Life has been good for Jillian Weekley in her first month of her junior year at Montgomery County High School.

First, she is helping the school’s softball team get off to its best start in school history. On Sept. 26, she got a big honor – she was named the MCHS Homecoming Queen of 2025.

Weekley received her crown from last year’s queen, Rebecca Schulze, who is now a student at St. Charles Community College, during a coronation at halftime of MCHS’ football game against Van-Far on Sept. 26. She was escorted by her junior classmate, Lafe McCurdy.

“It’s pretty cool,” Weekley said. “I wasn’t expecting to win, so I was very surprised and very excited.”

Weekley drew the loudest applause out of the candidates when she was introduced. The applause got loud again when her name was called as the winner of the queen contest.

“I got overwhelmed,” Weekley said. “I felt like everybody was screaming at me. I wasn’t sure if they were going to say the judges name or my name, so it’s pretty cool.”

Candidates were chosen by the student body to represent each class – freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. There is also a Wildcat candidate who is chosen on the court.

Weekley was part of a homecoming court that included freshman Paislee Clark, sophomore Kenley Wessel and seniors Josy Eversmeyer and Ann Rose (Wildcat candidate). Weekley said she enjoyed being in this year’s court.

“I think it’s so fun,” she said. “I love being with Kenley. We play softball together. Kenley is like one of my best friends, so I liked to be able to do it with her.”

The other escorts were freshman Hensley Miller, sophomore Marshall Bishop and seniors Mac Farrar and Ashton Johnson. All of them played for the football team. Frieda Schulze and Deacon Sheets were the crownbearers.

MCHS’ homecoming theme this year was “A Drive Through The Decades.” Students dressed up for four days from Sept. 23-27. On Sept. 25, the school celebrated Throwback Thursday in which each class had to dress up in a decade it was selected for. For example, the juniors had to dress up in 1980s clothes.

Weekley said the best part of homecoming is having school spirit.

“I think it’s really special because we don’t have a dance, so I think everybody really treasures the homecoming court and everything,” Weekley said.

Weekley is helping the MCHS softball team enjoy an outstanding season. The Wildcats are 22-3  with five regular season games left, matching last year's win total.

Weekley has been a valuable part of the team’s success as she is hitting .418 with 19 RBIs.

“It’s been a great year,” said Weekley, who was a second-team all-Eastern Missouri Conference performer last year. “Our softball team is doing amazing. We had a great win over North Callaway. I think that really boosted everybody’s spirits.”

Weekley became the first non-senior to be named homecoming queen since 2020, when Maddie Wisdom was crowned in her sophomore year. She said she is looking forward to crowning the homecoming queen next year, when she returns for her senior year at MCHS.

“I think it’s going to be cool because I think it’s going to be special getting to crown somebody else in my class or somebody younger,” Weekley said. “I think it’s going to be fun.”

Weekley is also a member of the MCHS FFA chapter. She is a reporter this year, making it the first time she is an officer of the chapter.