Students dressed out in baby blue to cheer on the Class of 2029 in their first-ever homecoming performance on Monday. With a theme of Radiator Springs, the skit followed Lighting McQueen’s journey as a racer. Determined to win the Piston Cup, McQueen, played by freshman Rishab Medepalli and voiced by freshman Robert Yang, is initially frustrated when he ends up stuck in Radiator Springs, unable to leave unless he repairs the road he damaged. However, he finds both mentorship and romance in the small town. After learning new racing techniques, he leaves for the Piston Cup with more determination than ever.
Skit writers interwove pop culture jokes and exciting dances. Co-ed dance paired light blue jerseys with “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Girls’ dance performed to KATSEYE’s “Gameboy,” while boys’ dance referenced the viral online meme, “aura farming,” by dancing to “Plain Jane” by A$AP Ferg.
At the Piston Cup final, instead of going for first place, McQueen gives up the win to help a fallen competitor. “It’s just an empty cup,” McQueen said, choosing friendship over the prize. The skit ends with their group dance to “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars.
Throughout the rest of the week, each class will perform their themed Homecoming skits: the Class of 2028 on Tuesday with “Asgard,” the Class of 2027 on Wednesday with “Olympus” and the Class of 2026 on Thursday with a mystery theme. The rally and football game will cap off this week.
“I think the performance was a lot better than I expected it to be,” freshman co-ed dance lead Hannah Li said. “My favorite part was how we all gave it our best and hyped each other up. I thought that was very supportive.”
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Photos and reporting by Audrey Cabaltica, Anna Cen and Maddy Chang.
