This year’s homecoming candidates include an uneven number of king and queen hopefuls because of the alleged tampering by two queen candidates.

Tonganoxie High School principal Mike Bogart said Tuesday that high school staff reported the incident, but said he could not discuss the girls’ alleged actions or what discipline would be enforced.

“Well, we had some problems with some balloting but I wouldn’t be at liberty to comment on anything that involves any individual students,” Bogart said

After the incident, the candidate list was reduced to seven boys and five girls –Shane Howard, Luke McCarty, Joel Nido, Shane Cooper, Billy Baska, Justin Walker and Adam Alexander for king; and Desirae Rieke, Kelly Breuer, Serina Cox, Katie Jeannin and Casey Cooper for queen.

The list was then reduced to semifinalists: McCarty, Shane Cooper and Nido for king and Rieke, Cox and Casey Cooper for queen.

Homecoming activities are not limited to Friday’s royalty coronation, which will be at 6:30 p.m. at Beatty Field.

The week’s festivities kicked off Monday, with Pajama Day at Tonganoxie High School, while Tuesday was designated Gothic/Black Day.

Today, a new theme hits the high school halls with Where’s Waldo Day. And on Thursday and Friday, students will have their traditional Hat Day and Red and White Day respectively.

Bogart said the success of the athletics department this fall has helped boost this week’s events.

“I think probably the winning teams we’ve had this fall have made this a more enjoyable week,” Bogart said. “The football team is doing quite well and the other sports are doing well, and I think we have a lot of student spirit right now.

“It’s a lot of fun.”

On Friday, the annual parade along Fourth Street will begin at 2 p.m., while the THS-Santa Fe Trail football game will start at 7 p.m.

The Chieftain football team enters Friday’s game against Santa Fe Trail with a perfect 4-0 record.

Homecoming week will conclude with a dance at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the high school cafeteria.