Jayhawk Courtwarming queen and king receive crowns in Friday coronation ceremony

Jayhawk-Linn High School's 2025 Courtwarming queen Gracee Willard and king Jeremy Willard were crowned in a ceremony following Friday's boys basketball game against Marmaton Valley. Crown bearers for the event were Guinevere Spencer and Tucker McCarty.

Text and photos by Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.com

Jayhawk-Linn High School seniors Gracee Willard and Jeremy Willard were named 2025 Courtwarming queen and king in a ceremony on Friday, Feb. 21. Gracee is the daughter of Jessy and Kadey Willard, and Jeremy is the son of Jennifer and Jeremy Willard.

Friday's selection was icing on the top of the cake that February has been for the cousins. Less than a week before the crowning on Feb. 15, Gracee qualified for the girls Class 3A state wrestling tournament. The day after the coronation, Jeremy also qualified for the boys state competition. Tara Weller, one of the queen candidates, also qualified for state girls wrestling.

Members of the royal court include, from left, Tara Weller, Hunter Bowman, Gracee Willard, Jeremy Willard, Cierra Lindsey, Brody Clark, and crown bearers Guinevere Spencer and Tucker McCarty.

Cierra Lindsey and escort Brody Clark are introduced to the audience before the queen and king winners were announced.

Candidates Tara Weller and escort Hunter Bowman are introduced.

Correction: In the original post, Tara Weller's name was misspelled. We regret the error.