Sachem North High School student: Homecoming 'means so much'

With his arm raised and a black cape hiding half his face, Patrick Lavan surveyed the crowd from behind a Batman mask, joining fellow classmates, who wore gold and black war paint and Indian feathers, in supporting their school’s homecoming theme, “Super Sachem.”

In costume, Lavan was among the hundreds that packed the stands during Sachem North High School’s homecoming football game in Lake Ronkonkoma Friday night.

“I wanted to show my school spirit so, of course I’m Batman,” said Lavan, 16, a junior at the school. “We’ve been in school a little over a month now, but it really starts tonight.”

The Flaming Arrows hoped to continue their season undefeated, but lost 31-28 against Commack High School in double overtime, a tragic loss felt by fans in the stands.

But students still kept their composure, cheering on the team through it all.

Seniors Nahiyan Khan, 17, Jasmine Lam, 16, Danielle Paynter, 17, and Zoe White, 17, wore gold T-shirts with black lettering they altered to hang off their shoulders and cut into strips at the bottom.

“This is our homecoming game,” said Paynter, adding that as a senior she felt an obligation to go and support her class. “It’s a senior thing. This unites our class and it’s nice to see everyone in one place celebrating our school.”

SEE PHOTOSPhotos: High school homecomings across LI

Although the homecoming king and queen were crowned during the pep rally earlier, seniors Zach Keck, 17, and Siarra Fiol, 17, were reintroduced during halftime.

Dating three years, the couple was excited to start their last year of high school receiving such honors, especially when both are attending colleges that are hours apart.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” said Fiol. “It feels like just yesterday we were freshman. This is the perfect way to start the year. Homecoming means so much to us.”