Pure Homecoming spirit came alive in 2026
Fun came in a variety of forms at Hononegah's Homecoming.
Pure Homecoming spirit came alive during the 2026 Homecoming week at Hononegah Community High School.
Action started on Saturday, Sept. 26 where 18 clubs joined in the long time tradition of window painting on Rockton’s Main Street.
Each window featured great artistic flair and pure Homecoming spirit! Art Club won first place honors followed by the cheerleaders, dance and GAIA.
Through the school week students had fun by implementing Spirit Week themes. On Monday students were encouraged to take part in Google Meet Monday where they dressed in business attire on top and or casual or sweatpants or pajama pants on the bottom part of their body.
Tuesday was Blue Day where students donned all blue clothing whole dressing as their favorite blue character.
Dressing for the wrong occasion happened on Wednesday. Thursday was class color day. Freshmen were asked to wear orange, while sophomores wore green, juniors were in blue and seniors in pink. The staff wore black.
Seas of Purple and Gold were seen on Friday.
HCHS’s Tri M Music Honor Society and the Stagehands Club, under the direction of Advisor Sean Mohler treated audiences to “A Whole New World of Talent” on Tuesday evening on the Hononegah’s Performing Arts Center stage on Tuesday night.
The stage was filled with 13 acts, showcasing 17 students.
The audience voted to determine the winner of the show through donations.
Senior Azriel Macias claimed another win while performing vocals on the songs “Sports Car and It’s OK, I’m Ok, both by Tate McRae.
Macius captured even greater attention while adding choreography to both numbers, complete with special lighting that requested by the performer, plus a wardrobe change and two friends who came up to dance with him.
In addition to featuring the best of HCHS students collected 114 food donations for the Old Stone Food Pantry.
Funds raised from monetary donations will go to the HCHS Stagehands Club and International Thespian Society, Troupe 193. These funds are used by these clubs to create new and exciting theater opportunities for Hononegah students and the community at large. Covered under these funds are club operations, developing new programs, such as the 24 hour play festival and Student Directed One Act that were started in previous years, and helps to fund field trips to expose students to professional theater, production/artists.
Mohler said, “As an example Stagehands and ITS will be traveling to Chicago this weekend to see a production and may have an opportunity to tour backstage at the Goodman Theater after the show. This is pending final approval from the production team.
The students this year are also exploring having theater masterclasses, taught by regional professionals in areas such as improv, stage combat, dialect training and more.”
Powder Puff games which were organized by the Renaissance Club and the bonfire, sponsored by the Student Council which were originally scheduled for Thursday night were canceled due to rainy weather conditions.
Plans are to reschedule the games closer to this years prom.
Spirits were high during a Student Council pep assembly on Friday. Class leaders assured that the assembly ran smoothly. Cheerleaders led in spirited cheers. Dance teams wowed everyone with their moves.
Extra fun came in the form of an obstacle course and a noodle battle which created lots of laughter. Students and teachers joined in this battle.
Homecoming Royalty were introduced: Lola Mohnssen, Talley Berke, Chloe Helfvogt, Mya Lee, Mackenzi Haas, Camryn Swindell, Jayla Brown, Hailee Jarrett, Preston Lemendola, Jameson Gilbert, Benjamin Shockley, Logan Schultz, Evan Hulbert, Tim Caver, Dane Martinetti, and Dexter Stark.
Named as King and Queen were Jameson Gilbert and Jayla Brown.
On Friday afternoon beautiful sunshine filled the sky as the Hononegah marching band started off this year's parade.
Class representatives, the Homecoming Court and different clubs walked the new parade route.
An estimated 30 alumni ranging from the Class of to the Class of 2005 walked or rode in style in the parade.
Following the parade alumni were warmly welcomed into the HCHS library for food and food and refreshments, courtesy of the kitchen staff.
HCHS Principal Chad Dougherty and Superintendent Ehren Jarrett and alumni and Executive Director of Strategy, Contious Improvement, and Human Resources Billy Lewis were on hand.
Making this year extra special, the Class of 1986 reunited, with some coming together at the Tribe Tailgate on Friday night and at LaCassa Grande in Beloit on Saturday evening.
At Friday nights games a Tribe Tailgate was complete with dinner from the Hoffman House and tickets to the game was sold out.
Seniors had a white out where they wore togas to the game.
Hononegah emerged victorious over the East E-Rabs with a score of 41-0.
Homecoming fun finished with a dance in the field house featuring “The Spirit of Pandora.”Jameson and Brown were officially crowned at the dance on Saturday evening.
