Finley, Fredinand named WT Homecoming Queen and King

CANYON — Students from ag and the arts were named West Texas A&M University’s 2023 Homecoming Queen and King on Oct. 14.

Rylee Finley, a junior agricultural media and communication major from Amarillo, and Amon Fredinand, a sophomore dance major from Amarillo, were crowned at halftime of WT’s victorious game against Western New Mexico University in the culmination of a week’s worth of Homecoming activities.

Finley, who represented Students Assisting in Good Endeavors, and Fredinand, who represented the WT Spirit Squad, were the top vote-getters among a field of 25 nominees from across campus.

SAGE’s country music-themed float also was named winner of the Homecoming parade by both the judges and by viewers on the route and at home.

The Homecoming court also included Myka Bailey, a junior public relations/advertising/applied communication major from Abernathy, nominated by Buffs for Christ; Brandy Green, a senior nursing major from Floydada, nominated by Maroon Platoon; Filiberto Avila, a senior digital media and communication major from Spearman, nominated by Student Government Association; and Caleb Frick, a senior agricultural media and communication major from Canyon, nominated by SAGE.

Queen nominees also included Alexis McGill, a senior criminal justice major from Irving, nominated by Delight Ministries; Gracie Oates, a senior agricultural media and communication major from Paradise, nominated by SGA; Ivee Chitty, a junior biology major from Gruver, nominated by Rogers LEAD WT; Kaitlyn Rubinski, a junior music major from Amarillo, nominated by the Sound of West Texas Marching Band; Yazmin Tagle, a senior engineering technology major from Dumas, nominated by F1RSTGEN; Haylee Sessions, a senior biology major from Amarillo, nominated by the Panhellenic Council; Audra “Lexi” Farmer, a sophomore digital media and communication major from Amarillo, nominated by Spirit Squad; Deborah Hromas, a senior public relations/advertising/applied communication major from Amarillo, nominated by Baptist Student Ministries; Kennedy Fritzler, a senior education major from Rule, nominated by the Residence Hall Association; Megan Cordry, a senior animal science major from Clyde, nominated by the Pre-Vet Club; and Helena Barnett, a senior accounting major from Amarillo, nominated by Sigma Phi Lambda.

King nominees also included Alexander “Xander” Davis, a senior biochemistry major from Canyon, nominated by Baptist Student Ministries; Dylian Martinez, a sophomore agribusiness and economics major from Bovina, nominated by Hispanic Student Association; Aiden Cabeldue, a senior mechanical engineering major from Portales, New Mexico, nominated by Buffs for Christ; Allan “A.J.” Rodgers, a junior accounting major from Canyon, nominated by Maroon Platoon; Dillon Martin, a junior music major from Odessa, nominated by the Spirit of West Texas Marching Band; Ransom Collette, a senior mechanical engineering major from Big Spring, nominated by Residence Hall Association; Asher Nowak, a junior biology major from Amarillo, nominated by F1RSTGEN; and Cole Lehman, a junior animal science major from Garden City, Kansas, nominated by the Pre-Vet Club.

Student organizations nominate candidates to represent them on the court. Nominees were announced Sept. 26, allowing students a week to campaign, with the student body vote taking place Oct. 10 and 11. Finalists were announced Oct. 13 at Pigskin Revue, the annual Homecoming pep rally.

The judges voted Chi Omega and Alpha Gamma Rho’s “Golden Age of Rock” entry as second place and Zeta Tau Alpha and Kappa Alpha’s 1950s-themed entry in third. Chi Omega and Alpha Gamma Rho also won second in the People’s Choice contest, and Delta Zeta and Phi Delta Theta’s early 2000s-themed float won third.

Audience members in person and watching on TV or via streaming could vote for the people’s choice award via QR code.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Finley, Fredinand named WT Homecoming Queen and King