A total of 24 seniors were recognized including one Lady Jacket basketball player; six YellowJacket Boys’ Basketball players; three cheerleaders, 10 ‘pep band only’ members, three ‘pep band and dance team’ members, and one ‘dancer only’ member
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – With the rapidly approaching end of the 2024-2025 winter sports seasons, Chester High School Administrators, coaches and fans honored the Class of 2025 senior athletes, pep band members, cheerleaders, and dance team members at one of the final home games for girls and boys basketball.
Stadium Announcer Mike Lochhead, said, “We would like to take this opportunity to recognize our 2024-2025 winter senior athletes. The following group of students have dedicated themselves to academics and athletics throughout their high school careers.”
“The Chester School District would like to honor and thank them for their loyalty and dedication to our athletic program over the past four years!”
Lady Jacket Basketball senior (1)
The first to be honored was the only senior on the 2024-25 Girls’ Basketball Team. Rylie Conley was recognized Thursday February 3 when the Lady Jackets hosted the Red Bud Lady Musketeers. Chester beat Red Bud, 44-31. Conley, a 5’6” guard, was introduced along with her parents, Erin Conley and Erica Eggemeyer.
Rylie was honored for her dedication, athletic contributions, and leadership to the team. Conley was presented with orange and black balloons as well as flowers and other gifts from her coaches and teammates.
CHS Cheerleaders (3)
The CHS Senior Cheerleaders were recognized prior to the 2025 “Senior Night” basketball game Monday February 17 when Chester hosted Wesclin. There were three senior cheerleaders.
Each girl proceeded through a line of other cheerleaders which formed at the entrance to the gym floor from the YellowJacket locker room. As they walked through the line, their introduction was read by stadium announcer Mike Lochhead. Orange and black balloons and other gifts were presented by fellow underclassmen student-athletes.
The first cheerleader was Peyton Cole, daughter of Dennis Cole, Christina Maue and Alan Rannow. The second cheerleader was Kourtney House, daughter of Amanda and Ryan House. The third and final senior cheerleader was Elaina Lutman, daughter of Dave and Carrie Lutman.
YellowJacket Boys’ Basketball (6)
The six YellowJacket Boys’ Basketball senor players followed immediately after the cheerleaders in similar fashion. Once the players made their way through the line of cheerleaders, they met their parents mid-court where pictures were taken.
The first basketball senior was Cayden Brunkhorst, son of Soleil and Brian Brunkhorst. Next was Evan Dunning, son of Jim and Rhonda Dunning. Third was Jack Heffernan, son of Joanie Heffernan.
The fourth boys’ basketball senior was Kolton Jany, son of Pete and Trisha Jany. Fifth was Brenden Malley, son of Ty and Nikki Malley. Last, but certainly not least, was Devante Palacio, son of Megan and Bobby Palacio.
CHS YellowJacket Pep Band and Dance Team members (14)
At halftime of the CHS vs Wesclin game the senior pep band and dance team members were honored. There were a total of 14 individuals introduced in one of three categories. There were 10 seniors that were members of only the pep band. There were three seniors that were both pep band AND dance team members. Finally, there was one girl that was a member of dance team only.
Each senior lined up in the hallway/tunnel leading onto the Chester High School, Colbert Memorial Gymnasium, Rocky Bridges Court. The CHS Cheerleaders formed a line in which the seniors proceeded and received their flowers, orange and black balloons, and other gifts. Once at the end of the line, the seniors met their parents and had pictures taken center court on the YellowJacket mascot.
Pep Band “only” members (10)
There were 10 pep band members that only played in pep band. The first was Max Blechle, son of Chris and Valerie Blechle. Next was Nicholas Coffey, son of Ryan and Barb Coffey and Melissa Knowles. Third was Josh Copple, son of Elizabeth Copple. Fourth was Nico De Guzman, child of Marlen and Robert Todd. Fifth was Toby Gercis, daughter of Ms. Kathryn Sauerhage and grandparents, Doris and Gary Sauerhage.
The 6th senior pep band member was Jaden Lopez, son of Mario and Alicia Perez. Next was Tino Rafael, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rafael. Lincon Schroeder was the 8th senior pep band member. He is the son of Jenni and Cole Schroeder. Ary Shipley is the 9th senior pep band member. She is the child of Melissa and Michelle Crawford and Kenny and Carla Shipley. Last, but not least, was Will Welge, son of Tom and Tracy Welge.
Pep Band AND Dance Team members (3)
There were three young ladies that not only played in the YellowJacket Pep Band, but they also danced with the CHS Dance Team. These three hard working girls included Mira Krieg, daughter of Jeff and Krista Krieg; Tia Martinez, sister of Sonya Torres and Selena Martinez; and Whitney Sulser, daughter of Shane and Lori Sulser.
Dance Team only (1)
One CHS Dance Team senior, Summer Valleroy, was a member of the dance team only. Summer is the daughter of Danny and Dani Valleroy.
Jacket fans gave each recipient a large round of applause in appreciation for their hard work and dedication to making athletic events as entertaining and rewarding as possible.
Hats off to the “CHS Class of 2025” senior Athletes, Cheerleaders, Pep Band members, and Dance Team members four for years of practice, blood, sweat, and tears, in preparation for athletic events at good ole CHS! Your efforts have definitely made the fan experience much more enjoyable and rewarding!
Rylie Conley (4) poses for a Senior Night Photo with her Lady Jacket Head Basketball Coach, Jeff Mott and her parents, Erica Eggemeyer and Erin Conley. Jim Beers Photo
Cheerleader Peyton Cole and parents Dennie Cole Christina Maue and Alan Rannow. Jim Beers Photo
Cheerleader Kourtney House and parents Amanda and Ryan House. Jim Beers Photo
Cheerleader Elaina Lutman and parents Dave and Carrie Lutman. Jim beers Photo
YellowJacket Basketball player Cayden Brunkhorst and parents Brian and Soleil Brunkhorst. Ji, Beers Photo
YellowJacket Basketball player Evan Dunning and parents Jim and Rhonda Dunning. Jim Beers Photo
YellowJacket Basketball player Jack Heffernan and parent Joanie Heffernan. Jim Beers Photo
Basketball player Kolton Jany and parents Pete and Trisha Jany. Jim Beers Photo
Basketball player Brenden Malley and parents Ty and Nikki Malley. Jim Beers Photo
Basketball player Devante Palacio and parents Bobby and Megan Palacio. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Band Member Max Blechle and parents Chris and Valerie Blechle. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior Band Member Nicholas Coffey and parents Ryan and Barb Coffey and Melissa Knowles. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Senior Night Band Member Josh Copple and parent Elizabeth Copple. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Band Member Nico De Guzman and parents Marlen and Robert Todd. Jim Beers Photo
Photo not available
CHS Band Member Toby Garcis and parents Ms. Katheran Sauerhage and Grandparents Doris and Gary Sauerhage, absent.
CHS Band Member Jaden Lopez and Parents Mario and Alicia Perez. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Band Member Tino Rafael and Parents Mr. and Mrs. Rafael. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Band Member Lincon Schroeder and parents Cole and Jenni Schroeder. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Senior Band Member Ary Shipley and parents Melissa and Michelle Crawford and Kenny and Carla Shipley. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Senior Band Member Will Welge and parents Tom and Tracy Welge. Jim Beers Photo\\\
CHS Senior Band and Dance Team member Mira Krieg and her parents Jeff and Krista Krieg. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Senior Band and Dance Team member Tia Martinez, Sister of Sonya Torres and Selena Martinez. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Senior Band and Dance Team member Whitney Sulser and parents Shane and Lori Sulser. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Senior Dance Team Member Summer Valleroy and parents Danny and Dani Valleroy. Jim Beers Photo
This is the 2025 Chester High School Senior Night Winter Pep Band and Dance Team members and parents after being introduced and honored Monday February 17 at the halftime of the CHS vs Wesclin Basketball game. Each student was introduced with their parents, and they received flowers and orange and black balloons. Jim Beers Photo
These are the 2025 Senior Basketball players and Cheerleaders who were just honored at the Senior Night Ceremonies Monday February 17 when CHS hosted Wesclin in basketball. The entire group was introduced and honored prior to the start of the game. Each student received flowers and orange and black balloons. Jim Beers Photo