Garret Hopkins and Bethany Baughman are 2023 King and Queen
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Chester High School Homecoming has come and gone, but the memories and positive events will long be in the books for years to come. Chester High School students, parents, teachers, staff, alumni and the community in general began 2023 Homecoming celebrations last Monday October 2 with a long week of homecoming events and activities.
The theme for Homecoming 2023 was, “NEON NIGHTS, We Glow with It!” Most activities and events centered on this theme.
The popular and much anticipated Homecoming Court was announced prior to the week of Homecoming, October 2-7, with four juniors and six seniors nominated by their fellow student body members to vie for the title of 2023 Homecoming King and Queen.
Junior King and Queen Candidates included Kolton Jany, Max Blechle, Mirra Krieg, and Elaina Lutman. Senior Candidates were Korbin Jany, Trentin Eggemeyer, Garret Hopkins, Camryn Luthy, Jazzi Merideth, and Bethany Baughman.
Voting for the 2023 Royalty took place during Homecoming week. The Queen was crowned at halftime of the CHS vs Dupo game Friday October 6 and the King was crowned at the Homecoming Dance Saturday October 7.
Monday October 2
Monday October 2 the Hallway Decorating Contest took place. Each class level, freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior, was assigned a hallway at the school to decorate to create Homecoming spirit and atmosphere.
Hallways were decorated over the weekend of September 30-October 1 and judging took place Monday October 2 prior to the start of school. The winner of the Hallway Contest was the “Senior Class of 2024”.
Each day of the week was a special, fun, “Dress-Up Day”. Students, teachers and staff were encouraged to dress-up per the theme of the day to create Homecoming spirit. Monday October 2 was, “Country vs Country Club Day” and everyone dressed accordingly.
There was a “Class Banner Design Contest” for Homecoming Week with each class creating a banner to represent the 2023 Homecoming theme, “Neon Nights”. Banners had to be displayed in their hallway throughout the week, and appear on their class floats in the 2023 Homecoming Parade. The winner of the banner contest was the, “Junior Class of 2025”.
Tuesday October 3
Tuesday was, “Anything but a Backpack Day”.
There was a school-wide assembly on Tuesday with a variety of “Homecoming Games” taking place on the W.O. Smith Football Field that afternoon.
Classes competed in a variety of fun, athletic-type games and activities. A point-system determined the winner of the games with a grand-prize winner announced at the end. The winner of the “2023 Homecoming Games” was the “Senior Class of 2024”.
Wednesday October 4
Wednesday was “Class Color Day” and students were to wear their assigned class-color T-shirts. Freshmen wore RED; Sophomores wore PURPLE; Juniors wore PINK; and Seniors
wore BLUE.
That afternoon was supposed to be the Annual Powder Puff Football game where the girls from four classes were to have played a tournament of sorts. Freshmen were to play Sophomores and Juniors were to have played Seniors. The winners would have played for the championship of the 2023 Powder Puff Games. BUT, the rain caused a postponement.
Following the Powder Puff Games, the 2023 Bonfire and Pep Rally would have taken place, but it too was postponed. A date for the Powder Puff game and Bonfire will be anoinced as soon as Principal Jeremy Blechle can find a date and time.
Thursday October 5
Thursday was “Dress Like a Teacher Day”.
Friday October 6
There was NO SCHOOL on Friday due to a Teacher’s Institute Day. Hooray!
The Annual Homecoming Parade was Friday at 4:00 p.m. The parade was organized by Student Council sponsors Amy Miller and Sara Hammel. This year’s parade was one of the best in recent times.
The parade featured the Chester High School Band, the Chester Grade School Junior High Band, fire trucks, police cars, class floats, Class Reunion groups from at least nine different graduating classes, the 2023 Football YellowJackets, King and Queen Candidates, the 2023 Lady Jacket Volleyball Team, the 2023 Girls and Boys Golf Teams, the 2023 Cross Country Teams, a Stingers Football Team, and more.
The winning floats from the class competition included the 2024 Senior Class, 2nd Place; and the Class of 2025 Junior Class, 1st Place.
The 2023 Homecoming game stared at 7:00 p.m. and featured the Chester YellowJackets hosting the Dupo Tigers. Chester dominated the entire game and shut out the Tigers 49-0.
There were at least nine classes that graduated from Chester High School that were in town for the weekend for class reunions. Many rode in the Homecoming Parade and others attended the Homecoming game. Classes that reported being involved in Homecoming activities included the Classes of 1964, 1968, 1973, 1983, 1988, 1993, 2008, 2013, and 2018.
The October 6th Cheerleader 50/50 drawing winner was announced prior to halftime. The winning number was 7059850. The $186.00 prize was claimed right away by a very happy gentleman.
At halftime the Chester High School Marching YellowJackets took the field to accompany Queen Candidates and their escorts across the field for the coronation ceremony. The band played one of the songs from their 2023 Field Show.
This year’s field show features the music of Carlos Santana and his most popular band, “Santana” of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. The band performed one of Santana’s biggest hits, “Oye Como Va”.
The 2023 Queen Candidates included juniors Mirra Krieg and Elaina Lutman and seniors Camryn Luthy, Jasemine “Jazzi” Merideth, and Bethany Baughman.
The first Queen Candidate was Junior, Mirra Krieg. She is the daughter of Jeff and Krista Krieg. Mirra was escorted by Max Blechle.
The second Queen Candidate was Junior, Elaina Lutman. She is the daughter of Dave and Carrie Lutman. Elaina was escorted by Kanon Jany.
The third Candidate was senior, Bethany Baughman. She is the daughter of Michael and Andrea Baughman. Bethany was escorted by Trevin Eggemeyer.
The fourth Queen Candidate was senior, Camryn Luthy. She is the daughter of Bruce and Andrea Luthy. Camryn was escorted by Aron Korando.
The fifth Queen Candidate was senior, Jasemine “Jazzi” Merideth. She is the daughter of Christy Otten. Jazzi was escorted by Kross Jany.
Back to CHS for Homecoming 2023 to crown the 2023 Homecoming Queen was last year’s 2022 Homecoming Queen, Paige Vasquez. She is the daughter of Trent and Angie Vasquez. Paige was escorted by last year’s 2022 Homecoming King, Koby Jany.
The 2023 Homecoming Queen Runner-Up was junior Mirra Krieg. The 2023 CHS Homecoming Queen was senior Bethany Baughman.
Saturday October 7
Saturday was the last day of Homecoming Week 2023. The big event of the day was the 2023 Homecoming Dance and King Coronation.
Several groups of former students that were in town for class reunions were given tours of the school on Saturday morning by Principal Jeremy Blechle. Reports are that they thoroughly enjoyed seeing the school and how much it has changed since their days at CHS.
Girls began getting hair done early in the morning and by noon, some groups were already going to various destinations around Chester to take the ever-popular Homecoming photos.
Most large groups rented party busses, but some had smaller vehicles for the evening. Out of town dinner destinations were popular with most Homecoming-goers. He doors opened for the dance at 7:00 P.M.
Music for the event was provided by Aiden Blechle who is a freshman at Southern Illininois University in Carbondale. He is majoring in Aviation and has already begun flying with his instructor. He is a part-time D.J. on the side on weekends and did a great job for the dance.
The highlight of the evening was the King Coronation Ceremony. The doors opened at 8:45 P.M. for the public to witness the announcement of the 2023 Homecoming King. Candidates included juniors Kolton Jany and Max Blechle, and seniors Korbin Jany, Trentin Eggemeyer, and Garret Hopkins. The Coronation Ceremony began at 9:00 P.M.
The first King Candidate was junior, Max Blechle. He is the son of Chris and Valerie Blechle. Max was escorted by the 2023 Queen Runner-Up Mirra Krieg.
The second King Candidate was junior Kolton Jany. He is the son of Pete and Trish Jany. Kolton was escorted by junior Queen Candidate, Elania Lutman.
The third King Candidate Trentin Eggemeyer. He is the son of Curt and Lacy Eggemeyer. Trentin was escorted by the 2023 CHS Homecoming Queen, Bethany Baughman.
The fourth King Candidate was Garret Hopkins. He is the sin of Ryan and Christi Hopkins. Garret was escorted by senior Queen Candidate, Camryn Luthy.
The fifth and final King Candidate was Korbin Jany. He is the son of Matt and Kasi Jany. Korbin was escorted by Jasemine “Jazzi” Merideth.
There to crown the 2023 Chester High School Homecoming King was Retiring 2022 King, Koby Jany. He is the son of Pete and Trisha Jany. Koby was escorted by Retiring CHS Homecoming Queen, Paige Vasquez.
The 2023 Runner-Up for CHS Homecoming King was junior, Max Blechle. The 2023 Chester High School Homecoming King was Garret Hopkins.
Following the coronation, the light came up so that parents and others could take photos. After the photo op session, students danced and enjoyed fellowship activities until 10:30 P.M. when the 2023 Homecoming Dance, and Homecoming Week in general, came to an end.
The 2023 Chester High School Homecoming King and Queen are Garet Hopkins, son of Ryan and Christi Hopkins and Bethany Baughman, daughter of Michael and Andrea Baughman. Andrea Baughman Photo
Max Blechle and Mirra Krieg, both juniors, were the 2023 CHS Homecoming King and Queen Runners-Up. Andrea Baughman Photo
The 2023 Chester High School Homecoming Court poses for a photo at the Homecoming Dance. (Left to right) are Trentin Eggemeyer, Korbin Jany, Mirra Krieg, Queen Runner-Up, Max Blechle, King Runner-Up, Retiring 2022 Queen Paige Vasquez, Retiring 2022 King Koby Jany, 2023 CHS Homecoming King Garret Hopkins, 2023 CHS Homecoming Queen Bethany Baughman, Camryn Luthy, Jasemine “Jazzi” Merideth, Elaina Lutman, and Kolton Jany. Valarie Blechle Photo
The Chester High School Marching YellowJackets lead the 2023 Homecoming Parade Friday October 6th. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester Grade School Junior High Band marches in the 2023 CHS Homecoming Parade Friday October 6th. The band is under the direction of Sue Colonel. Jim Beers Photo
The CHS Class of 1973 rides in the 2023 Homecoming Parade Friday October 6th. Jim Beers Photo
The CHS Class of 1993 rides in the 2023 CHS Homecoming Parade. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester High School Boys and Girls Golf Teams ride in the 2023 CHS Homecoming Parade Friday October 6th. The boys proudly display the huge Randolph County Cup they won in the Inaugural Randolph County Match as well as their Cahokia Conference Illinois Division Championship Plaque. Jim Beers Photo