By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER — Chester High School has announced the 2021 Homecoming Court.
Last week the student body nominated candidates and publicity photos were taken Friday October 1st.
The 2021 Chester High School Homecoming Court includes: Queen Candidates (left to right): Emma Eggemeyer, Alex Hennrich, Hannah Blechle, Paige Vasquez, and Kailyn Absher. King Candidates (left to right): Chance Mott, Brock Vasquez, Cooper Eggemeyer, Noah Wetzel, and Jacob Cowell. Jim Beers Photo
The 2021 Queen Candidates include seniors Alex Hennrich, Hannah Blechle and Kailyn Absher. Junior Queen Candidates include Emma Eggemeyer and Paige Vasquez. Senior King Candidates include Jacob Cowell, Cooper Eggemeyer and Brock Vasquez. Junior King Candidates include Chance Mott and Noah Wetzel.
Plans are for the coronations to take place at the Homecoming game Friday evening. The King Coronation is scheduled to take place at 6:30 p.m. prior to Homecoming Pre-Game activities. The Queen Coronation is scheduled to take place during halftime of the Homecoming game.
It must be noted that these scheduled coronations are dependent upon the eventual status of the Homecoming game itself! The scheduled opponent for the game is Dupo and Dupo has withdrawn from the competition due to Corona-Virus complications.
Dupo had to cancel its game last week with Red Bud due to such complications, but were of the opinion that they would be able to play this week against Chester.
On Monday October 4 at approximately 3:00 p.m. it was announced that Dupo would NOT be able to play this week and that they would have to withdraw from competition.
CHS Athletic Director Bryce Bainter has announced that he is attempting to locate a substitute opponent to replace Dupo and that he is making every effort to made a Homecoming game possible.
If no opponent becomes available, alternate plans will be announced on social media and through school communications regarding alternate plans for some activities, such as the coronations.
At this point, plans arranged by the Student Council for Homecoming week are now being released.
Sara Hammel, Student Council Co-Sponsor said, “Madi Kribs, Student Council President, and her Spirit Committee have been very busy this entire school year with everything spirit-related. Every Friday on home football game days the entire school is engaged with dress up day activities to create spirit.”
The theme for Homecoming 2021 is, “Western” oriented. The related slogan is, “Take Me Home Country Road”. Student Council Social Committee Chair-Person, Addy Mitchell, said, “We have created a Homecoming theme that any ol’ country boy or girl would enjoy! We are excited to ‘rustle up’ a King and Queen at Friday’s coronation.”
Student Council Publicity Chair-Person, Abby Bollman, has been busy and hard at work adding reminders and Homecoming promotions to the school social media pages to create interest in Homecoming 2021.
Looking ahead to funding issues, Trace Fricke, Student Council Extra-Curricular Activities Committee Chairman, and his group are prepping for a November fundraiser to help finance Homecoming and other Student Council activities.
Emma Bryant, Student Council Philanthropy Committee Chair-Person and her Committee are busy planning a Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday October 27th from 8:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. This life-saving event will take place in Chester High School’s Colbert Gymnasium.
Bryant said, “The community is encouraged to sign up to donate blood via the Red Cross website. Units of blood donated help save lives. This activity also helps to create college scholarship opportunities for Student Council members who participate.”
Bryant’s committee is also working on plans and finalizing details for a “spooktacular” trick or treating event to be held on Sunday October 31st at Chester High School.
Homecoming “Dress Up Days” are slated according to the following schedule:
Monday October 4: “Merica Monday” when all students are encouraged to wear red, white and blue;
Tuesday October 5: “Timber Tuesday” when all students are encouraged to wear flannel;
Wednesday October 6: “Western Wednesday” when all students are encouraged to wear western clothing; and
Thursday October 7: “Class Color Day” when all students are encouraged to wear their particular class colored clothing.
Thursday October 7th will also be an assembly at which time the freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors will compete for braggin’ rites in the 2021 CHS Spirit Games.
Homecoming is Friday October 8th and there are several activities scheduled for that day (some of which may be tentative depending upon the outcome of the search to find a football game opponent).
Homecoming Court pictures are scheduled for 3:15 p.m. at the Randolph County Courthouse.
The 2021 Homecoming Parade will start at 4:00 p.m. at the Courthouse. Lineup is at 3:30 p.m.
The Homecoming Parade begins at 4:00 p.m. and proceeds to CHS.
The King Coronation will take place at 6:30 p.m. prior to the Homecoming game. (Tentative depending upon if the game takes place).
Homecoming Pre-Game activities will commence at 6:45 p.m. (Tentative depending upon if the game takes place).
Homecoming game kickoff is 7:00 p.m. (Tentative depending upon if the game takes place).
Homecoming Queen Coronation will be at halftime of the Homecoming game (Tentative depending upon if the game takes place).
Updates regarding the status of the Homecoming game will be posted on social media as well on school media outlets.