Classes of the future forge own kinships, demonstrate talents

A graduate from the class of 1945 was named the “Golden Pointer” at the Oct. 14 Point Loma High School (PLHS) Homecoming festivities. Bill Ludwig graduated from PLHS several months before the Japanese surrendered in World War II and was smiling cheerfully while enjoying the honor last week as the most senior alumni in attendance. Ludwig was joined at the event by his brother, Fred, a former PLHS track and cross country coach, who attended PLHS but graduated from Hoover — ironically enough, the evening’s football rival. Special guests for the evening were family members of Michael Taylor, a PLHS freshman football and basketball standout whose life was taken by a gunman in 2008. Taylor has remained in the hearts of PLHS athletes and coaches, and a relative performed an inspirational dance at midfield before the varsity kickoff.  A column of savory smoke arose from burger patties sizzling on barbecues as the overflow crowd spotted old friends, reminisced about their days at PLHS and caught up with each other’s lives. Both the junior varsity and varsity Pointer football teams responded with victories. As for present-day students, seniors Jake Reynolds and Natalie Ferreira were named Homecoming King and Queen. Their court included juniors Cecil Horton and Kristina Bautista, sophomores Jordan Goulet and Graysen Choy and freshmen Jayson Pappas and Gianna Gibson. All were part of the traditional halftime parade led by a small army of PLHS alumni who carried a wide Pointer banner and were cheered enthusiastically as they passed the crowd. Next came the student floats, this year displaying greater workmanship and effort. Judges Patrick McElhaney and Glenn Richard, both history teachers, served as float judges. Each year’s class adopted a decade, and the freshman impressed with a detailed malt shop interior from the 1950s. Their dance was to early rock ’n’ roll.  The sophomores went for a 1970s-era flower-powered Volkswagon van, complete with fog machine, dancing to disco music.  The juniors took first place with the only float not pulled on a truck, a large black boom box with neon-colored dials. Their dance to 1980s rock induced cheers when the boys in the dance routine ripped off their T-shirts. The senior class took the top-secret route during the unveiling of the floats at a daytime pep rally by presenting only a spray-painted piece of plywood, prompting big expectations at the evening parade. The evening float was slightly more impressive but a large contingent of enthusiastic seniors dancing to 1990s music didn’t sway the judges in their favor. Robert Pejovich, who coordinated lighting for the “Light the Night” dance event, reported a cost of nearly $4,000 for rental of the diesel-powered light towers for the football game. Supplier BJ’s Rentals on Pacific Highway gave PLHS a great price, Pejovich said, as other estimates he requested came in as high as $9,000. School officials said they hope a PLHS alumni or local business will step forward to sponsor and connect their name with future Homecoming events.