Introducing this year's BHS homecoming court
PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF
Seniors
Underclassmen
Drivers
Meet this year’s Bluffton High School homecoming court. These students will be in the homecoming parade Friday night and will be introduced in a pre-game ceremony on the football field. The king and queen will be announced at that time.
Seniors
Queen candidate - Leah Conley is on the soccer and track and field teams, is a member of Spanish Club, National Honor Society, and Student Senate and is a senior class officer. Leah was a homecoming attendant her sophomore year. She is a member of Ebenezer Mennonite Church, Youth for Christ, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Leah is employed by the Bluffton Community Pool as a lifeguard and by The Centre of Bluffton. Leah plans to attend college and major in pre-dentistry. She is the daughter of Joel and Jodi Conley.
King candidate - Kaleb Jefferson He plays football, basketball and track. Kaleb is also a member of the National Honor Society and was on the homecoming court his sophomore year. Kaleb plans to attend college and play football. He is the son of Maurice Jefferson and Jaime Hoffer.
Queen candidate - Allison Wise is a member of the girls soccer, power lifting and track teams. Allison is a member of the National Honor Society, Renaissance Committee, Symphonic Choir, president of FCCLA, and was a homecoming attendant her freshman year. She attends the Church of the Nazarene and is employed at the Hilty Home in Pandora. Allison plans to attend college, studying to become a dental hygienist. She is the daughter of Chad and Heidi Wise and Shanda and Rob Fisher.
King candidate - Dakota Bricker is a member of the football, baseball and basketball teams, as well as FCCLA. He served on the homecoming court his freshman year. Dakota attends the First United Methodist Church. Dakota plans to attend college majoring in engineering. He is the son of Tracie Bricker and the late Chris Bricker.
Queen candidate - Sydney Hoff is an active member of the cross country and track teams. Sydney is in the band, pep band, concert choir, chamber choir and show choir. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Latin Club, Art Club, SADD, Math Team, and Ocean Focus. Sydney participates in the Allen Lima Youth Leadership Council. She attends St. John Mennonite Church. Sydney is an AWANA Children's Ministry Leader for 3rd and 4th graders, a member of Beaverdam Bunch 4-H club, Future Shepherds 4-H goat club, and Allen County Junior Fairboard. She was also elected as the 2017 Allen County Junior Fair Princess. Sydney plans to attend Taylor University and major in Elementary Education. She is the daughter of Scott and Brigette Hoff.
King candidate - Christian Groman. He is a member of the golf and tennis teams, math club, Latin Club, Student Senate, and National Honor Society. Christian is also an Eagle Scout, swims for the Bluffton Sardines and Lima YMCA Barracudas, landscapes for Fyrwomyn's Service, and is a member of Ebenezer Mennonite Church. Christian is undecided on his choice of college and major. He is the son of Darrell Groman and Irina Groman.
Presenting the crown and tiara are Bowen Shutler, son of Chad and Wendy Shutler, and Adalyn Althaus, the daughter of Andy and Danielle Althaus.
Click here for underclassmen video
Juniors
Hannah Yost is on the soccer team, is a member of the marching band, concert band, pep band, jazz band, symphonic choir, chamber choir and Show Choir. Hannah is also a member of the Drama and Latin Clubs. Hannah attends St. John Mennonite Church, is a member of the youth group and is on the worship team. She is the daughter of Jennifer and Jason Yost.
Rhett Donaldson is a member of the Spanish Club and is the son of Carrie and Aaron Donaldson.
Sophomores
Olivia Burner is a member of the soccer, basketball and softball teams. Olivia is also a member of the Latin and Math Clubs. She is the daughter of Jennifer and Mike Burner.
Brandt Manns is a member of the football team and Latin club and attends the First Church of God. He is the son of Blake and Danielle Manns.
Freshmen
Clara Matthews is a member of the soccer team and track team. She is also a member of choir, show choir, Spanish Club and is a volunteer in Teri Steinmetz's first grade classroom. Clara is a member of the Bluffton swim team and attends Campus Life. She is the daughter of Brendon and Renee Matthews.
Simon Derstine is a member of the varsity soccer team and the track team and is also a member of the Spanish Club. Simon is the son of Matt and Jannie Derstine.
2016 king and queen
Crowning this year’s king and queen are 2016 king and queen, Gabe Denecker and Abbie Parkins.
Abbie is a freshman at Bluffton University with a double major in accounting and business administration. She will play basketball this winter.
Gabe is a freshman at the Bluffton University majoring in Elementary Education. He is employed at the university and at Chiles-Laman Funeral Home in Bluffton.
Drivers
Kayla Kindle, freshman driver: Kayla is the daughter of Dave and Nancy Kindle. She is a member of the soccer and track teams and Spanish Club. Kayla is president of the Student Senate and a class officer. Next year Kayla plans to attend college and major in nutritional sciences.
Karis Wilson, senior driver: Karis is the daughter of Kent and Colleen Wilson. She is a member of the National Honor Society, show choir, and the volleyball and track teams. Karis is vice president and Student Senate. She also is a SOS tutor at elementary school, is a member of 4-H, attends the Zion Lutheran Church, and is an STNA at Mennonite Memorial Home. Next year, Karis plans to attend college, majoring in nursing.
Ali Moser, senior driver: Ali is the daughter of Darin and Nicki Moser. She plays volleyball and plans to attend college next year.
Katie Heinze, senior driver: Katie is the daughter of Karl and Sara Heinze. She is member of the soccer team, Art Club, 4-H and Renaissance. She plans to attend school to become a veterinary technician.
Aubrey Snider, senior driver: Aubrey is the daughter of Greg and Jeni Snider. She is employed at the Bluffton Veterinary Clinic and plans to attend college to major in Veterinary Technology.
Aimee Ritter, sophomore driver: Aimee is the daughter of Steve and Missy Ritter. She plays volleyball and softball and is involved in Spanish Club, SADD and the Gold Star 4-H Club. She plans to attend Ohio State University or Miami University and major in business.
Jared Meyer, junior driver: Jared is the son of Ron and Tobi Meyer. Jared attends Apollo Career Center for Automated Manufacturing Technology.
PHOTOS OF SENIORS -
Front from left - Allison Wise, Leah Conley, Sydney Hoff.
Back from left - Dakota Bricker, Kaleb Jefferson, Christian Groman.
PHOTOS OF UNDERCLASSMEN -
from left to right, freshmen, sophomores, juniors
Front - Clara Matthews, Oliver Burner, Hannah Yost.
Back - Simon Derstine, Brandt Manns, Rhett Donaldson.
DRIVERS -
Bottom from left - Kayla Kindle, Ali Moser.
Top from left - Katie Heinze, Aubrey Snider, Karis Wilson, Aimee Ritter.
Absent from photo- Jared Meyer.
Stories Posted This Week
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Friday, June 12, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, June 12
- Blanchard River Watershed Partnership hosts 5K trail run on July 25
- Beaverdam to begin water treatment plant repairs
- Save the date: Declaration of Independence reading, July 8
- Bluffton Police answer 630 calls for service in May 2026
- Great wealth disparity and our eroding democracy
Thursday, June 11, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, June 11
- Splitting headache: Fasting and migraines
- Pamela Ann Bricker was a social worker
- Bluffton Community Garage Sales, June 18-19-20
- Open and improved Elm St. segment
- Ultimate car seat guide recommended by Bluffton police
- Senior Center's June community meal shifts to summer schedule
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
- Local students on ONU's Spring 2026 Dean's List
- Sardines swamp Ada Gators in opening swim meet
- NWS heat advisory for June 10
- Agenda for June 11 Orange Twp Trustees meeting
- Public meetings schedule for Village of Bluffton, June 10-29
- Local teen documents Ohio sightings of steam locomotive Big Boy
- Open House at remodeled Bluffton EMS station
- Unforgettable: Marvel Stratton Hilty
- Award-winning author Mindy McGinnis speaks at Bluffton Public Library
- Bus trips with Debbie announced by Senior Center