Gatorade Night was short-and-sweet” due to extreme heat and humidity
BY JIM BEERS
The 2026 Chester High School Gatorade Night event was successful in spite of extremely hot and humid weather conditions. This annual opening kickoff for the various CHS YellowJacket Sports seasons is always a highly anticipated event.
This year, however, the unusually dangerous weather on Friday August 14 caused warnings to be issued nationwide which curbed some of the hoopla for sporting events throughout the area.
The event has had several titles over the past decades. It began as the “Soap Game Night” when admission to the event was a bar of soap which was provided to the football players for post-practice and post-game showers. Players no longer shower at the gym and the name and title changed more than 20 years ago.
The title and focus then changed to the “Soup Game” at which time the admission to attend the event was a can of soup or other food item. These items were donated to the local food pantry. This practice was deeply appreciated by the pantry, but changed again in recent years.
The title and focus of the event has now changed once more in two respects. First, the admission to the event is now a bottle of Gatorade. This helps hydrate the players throughout the season.
The other change is in the nature of the evening. Instead of only focusing on the YellowJacket Football team, the evening is now devoted to meeting and greeting ALL of the YellowJacket and Lady Jacket sports and players. This philosophy gives equal recognition and attention to all boys and girls involved in Fall Sports at CHS.
The 2026 Gatorade Night took place Friday August 14 at W.O. Smith Field at Chester High School. Due to the extreme heat, the CHS Athletic Department and Administration pushed back the start time to 6:00 p.m. instead of 5:00 p.m. Temperatures were still in the mid-90’s and humidity was still extremely high. Skies were sunny and bright, but a slight breeze helped to make conditions somewhat bearable.
At 6:00 p.m. fans were allowed to come onto W.O. Smith Field to meet and greet the players of the various YellowJacket sports. It was a great time to get-up-close-and personal with both players and coaches and take pictures.
At 6:45 p.m. the actual program began which recognized and introduced the athletes of all Fall Sports. Stadium announcer, Luke Lochhead, made sure to expedite the process throughout the evening to get everyone out of the heat sooner.
The first item on the agenda was to thank and recognize all of the sponsors that help to create the annual football team schedule-posters. This year’s sponsors include the following 19 individuals and businesses:
The CHS Class of 1995, Buena Vista National Bank, Chester Memorial Hospital, Chester Eagles Club, Chester Family Dental, Knight Hawk Coal, Korando Heating and Cooling, The CHS Class of 1993, Printworkx, Gilster Mary-Lee, ACIX Billy Knowles, Senior Mom’s Class of 2027, Fisher, Kerkhover, and Gremmels, Robin Bert Worth Realty, Domino’s Pizza, Blondies, Subway, and Joe & Crystal Tindall.
The team also recognized Domino’s Pizza for feeding them every Thursday during the 2026 football season. Thanks was also extended to the Chester Eagles for feeding the team before every home game throughout the season.
By 6:50 p.m. the program began which introduced all of the fall athletes in this order: Football, Volleyball, Boys and Girls Cross Country, Boys and Girls Golf, The 2026 Football Dance Team, and the 2026 Football Cheerleaders. Each player came to center stage (or 50 yard line) to be recognized.
Varsity Football Team:
Seniors (10): Alex Blechle, Zane Eggemeyer, TaShawn Palacio, Kanon Jany, Landen Conder, Anthony Armenta, Ryker Hoffman, Karim Landeros, Jackie Bess, and Trey McCartney.
Juniors (12): Jaden Ramirez, Lynn Gage, Reagan Sims, Rhett Creason, Anthony Keeton, Danny Worley, Bently Valleroy, Brandon Korando, Hayden Haslett, Paxton Beam, Avery Wittenborn, and Donnie Sabo.
Sophomores (11): Cannon Wolff, Ty Tindall, Reed Petrowske, Cole McDonald, Danny Santay, Ryland Welge, Austin Davitz, Tristan Preuss, Austin Partin, Keegan Stauffer, and Logan Durham.
Football Captains
JV Football Team (25)
Sophomores (11): Cannon Wolff, Ty Tindall, Reed Petrowske, Cole McDonald, Danny Santay, Ryland Welge, Austin Davitz, Tristan Preuss, Austin Partin, Keegan Stauffer, and Logan Durham.
Freshmen (14): Giovanni Munoz, Lela Pattison, Javier Velasquez, Hoyt Walls, Brady Brown, Garrett Krantz, Jason Stumpe, Jostyn Cerrano, Kevin Korando, Aaden Mehrer, Miles Belton, Lance Thompson, Wyatt Cushman, and Ethan Werner.
Note: There will be no freshman team this season.
Football Coaches:
Head Coach: Billy Belton
Assistant Coaches: Danny Roth, Charles Colvis, Matt Colvis, Daigen Hunter, Stephen Roth, Caleb Strauss, Logan Doll, Wyatt Ruehling, and Fred Welge.
Statistician: Doug McDonald
Lady Jacket Volleyball (23)
Freshmen (7): Alexis House, Alexa Duvall, Alyssa Lemanski, Aubree Kumkee, Braelynn Lyons, Kinsley Hecht, and Mabrie Cushman.
Sophomores (5): Brystol Stellhorn, Hadlie Cushman, Kinley Davitz, Morgan Nanney, and Peyton Moll.
Juniors (7): Ashley Garcia-Sanchez, Hannah Crow, Jaden Bert, Maci Ahring, Marlie Caby, Maddie Hurst-Roy, and Taylor Korando.
Seniors (4): Aleah Eggemeyer, Aubrey Colvis, Avery Hasemeyer, and Joella Eggemeyer.
Coaches: Head Coach, Colleen Runge
Boy’s Golf (12)
Seniors (5): Tallen James, Trevin Eggemeyer, Logan McDonald, Logan Brace, and Kross Jany.
Juniors (3): Alden Davitz, Logan Springston, and Kendall Krieg.
Sophomores (2): Preston Liefer and Jack Luthy.
Freshmen (2): Jake Dunn and Carter Kennedy.
Girls Golf (4)
Grade levels not specified: Monica Anaya, Macy VanZandt, Serenity Hicks, and Mallorie Homan.
Boys Cross Country (8)
Senior (1): Victor Fuentes
Junior (1): Jaden Ramirez
Sophomores (2): Duncan Bargman and Pedro Hernandez.
Freshmen (4): Kolin Martin, Hunter Brunkhorst, Ryan Lopez, and Roman Ditch.
Girls Cross Country (3)
Sophomores (3): Katelynn Vallett, Brenna Hammel, and Laurey Hayer.
Coaches (3): Head Coach Chris Kern. Assistant Coaches: Jessica Rock and Adrianne Kern.
2026 Dance Team (13)
Seniors (3): Macy VanZant, Aubrey Petrowske, and Katie Werner.
Juniors (3): Jaden Bert, Grace Irose, and Justice Mattingly.
Sophomores (4): Emma Bogard, Kaylee Lukhaupt, Peyton Moll, and Kennedy Nortin.
Freshmen (3): Ella Bert, Mabrie Cushman, and Jaymie Dickerson.
Coaches: Head Coach, Adrianne Kern
2026 Cheerleaders (14)
Freshmen (5): Kinsley Middendorf, Alexa Duvall, Annabell Cross, Alexis House, and Enzlee Wallace.
Sophomores (2): Katelynn Vallett and Laurey Hayer.
Juniors (2): Addy Jany, Ashlynn Addison, Kaylin Jany, and Vanessa Greene.
Seniors (3): Brooke Howie, Vacey Shields, and Olivia Sellers
Coaches: Head Coach, Paige Gendron. Assistant Coach: Emma Eggemeyer.
Following the introduction of all Fall Athletes, there was a brief scrimmage. Action was limited, however, due to the extreme heat and humidity. Both the Varsity and JV Offenses and Defenses were featured.
Coach Billy Belton said, “I feel like we got off to a good start. The offense looked good and the defense did well. They only ran about five plays because it was so hot. The JV also did a good job and the freshmen played well for their first time really scrimmaging. Since we only have 14 freshmen it will not be possible to have a dedicated freshman schedule this year. They will get plenty of playing time on the JV team, however!”
When asked about the first game this week, Coach Belton said, “Actually the next two weeks will be somewhat hard to predict. Paris is a three-and-a-half-hour drive. They are 3A and we are 2A. We haven’t really had the opportunity to see them in action either. We will see how it goes Saturday. Next week will be somewhat of a question mark too. We play Anna-Jonesboro and we haven’t played them for a while. We used to see them all of the time in the River-to-River Conference.”
Coach Belton said that next year Paris will have to travel to Chester for a YellowJacket home game, so they will have the long drive. Saturday August 22 the YellowJackets will travel to Paris, Illinois for a 5 p.m. kickoff and next Friday August 28 the Anna-Jonesboro Wildcats will come to W.O. Smith Field in Chester for the 2026 home opener at 7 p.m.