King is Kolton Jany with runner-up Max Blechle; Queen is Elaina Lutman with runner-up Mirra Krieg
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – A very busy week of 2024 Homecoming activities at Chester High School came to a close with the Homecoming Parade, Football game and Dance. Along with many other events, the unveiling of the 2024 Homecoming King and Queen topped the list of activities.
Wednesday September 18 the entire school was involved in decorating the school and town for homecoming. At school, hallways, floats, and classrooms were decorated to create Homecoming atmosphere.
Float and hallway themes included freshmen, “Snuggly Duckling”; sophomores, “Rapunzel’s Toured”; juniors, “Lake with Lanterns”, and seniors, “The Town”. Winners of the decorating contest included, 4th Place: juniors; 3rd Place freshmen; 2nd Place, sophomores, and 1st Place, seniors.
Throughout the City of Chester students spent to day going from business-to-business painting windows with various YellowJacket themes and football messages to encourage home town spirit and support for the Homecoming Game vs the Sparta Bulldogs.
Wednesday was also, “At last I see the light day” at CHS. Students and staff were encouraged to wear lights of various sorts to complement their apparel for the day. Tree lights, glow sticks, flash lights and other types of lights were encouraged.
Thursday September 19 the CHS Student Council decorated Juergens Gymnasium for the 2024 Homecoming Dance. The theme for 2024 went along with the “Tangled” theme of the Disney movie, “Tangled”.
Thursday was also “Conceal yourself like a chameleon day”, when students and staff dressed in all types of camouflage to help them blend in with the environment.
To end the day, the entire student body, staff, and teachers converged on W.O. Smith Field for the 2024 Homecoming Spirit Games in which each class competed against each other in a variety of contests, both athletic and creative. This tradition is always a Homecoming Week favorite.
Spirit Games winners included: 1st Place, Seniors; 2nd Place, Freshmen; 3rd Place, Sophomores; and 4th Place, Juniors.
Friday September 20 was Homecoming “Football Friday”. It was, titled, “Find Your Jacket Pride Day” and everyone was encouraged to wear orange and black to help build spirit to help the YellowJacket Football Team beat Sparta.
The 2024 Homecoming Parade took place at 4:00 p.m. and was one of the biggest and best in recent history. The parade featured a total of 27 entries including both the Chester High School Marching YellowJacket Band under the direction of Steve Colonel and the Chester Grade School Junior Jacket Marching Band under the direction of Sue Colonel.
Other entries included a VFW Color Guard, City of Chester Police and Fire units, CHS class floats, six CHS Class Reunion groups, Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, and Golf teams, the Little Stingers Players and Cheerleaders, and 2024 Homecoming Queen Candidates and Retiring Queen.
The Homecoming Football game vs Sparta was a huge success with the YellowJackets defeating the Bulldogs, 48-2. The event included a nearly 2-hour lightning delay and a brief rain shower, but in the end, the game was completed with a great Homecoming victory.
At halftime, the CHS Band accompanied the Homecoming Court across the W.O. Smith Football Field for the Queen Coronation.
Court members and their escorts included Junior Candidate Maggie Caby, daughter of Eric and Adrianne Caby. Her escort was Eric Caby. The other junior candidate was Callie Davis, daughter of Justin Davis and Haley Davis. She was escorted by Kross Jany.
Senior Candidates included Mirra Krieg, daughter of Jeff and Krista Krieg. She was escorted by her brother, Kendall Krieg. The second Queen Candidate was Elaina Lutman, daughter of Dave and Carrie Lutman. Her escort was Max Blechle. The final senior Queen Candidate was Sadessa Sellers, daughter of Richard and Tonia Sellers. She was escorted by Alex Maes.
The retiring 2023 Homecoming Queen was Bethany Baughman, daughter of Michael and Andrea Baughman. Bethany was escorted by Trentin Eggemeyer. The 2024 CHS Homecoming Queen was Elaina Lutman. The Runner-Up was Mirra Krieg.
The 2024 Parade Float winners included: 1st Place, Seniors; 2nd Place, Sophomores; 3rd Place, Juniors, and 4th Place, Freshmen.
There were six former Chester High School classes that attended the 2024 Homecoming game, parade, and other events including, Class of 1964 (60 years); Class of 1974 (50 years); Class of 1984 (40 years); Class of 2004 (20 years); Class of 2009 (15 years); and Class of 2014 (10 years). Each group held other reunion activities throughout the weekend. The Class of 1969 did not hold an official 55-year reunion this year but will meet Friday September 27 at the Chester Eagles at 11:30 a.m. for a class luncheon.
Saturday September 21 was the Homecoming Dance. The Juergens Gym was decorated in a “Tangled” theme. The event began 7:00 p.m. and ended at 10:30 p.m. Music was provided by Aidan Blechle better known in his music format as, “D.J. D’TALE”.
The gym was opened to the public at 8:45 p.m. for parents and non-dance students and interested parties to come and witness the coronation of the 2024 Homecoming King. Voting for King and Queen took place during school.
The King Coronation took place at 9:00 p.m. The first Junior King Candidate was Ethan Colvis, son of Matt and Carrie Colvis. His escort for the evening was Junior Queen Candidate, Maggie Caby. The second Junior King Candidate was Trayton “Tray” Peters, son of Jarrod and Casey Peters. He was escorted by Junior Queen Candidate Callie Davis.
There were three senior King Candidates. The first Senior King Candidate was Max Blechle, son of Chris and Valerie Blechle. His escort was Senior “Queen Runner-Up” Mirra Krieg. The second Senior King Candidate was Kolton Jany, son of Pete and Trisha Jany. He was escorted by Senior “Queen” Elaina Lutman. The final Senior King Candidate was Alex Williamson, son of Jeremy and Heather Williamson. His escort for the event was Senior Queen Candidate Sadessa Sellers.
The retiring 2023 King was Garret Hopkins of the Class of 2024.He was unable to attend Homecoming 2024 due to the fact that he a student at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. In his place to crown the 2024 CHS Homecoming King was Trentin Eggemeyer. His escort for the evening was Retiring 2023 Homecoming Queen Bethany Baughman.
Mistress of Ceremonies for the coronation was Student Council Co-Sponsor, Amy Miller. Mrs. Miller introduced each King Candidate and read his biography. The 2024 Chester High School Homecoming King was Kolton Jany. The 2024 King Runner-Up was Max Blechle.
Following the coronation there was time for close up photos on the dance floor and on the stage. At the conclusion of the photo opportunity, parents and other guests left the gym and the rest of the evening was spent by the dance participants enjoying the music, dancing, eating refreshments, and enjoying the fellowship of classmates and friends.
The Homecoming Dance was the final event in a huge series of events and activities planned by the CHS Student Council and the “HIVE” Pep Club. Co-Sponsors for the Student Council are Amy Miller and Sara Hammel. The “HIVE” Pep Club sponsor is Cheri Diercks.
The CHS Homecoming Court poses for a photo following the crowning of the 2024 Homecoming Queen Saturday September 21 at the Homecoming Dance. Pictured (left to right) are: Junior Queen Candidate Maggie Caby and Junior King Candidate Ethen Colvis; Senior Queen Runner-Up Mirra Krieg and Senior King Runner-Up Max Blechle; Senior Queen Candidate Sadessa Sellers and Senior King Candidate Alex Williamson; Retiring Queen Escort Trentin Eggemeyer and Retiring 2023 CHS Homecoming Queen Bethany Baughman; 2024 CHS Homecoming Queen Elaina Lutman and 2024 CHS Homecoming King Kolton Jany; and Junior Queen Candidate Callie Davis and Junior King Candidate Tray Peters.
The 2024 Chester High School Homecoming king and queen are Kolton Jany and Elaina Lutman.
The 2024 CHS Homecoming king and queen runners-up are Mirra Krieg and Max Blechle.