Sue Sitter/PCT Collin Kraft (left) and Maria Blessum were crowned Homecoming King and Queen Monday evening.

Rugby High School students enjoyed a day off from schoolwork Labor Day, but they still made time to kick off a week of Homecoming fun.

The week’s festivities began Monday evening with the presentation of the RHS Homecoming Court on the football field. Student emcee Kate Heidlbaugh introduced each King and Queen hopeful as they walked to the stand, sharing highlights from each candidate’s life at RHS. The candidates shared fun facts about themselves, and Princess Maria Blessum entertained the crowd of students, parents, families and staff with her impersonation of President Donald Trump.

After Heidlbaugh introduced all court members, fellow emcee Rachael Hartl brought out crowns for the Homecoming Queen and King. Climbing to the top step of the stand above the row of King hopefuls, she hovered the crown over each candidate’s head as the crowd provided a “drum roll,” patting their hands on their laps and tapping their feet on the bleacher stands.

Hartl hovered the crown over Princes Logan DeMontigny, Collin Kraft, Nathan Livedalen, Mayson McCabe and Kevin Vetsch before moving it back to the beginning of the row, and placing it on Kraft’s head.

Next, Hartl stepped behind Princesses Maria Blessum, Karsyn Hager, Rylee Kuntz, Anni Stier, and Jenna Wangler. After Hartl hovered the crown back and forth down the row for several suspenseful seconds, she crowned Blessum 2018 Homecoming Queen.

Blessum, the daughter of Jim and Kris Blessum, has been active in several sports, including volleyball, basketball, and track and field. She is a member of the National Honor Society, RHS Student Council, FFA, FBLA, Sources of Strength, and CYO. She also participates in the Academic Olympics. “I’m a little surprised,” Blessum said of her coronation. “All the girls here are awesome.”

King Kraft is the son of David and Becky Kraft. A defensive and offensive tackle on the RHS Panther Varsity football team, he also participates in FFA and trapshooting.

“It’s an honor,” Kraft said of his coronation. “There’s really good competition out here. All the guys are really great guys. I’ve been friends with them since kindergarten.”

What did he think of the Panthers’ prospects for the Homecoming Game?

“We’ll play at 7:00 Friday night. I think it should be a really good one,” Kraft said. “It’s going to be tough competition, but if we go out there and play as hard as we can and give it our all, it should be winnable.”

Four princes and four princesses rounded out RHS’ 2018 Royal Court.

Princess Anni Stier, daughter of Trent Johnson and Mindy Stier has been active in student council, track, volleyball, basketball, cross country, Sources of Strength, FFA, and LYO.

Princess Jenna Wangler, the daughter of John and Lori Wangler has been active in FBLA and the National Honor Society. She was student manager for RHS cross country and statistician for boys’ basketball.

Princess Karsyn Hager, the daughter of Chad and Keeya Hager, is a member of FFA, student council, band, and Sources of Strength. She participates in cross country, volleyball, basketball, and track.

Princess Rylee Kuntz is the daughter of Ken and Kim Kuntz. She participates in cheerleading, student council, FFA and FBLA.

RHS Homecoming Prince Logan DeMontigny is the son of Kyle and Lisa DeMontigny. Logan is active in football, basketball and rodeo.

Prince Nathan Livedalen is involved in Honor Society, yearbook, Sources of Strength, art club, and track and field.

Prince Mason McCabe is the son of Toby and Danielle McCabe. He has been active in CYO, baseball and basketball.

Prince Kevin Vetsch is the son of Renae Vetsch and Joey Hendrix. He is active in football, basketball and FFA.

A powder puff football game followed the coronation ceremony, with the seniors defeating the juniors, and Homecoming Week’s first day festivities closed with a bonfire at the baseball diamond at sunset.