Evans senior is 2006 homecoming queen

Brittney Brooker's ever-present smile quickly changed to a look of shock during half-time at Friday's football game after her name was announced as Evans High School's 2006 homecoming queen.

The 17-year-old senior threw her hands to her face and could only hug her father, Johnathan Moyd, until the 2005 queen, Paige Hamilton, placed the sparkling tiara on her head.

Brittney said hearing her name caught her off guard as she stood fidgeting on the field with the other nine candidates. Still, she said winning wasn't too much of a surprise.

"I kind of knew at school because everybody at school was coming up to me saying, 'I voted for you,'" Brittney said. "Just random people that I didn't even know ... I just kind of knew. I had a feeling, but then again I didn't."

Ashton Speegle, the first runner-up, escorted by her father, Michael Speegle, said she agreed that Brittney was the right girl to win.

"I love her to death," said Ashton, 17. "She really was a good pick."

Brittney, the daughter of Tonya and Johnathan Moyd, is a member of Evans High's JROTC program, Future Georgia Educators and the varsity basketball team. She plans to attend Georgia Southern University to study nursing.

The second runner-up, Brooke Bailey, 17, who was escorted by her father, Glen Bailey, said she was shocked to hear her name called but was happy to see Brittney take the crown.

"Brittney really deserves it," said Brooke, who was honored to be on the homecoming court. "She's a great girl. She's really funny. She always knows how to make you laugh when you are having a bad day."

The other members of the homecoming court were Yasunary Abad (escort name unavailable); Caitlin Bashlor, escorted by her father, Sid Piper; Megan Bulluck, escorted by her father, Derek Bulluck; Angela Brittany Griffin, escorted by her father, Wayne Griffin; Kelly Brooke Segraves, escorted by her father, Chris Segraves; and Abigail Wigington, escorted by her father, Will Wigington.