Annaleise Brown had a hunch before her name was ever called.
When Philomath High School announced its homecoming royalty during halftime of Friday night’s football game against Cascade, senior Jamin Peters’ name was called first as king. For Brown, Peters’ girlfriend, that was a pretty good sign of what was coming next.
“Well, I kind of had a feeling when Jamin was announced, just because when people came up, they were like, ‘Oh, I voted for both of you,’ and so I kind of had a feeling I was going to get it,” Brown said when asked if she was surprised. “But I was definitely very excited to get it because I guess it means that I’m a likable person.”
Gallery: PHS Homecoming (Oct. 2, 2026)
A collection of photos from the PHS homecoming parade and homecoming king and queen announcement on Friday.
Moments later, Brown was named homecoming queen, giving the senior couple a matching set of titles.
The candidates were introduced as they rode in vehicles that circled the Clemens Field on the track. The entire student body votes on the homecoming court.
Brown, who is known by many on campus at “Peanut,” said the honor carries a lot of meaning because it tells her she’s representing her school well and that others recognize it.
Sports have been at the center of her time at Philomath High.
“Obviously, sports are really big in my life. I play a lot of them, so I get to meet a lot of new people, and I think that’s just one of my best memories — just meeting people through them,” Brown said.
Her favorite part of homecoming week was the themed dress-up days.
“It makes it really fun,” she said.
After graduation, Brown plans to play soccer at Gillette College, a community college in Gillette, Wyoming.
Peters, a lineman for the Warriors, took part in the halftime festivities in uniform. It was a tough night for the team with a 68-0 loss against defending state champion Cascade.
A man of few words, Peters also heard from plenty of classmates before the announcement.
“A lot of people told me they voted for me,” he said.
His favorite memories at Philomath High include competing in athletics with his brother, Josiah, who graduated last spring.
A highlight for Peters came Friday during the traditional homecoming week mess assembly. Typically taking place after the homecoming parade, the event serves as a high-energy pep rally where students participate in spirited, messy games and class competitions, building up to the final crowning of the royalty.
“We did musical chairs with like eggs and ketchup in a chair, and you have to sit down in it,” he said.
Did he end up with eggs and ketchup on the seat of his pants?
“Yep. … yep,” Peters said.
After graduation, Peters hopes to compete in track and field in college.
Other members of the homecoming court were seniors AJ Altishin and Jordyn Hood; juniors Dreyton Nuño and James Avery; sophomores Cameron Barlow and Ava Oster; and freshmen Eli Cook and Irelynn Wallace.
Other recent royalty winners include seniors Tlacaelel Brambila Boatner and Avery Smith in 2025; seniors Silas Pittman and Aspen Russell in 2024; sophomore Ben McGovern and senior Ellie Morton in 2023; and senior Elizabeth Morales-Marquez and sophomore Janice Hellesto in 2022 (they were crowned as monarchs that year).
Homecoming week featured themed dress-up days, the powderpuff game and bonfire on Wednesday night, the homecoming parade on Friday morning and the homecoming dance on Saturday night.
