Ball-gowned and barefoot, the homecoming queen nominees crossed onto the football field for the crowning of the queen like none before had ever done.

Seniors Haly Cordell, Hope Wentz, Casey Land, Caitlin Gilmore and Christa Hathaway went barefoot for the crowning of the homecoming queen at the Sept. 11 football game, leaving their uncomfortable high heels on the sidelines.

Hathaway originally showed up in flip-flops in an effort to avoid a potentially embarrassing fall.  She eventually shed her  shoes along with the rest.

“We were afraid we’d trip and fall,” Hathaway said. “We didn’t want to try to walk on the turf in high heels. At least that’s why I did it.”

Cordell said her motivation was comfort.

“We didn’t want to wear our good shoes out onto the field,” Cordell said. “They hurt our feet.”

Cordell, who won the title of homecoming queen, said being on homecoming court was a fun experience and the candidates all grew closer.

“It was really neat, because we’re all really different,” Cordell said. “We are all involved in different things, so we were very supportive of each other.”