Barkan, Brace reign over winter homecoming festivities

By Carol McIntire
Editor
Molly Brace and Micah Barkan were crowned 2023 Carrollton High School Winter Homecoming queen and king during a January 27 ceremony.
The two seniors were crowned by 2022 Homecoming Queen Maya Keyser prior to the Carrollton vs. Salem boys basketball game in the CHS gym.
Brace is the daughter of Beau and Marissa Brace of Carrollton and is active in athletics and community clubs at Carrollton, including Caring Helping Sharing (CHS) Club, Youth-to-Youth, and a middle school mentor for three years, student council, National Honor Society and P7 Bible Study Club, two years. She is also a two-year volleyball letterman.
Brace was named a September 2022 student of the month and is a three-year member of the Academic Hall of Fame. Her athletic honors include being named to the Eastern Buckeye Conference (EBC) volleyball first team, District 5 volleyball first team and a scholar athlete for two years.
She attends First Christian Church of Malvern and plans to attend college with the goal of becoming an occupational therapist.
Barkan is the son of Kenny and Jessica Barkan. He is a year-round athlete as a member of the golf and basketball teams (four years each) and a two-year member of the Warriors track team. He is also a member of the P7 Bible Study Club, National Honor Society and a Youth-to-Youth Mentor (three years).
His athletic accomplishments include earning three letters in golf and basketball and two in track, a two-time state qualifier with the golf team and an EBC scholar athlete. He is also a member of the Academic Hall of Fame. Future plans include attending Stark State College to earn a degree in business/finance. He attends Grace Chapel church in Minerva.
Other members of the court include:
Seniors: Gracie Bagozzi, daughter of John and Jamie Bagozzi; and John Birong, son of the Tom and JC Birong.
Bagozzi is a member of CHS club, National Honor Society, P7, Prom Committee and Spanish Club. She also played volleyball. She’s been on the Academic Hall of Fame and is a scholar athlete. Gracie’s future plans are to attend the Aultman School of Nursing and earn a degree in nursing.
Birong has played basketball, ran track and was a member of the two-time state qualifying golf team. He’s earned several varsity letters, is a scholar athlete, a member of the Academic Hall of Fame, National Honor Society, P7, and a Youth 2 Youth mentor. His future plans are to attend Franciscan University and become a Chiropractor.
Freshmen: Gabryella Ferren, daughter of Karri Ferren and Tyler Ferren; and Edgar Allison, son of Kelly Poole. Ferren is in Spanish club and assistant yearbook editor. Allison is a member of the football and track teams.
Sophomores: Kenly Mitchell, daughter of Alyssa and Dennis Mitchell; and Landen McClelland, son of Jeff and Andrea McClelland. Mitchell plays volleyball and basketball and is a member of the county 4-H program. McClelland plays soccer, basketball and baseball.
Juniors: Ashlee Garner, daughter of Angie and Lance Garner; and Mateo Dominique Valle, a foreign exchange student whose parents are of Puri Valle and Gerardo Dominguez. His host parents are Cheryl and Jeffrey Brunk. Garner has played basketball, golf and is a student council and Spanish Club member.  Valle is a member of the cross country and track teams and plays basketball.
The king, queen and court reigned over the Winter Homecoming Dance, held Jan. 28 with the theme “Winter Wonderland.”