The 2012 Homecoming queen candidates literally slung mud at each other on the UA Mall on Thursday afternoon as part of the “Battle the Buffs Tug-of-War” for the Homecoming Club Olympics.

Each candidate participated in various events throughout the week, including social events with the Bobcats and Mortar Board, visits to greek houses and community service.

This year, more than 50 applicants were nominated for Homecoming queen, a list that was eventually narrowed down to five finalists.

The process started in September and the Bobcats Senior Honorary focused on finding a good mix of women, according to Jill Hall, vice president of Student and Alumni Outreach and adviser for the Bobcats Senior Honorary.

“They wanted to have people that represented our student body,” Hall said, “people they thought were energetic and fun and love the U of A. They’re a nice mix of young ladies.”

Voting closed this morning and the Homecoming royalty will be announced at Friday’s bonfire. Here’s a look at the women in the running:

Jill Moore:

Jill Moore came to the UA because of the school’s Greek Life, retailing major, cheer team and school spirit, and because of its proximity to her home in California.

The retailing and consumer sciences senior is no stranger to campus involvement, as she is on the cheer team, serves as vice president of the TREND Club, is co-chair of the Student Advisory Board, is secretary and founder of the Retail Entrepreneurship Club and is a member of the National Retail Federation Student Association.

Moore said she was very surprised when she found out she had been nominated and that her time as a nominee has been a great experience. She said she has met great people throughout the process.

“Honestly, I feel so honored and blessed that I got this far, and to know that so many support and love me has been awesome,” Moore added.

Theresa Gallego:

Theresa Gallego, a family studies and human development senior, said she chose the UA because she wanted some distance from her hometown of San Diego but still wanted to be somewhat close to her family.

Gallego said the UA had school spirit, sports and “everything I was looking for and more.”

As president of the Alpha Phi sorority, Gallego is active within Greek Life, but she also finds time to volunteer and participate in clubs and intramural sports. She said she tries to do anything that can help her stay on campus and do things to represent the UA.

“I don’t think you can be a Homecoming queen without having school spirit,” Gallego said. “But it’s also involvement, leadership … anything you can bring to the UA and take with you when you leave. I think it’s just being a good representation of an involved, active Wildcat.”

Brigetta Barrett:

Brigetta Barrett, a theater arts senior, came from Dallas to attend the UA. She said the university was willing to let her pursue her major and her sport, making it a “perfect match.”

“It took a lot of prayer, a lot of time, a lot of consideration, but at the end of the day I feel like God was leading me here,” Barrett said.

Along with being a track and field athlete who competed in the 2012 London Olympics, Barrett has participated in plays, produced her own play, performed community service and helped start the Committed to Christ club.

Barrett said she grew up as a tomboy and never thought she would have the chance to be Homecoming queen.

“It’s very different for me and different from me, but being chosen is definitely a huge honor,” Barrett said. “It’s really great to be able to step into that side and have other people accept you in that manner, especially when you haven’t even accepted yourself like that yet.”

Tierney Shea:

Tierney Shea is a sociology senior from Phoenix.

Both of Shea’s parents attended the UA, which ended up being the only school she applied to because she said she always knew she would come here.

Shea is actively involved in her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, which nominated her to be queen on the Homecoming Court. Shea is also extremely involved in UA’s Pom Line Dance Team.

“I feel like I represent every girl here at UA,” Shea said. “I’m not anything special, but I feel like I can relate well to the people of the university.”

Hannah Sitter:

Hannah Sitter, a senior studying Spanish and physiology, is a Tucson native who said deciding to attend the UA was an easy choice.

“Being raised here, it was a no-brainer,” Sitter said.

She added that in high school, she went to all the sporting events at the UA and it really made her want to go to school here. Sitter was nominated through her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, for which she also serves as president.

“I think I represent all the different cultures of the UA campus,” Sitter said. “I am majoring in two majors that are completely different and being from Tucson, I really know what this is about. I think I reflect that.”