Bruce Karnick

Bruce Karnick

Bruce Karnick

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Hastings High School students packed the gym Friday afternoon for a Homecoming Pep Fest that mixed school spirit, competition, recognition and a little bit of chaos as students wrapped up a week of Homecoming activities.
Senior student council officers opened the event, welcoming students to the 2026 pep fest before an afternoon that included the introduction of the Homecoming Court, coronation, updates from fall activities, student competitions, the traditional senior football dance and the presentation of the Raider Cup.
Before the Homecoming festivities took over the gym, Hastings High School and the Hastings Rotary Club used the gathering to recognize the first Rotary Student of the Month of the school year.
Assistant Principal Mindy Tavenier joined Ashley Wood of the Hastings Rotary Club to make the presentation.
“On behalf of the Hastings Rotary Club and Hastings High School, we are here today to recognize a senior for Hastings Rotary Student of the Month,” Tavenier said.
The program will recognize eight Hastings High School seniors during the school year. Tavenier said the Rotary Club selects students who represent the organization’s “service above self” motto while helping build relationships between students, staff, families, school administration and Rotary.
The September recipient, Isabella Stagno, was nominated by teachers Morrison and Warren.
Their nomination described Stagno as a student who has been part of their advisory throughout high school and consistently goes beyond what is expected.
“She exemplifies leadership by connecting with her fellow advisory peers, jumping headfirst into all activities, and engaging with her school community,” Tavenier read.
Stagno has been involved in marching band, show choir, pep band, school plays and National Honor Society while maintaining a rigorous academic schedule.
“Her kindness, determination, and grit are valuable to herself and everyone around her,” Tavenier said before Stagno was called forward to applause from the students.
Attention then shifted to one of the main events of the afternoon, the presentation of the 2026 Homecoming Court.
The five male court members were David Bauer, Thomas Peterson, Carter Hrncir, Vance Harper and Logan Grant. The five female court members were Claire Montgomery, Rowan Hailey, Siena Sanchez, Ellory Kurtz and Calia Story.
Rather than simply announcing names, student council members shared some of the activities, interests and people who have influenced each member of the court.
Bauer is involved in golf and Team Minnesota golf and was introduced as “the face of Raider Nation.” His father, Jeff Bauer, was listed as his person of influence.
“I chose him because he's a good person to look up to, because he works hard, and he's not very good at putting,” Bauer said.
Peterson is involved in basketball, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Link Crew. He selected his friend Thomas Fox as his person of influence.
“I chose Thomas because he's an amazing friend, and he's taught me many valuable lessons that stick with me even today,” Peterson said. “He's had a great influence on me, and I cannot ask for a better friend.”
Hrncir is involved in Crochet Club, Feminism Club, Dungeons and Dragons Club, wind ensemble and Winter Pep Band. His older sister, Molly, was his person of influence.
Hrncir credited his sister with teaching him not to be afraid to stand out while being himself, along with the equally important lesson of never taking the last slice of pizza.
“She has always been there for me, whether as a voice to listen to my rants or as a person I can always rely on to waste hours playing games with,” Hrncir said. “She has always been a person I can joke around with, and has been my necessary lifeline for unfiltered advice.”
Harper is involved in orchestra and is an organizer for Dungeons and Dragons Club. He selected teacher Robert Casperson as his person of influence, crediting Casperson with helping make the transition into high school easier.
“He is the first teacher I had in high school, first hour of freshman year,” Harper said. “His class made the stressful transition into a fun experience.”
Grant participates in show choir, Youth in Government and Model United Nations. His sister, Alicia Baird, was his person of influence.
“She helped raise me to become the person I am today,” Grant said.
The female court members represented another wide range of sports, activities and organizations.
Montgomery is involved in soccer, alpine skiing, dance team, student council, Link Crew, Spanish Honor Society and National Honor Society, where she serves as an officer. She selected her parents, Tom and Angela Montgomery, as her people of influence.
“I chose my parents because they are my role models in being kind to others and always working hard for my goals,” Montgomery said. “And they are always there to support me.”
Hailey is an orchestra cellist and is involved in Youth in Government, the state steering committee, Feminism Club and AVID. She also works as a writing center coach.
Hailey selected former teacher Chris Beamer as her person of influence and said one of the lessons she learned was that resilience is something earned through challenges.
“I chose Beamer because he's a great teacher, and over the years, I've grown fond of his grouchiness,” Hailey said. “He's a lot of fun to chat with in the morning, and has continued to support me throughout my high school career.”
Sanchez is a Hastings varsity soccer player who has served as a captain for the past two years. She has also been involved in Best Buddies and coaches soccer for younger players. Sanchez plans to graduate early to play Division I soccer in Colorado.
She selected her brother, Sam Sanchez, as her person of influence.
“I've always gone through my life with Sam by my side, and I've always had him to look up to,” Sanchez said.
Kurtz is involved in National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Riverside Company, Link Crew and student council. She selected Miley Pagel as her person of influence.
“I chose Miley as my person of influence because she is always the first person I go to when I need advice,” Kurtz said. “Miley is always there for me, no matter what, and is always willing to be honest with me, even if I don't like her answer.”
Story is involved in student council, National Honor Society and Best Buddies and has danced at Jan's School of Dance for 16 years. She credited her person of influence with teaching her to keep going through difficult moments.
“She has shaped me into the person I am today, and is always there for me when I need her,” Story said.
After the introductions, the court members gathered on the gym floor for coronation.
The female members were called forward first for the crowning of the Homecoming queen. The male members followed, with Bauer announced as the 2026 Hastings High School Homecoming king.
With the formal part of the coronation complete, the pep fest shifted toward games and competitions between the grade levels.
The first was “Grab the Grammy,” which worked much like musical chairs. Two students from each grade and two teachers circled Grammy props while music played. When the music stopped, competitors had to grab one, with those left empty-handed eliminated.
The sophomores eventually came away with the win.
A second competition, “Dress to Impress,” sent two volunteers from each grade level scrambling through piles of clothing. Contestants were given 45 seconds to assemble and put on an outfit before the crowd decided the winner with cheers.
That round belonged to the seniors.
Fall sports and activity captains then took over the floor to provide updates on their seasons.
Girls soccer reported a 6-4 record heading into a Saturday home game against Shakopee.
Girls tennis captains said their season was nearing its conclusion, with the final regular-season competition approaching before section play. Team members described a season filled with difficult matches but also one marked by determination.
“We've had a really good season,” one of the captains said. “We've had a lot of tough matches, but we've also gotten a lot of them, and we've just been really gritty and just had a good year.”
Girls swimming and diving reported an undefeated season and reminded students about the team’s upcoming senior night at Hastings Middle School.
Marching band drum major Trent told the crowd the band had competed three times and earned first place at each competition to that point in the season. The band was also scheduled to perform later that evening.
Cross country representatives provided their own brief update before football players drew a response from the crowd with news of their unbeaten start.
The Raiders entered the Homecoming game at 3-0, their first 3-0 start since 2018.
“We're three and zero right now,” the football representatives told the crowd before reminding students about that evening’s Homecoming game against Apple Valley.
Boys soccer and varsity bowling also provided updates before another of the afternoon’s traditional highlights arrived, the annual senior varsity football dance.
The football players’ performance gave students another chance to cheer before the competition returned with a third pep fest game, “Finish the Lyric.”
One student from each grade and one teacher listened as a portion of a song was played. When the music stopped, competitors raced to a microphone to correctly sing or say the next lyrics.
The afternoon also provided a chance to look back at several competitions and service projects held throughout Homecoming Week.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes members announced results from the annual Homecoming volleyball tournament, which had been held the previous Sunday. Participants also received recognition for costumes during the event.
Students were also reminded that FCA’s Fields of Faith event was scheduled for Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.
Another Homecoming tradition combined competition with support for the community.
More than 200 students participated in the annual girls flag football tournament Monday. Student council reported that the event raised about $200 and collected approximately 100 pounds of food for Hastings Family Service.
The tournament came down to a championship game between sophomore blue and senior white, with senior white taking the title. Members of the winning team were called to the floor during the pep fest to receive their trophy.
The Homecoming spirit competition extended into the school’s classrooms as well.
Students and teachers spent the week decorating advisory classroom doors around the Homecoming theme. Several received recognition, including doors from the Benson, Cardell, Timmerson and Willette advisories.
Timmerson’s advisory was recognized for the most creative door, while other advisories received honorable mentions before the winning advisory was announced.
That left one final award.
Throughout Homecoming Week, grade levels accumulated points through the various activities and competitions, setting up the announcement of the Raider Cup champion at the end of the pep fest.
Students were warned ahead of time that when the winning class was announced, members of that grade would be allowed to storm the gym floor to collect the trophy.
Before the announcement, student council thanked students for participating throughout the week and reminded them that Homecoming was not quite finished.
The Raiders still had the Homecoming football game that evening, and the Homecoming Dance was scheduled for Saturday from 8 to 10:30 p.m. in the Hastings High School Commons.
Then came the final drum roll.
The seniors were announced as the 2026 Raider Cup champions, giving the Class of 2027 one more reason to celebrate as Homecoming Week moved into its final events.
It was a fitting conclusion to an afternoon built around competition, recognition and Raider pride, from honoring an individual senior for service to celebrating student athletes and activities, recognizing Homecoming Court members and sending the school’s oldest students onto the gym floor with the Raider Cup.
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