Another year, another memorable chapter written in the book of St. Clair Cyclone Royalty.
Hyper school spirit took center stage at St. Clair High School on Tuesday as students, staff, families, and community members gathered for the 2026 Homecoming Coronation. Guided by student MCs Maddy Bailey, Hannah Brekke, and Isabelle Grekoff, the afternoon was filled with laughter, nostalgia, friendly competition, and royal fanfare.
The St. Clair High School band set an energetic tone for the proceedings, welcoming attendees with a rousing rendition of Europe’s iconic anthem “The Final Countdown” before leading the auditorium through a proud performance of the school fight song.
Following the musical prelude, royal attendants Blake Wendt and Easton Ness made their charming entrance, with young Wendt taking great delight in clicking her heels across the hardwood of the coronation stage. Soon after, the 2026 Homecoming court marched down the aisle in elegant gowns and sharp suits, greeted by enthusiastic cheers, waving signs, and warm support from friends and family.
Behind the glitz and glamour, camaraderie was on full display—highlighted early on when king candidate Vincent Bowes paused to help fellow candidate Henry Topp pin his royal sash securely to his jacket.
This year’s royalty court featured an impressive lineup of student leaders that participate heavily in extra-curricular activities like Band & Choir, musical theater, and MHS:
- Queen Candidates: Addison Christians, Kate Daly, Ava Frank, Keldee Hansen, and Julianna Rasmussen.
- King Candidates: Vincent Bowes, Marshall Freitag (noted by many for his luscious locks), Steven Loeffler, Archer Richter, and Henry Topp.
As candidates reached the stage, the MCs shared lighthearted bios showcasing each student’s favorite musical eras, fashion trends, and historic icons. Answers ranged from dreams of joining ABBA and rocking neon clothing, Heelies, or velvet pantsuits, to desires to bring back legendary figures like Michael Jackson, The Notorious B.I.G., and Michelangelo. Travel destinations on the candidates’ wish lists spanned across time, including the Roaring Twenties, the rad 1980s, and the Y2K era of the early 2000s.
Festivities took an interactive turn with “Fun with the Candidates,” a multi-decade trivia contest testing the court’s pop culture knowledge. Teams faced off on questions covering historic albums, classic space operas, legendary live comedy shows, DeLorean time machines, early MTV broadcasts, and the original Nintendo Wii.
While many of the retro questions might have seemed obvious to audience members aged 30 and older, the teenage candidates wrestled with a few tricky throwbacks. After a spirited, back-and-forth battle, the queen candidates edged out the king candidates by a razor-thin final score of 12 to 11.
The highlight of the afternoon arrived with the official crowning of the 2026 Homecoming King and Queen.
Steven Loeffler was named Homecoming King. In a charming moment that drew smiles from the audience, the crown briefly slipped off his head upon being placed, but Loeffler took it in stride, beaming with pride as he secured his title.
Julianna Rasmussen was crowned Homecoming Queen, reacting with genuine shock and awe as her name was announced to enthusiastic applause from the crowd.
Following the ceremony, the newly crowned king, queen, and court took their traditional walk through the elementary school wing. They were greeted by halls lined with the youngest Cyclones—cheering loudly and dreaming of the day they might one day stand on that same coronation stage.
Upon returning to the theater, royalty obligations kicked into high gear with photo sessions for family, friends, and local media. Though the smiles and posing took only about 15 minutes, the memories created during the ceremony will endure for decades to come—a true reflection of this year’s homecoming theme: “Once a Cyclone, Always a Cyclone.”
The coronation marks just the beginning of Homecoming week celebrations. St. Clair students can look forward to a full slate of festivities leading up to Friday’s high-energy pep fest and the big homecoming football game.
Congratulations to Queen Julianna Rasmussen, King Steve Loeffler, and the entire 2026 St. Clair Homecoming Court!
