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If homecoming week is about bringing the student body and faculty together in a display of unity and school spirit, then nothing says "Go Sailors" like a pool of chocolate syrup.

Steamboat Springs High School's annual homecoming week reaches its high today with a slate of activities including a student and staff barbecue, class competitions that include chocolate-syrup wrestling, the downtown homecoming parade and the homecoming football game against Battle Mountain, when a queen and king will be announced.

This year's student-selected homecoming theme, "Viva Las Vegas," has been in full swing since Monday, when students arrived at school in their '70s getups. The week continued with Treasure Island Day, Caesar's Palace Day and Excalibur Day, using famous Las Vegas hotels as the impetus for pirate, toga and medieval outfits.

"We're trying to create an atmosphere that's fun and pumps up the football players," high school junior Anya Salzgeber said. Salzgeber is a member of the school's leadership class, which is responsible for organizing homecoming activities each year.

The experience has been eye-opening, she said.

"I realize how much people do just to put a small event on," Salzgeber said. "Something like this takes so much organization and effort and work."

But events such as Wednesday night's bonfire make the work worthwhile, she added.

Today's festivities include the parade at 2 p.m. on Lincoln Avenue, between Fourth and Ninth streets, and the 7 p.m. football game at Gardner Field. There's also an hourlong staff and student barbecue, followed by the popular teacher skit.

"The students love it," teacher Lucianne Myhre said. "They love it when we make fools out of ourselves."

Teachers might not be the only ones making fools of themselves today. The talisman events, which pit grade levels against each other, include chocolate-syrup wrestling, maple-syrup chugging and, the more traditional, tug of war.

"I'm so excited," Salzgeber said.

The homecoming dance is Saturday night at the high school.

-- To reach Brent Boyer call 871-4234

or e-mail bboyer@steamboatpilot.com