Kiss Candles, and food trucks and vendors.

“We want to thank the Town of Minden for their support, giving us the space for this event and helping to make the whole thing possible,” said Douglas High School teacher Keith Cole.

The event also featured the induction of former Band Director Bill Zabelsky and 2000 graduate and former JV soccer coach Timothy Plummer into the Douglas High School Hall of Fame.

Zablesky, also known as Mr. Z, spent decades with the band and Madrigals by his side singing at various community functions celebrating holidays and community events and even starting the DHS marching band’s presence in the Carson Valley Days Parade and the Parade of Lights. He led the pride of Carson Valley in three Presidential Inauguration parades, won the Sweepstakes trophy in Fairfield Calif., competing with 35 other bands and has earned more than 1,500 awards with his students.

Zabelsky said it was total shock to be nominated, but it is a complete honor.

“There’s too many memories to just pick one, but I appreciate the kids in general and the staff are wonderful and the community support too, all of which is what made this moment possible.”

His advice to the community is “never have a band rehearsal before 6:15 a.m. on a Saturday morning on the football field.”

Timothy Plummer’s advice was more about being who you were meant to be.

“Use your God given gifts and talents to serve others and make an internal difference,” he said.

While at Douglas High School, Plummer was a three-sport athlete in soccer, wrestling, track and field.

His favorite memories include the times he trained and competed with his team mates and the people he met.

Plummer was an honors student and a member of the leadership program and returned as an adult to coach soccer and ran the fellowship of Christian Athletes program.

Since leaving DHS, he received a degree in Ministry from Colorado Christian University and spends time volunteering in the community.