Carolyn Smith, McKaylah Hillard voted OCHS homecoming queens

In a very unique setting, Ohio County High School crowned both their 2020 Football Homecoming Queen and 2021 Basketball Homecoming Queen before a large crowd at — where else? — the Owensboro Sportscenter. COVID-19 struck again in producing some out-of-the-ordinary happenings.

The twin queens were selected by votes — mostly virtual, of course — of the OCHS student body. Eight senior girls were selected to compete for the titles with the winners announced between Monday’s girls’ game versus Hancock County and the Ohio County boys’ matchup against Edmonson County.

Carolyn Smith was named OCHS’ 2020 Football Homecoming Queen, and was crowned by 2019 Queen Keeley Addington. Then came the naming of McKaylah Hillard as 2021 Basketball Homecoming Queen, who received her crown from 2020 Queen Addy Stewart.

Other queen candidates included Kailee Goff, Kelsey Kennedy, Baleigh Murphy, Emily Sandefur, Halle Segers and Emily Sisk.

Now for the “backstory”: After this year’s football homecoming was cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus, and re-arranging of OCHS’ basketball schedules — again due to COVID — it seemed as if Ohio County High would be making history in the wrong way … in breaking the school’s tradition of celebrating Homecoming and the selection of Homecoming royalty. OCHS’ first basketball homecoming came during the 1967 season with Donna McGuire being the school’s first Homecoming Queen. That fall, Captola Ashby (now Southard) was named OCHS’ inaugural football Homecoming Queen. And there have been queens selected in the two sports every year since.

But to the rescue came OCHS principal Robby Asberry and associate athletic director Alex Embry. According to Embry, “Our homecoming festivities were originally scheduled for a girls’ game on (March 2), but when that game got cancelled, we had to change our plan. Mr. Asberry asked the senior class what were some things we could possibly do for them to help make up for some of the experiences they had lost due to this pandemic.”

“Homecoming Court was one of those things. So it was important to us to try and make this happen. When the girls’ game was cancelled, we thought ‘why not do it at the Sportscenter?’. Mr. Asberry and myself came up with this idea because the Sportscenter is allowing more than twice the capacity we can at this time, so we thought this would be a great opportunity. This was a chance for people who haven’t seen a game (in person) all year, and for those who want to watch homecoming court to attend and enjoy a night of Eagle basketball.”

It was reported that OCHS was allotted 400 tickets for Monday’s event, with well over 300 being sold prior to the game. All in all, it appeared to work out very well. Kudos to Mr. Asberry and Mr. Embry.