Dan@BcTelegraph.com
Ryder Thomas and Alyssa Sanford were crowned 2026 Keystone Heights High School homecoming king and queen during the school’s Pow Wow pep rally Thursday, October 8, capping an evening that featured six senior couples and the return of last year’s royalty.
Thomas is the son of Chris and Jessica Thomas. He is captain of the varsity football and soccer teams, competes in cross-country and track, and is president of the school’s Athletic Leadership Council. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Technical Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and Students for Christ, and was selected to serve on the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Student-Athlete Committee. After graduation, he plans to keep kicking in college while majoring in business.
Sanford is the daughter of Josh and Sky Sanford of Keystone Heights. She has cheered on the varsity squad for five years and is its captain, and she joined the cross-country team this year. She is a member of the Senior Girls Club. She plans to earn a bachelor’s degree, become a pediatric exercise physiologist and cheer in college.
The crowning ceremony opened with the 2025 king and queen, Noah Jaramillo and Kayle Buchanan.
Jaramillo is studying construction management and business at Santa Fe College while working. He hopes to earn his general contractor’s license. Buchanan listed her favorite KHHS memories as Student Council with her best friends, winning the homecoming hallway and skit design contests, and beating her sister Tayler during homecoming week.
Buchanan had advice for this year’s court: “Always be yourself and make every memory count. High school goes by quickly, and you really will miss it someday. Enjoy the little moments and appreciate the people who make your days special.”
The rest of the 2026 senior court:
Jake Markham and Kaylee Park — Markham, the son of Cody and Natalie Markham of Theressa, is president of his 4-H club, an FFA member and part of the 2025 state champion livestock judging team. He has won grand champion steer and steer showman honors for the past two years. At the 2026 Clay County Fair, he also won champion junior and senior heifer. He plans to attend college or go into the workforce. Park, the daughter of Tommy and Mindy Park of Keystone Heights, cheers for the varsity squad and NFE, plays soccer and runs track. She was a state contender in girls weightlifting in 2026 and plans to study radiology.
RJ Rosario and Kaeleigh Wheeler — Rosario, the son of Suzy and Ricardo Rosario, is involved in weightlifting, track, the Athletic Leadership Council and FFA. He plans to attend trade school for HVAC. Wheeler, the daughter of Ronnie Wheeler and stepdaughter of Christina Wheeler, is a varsity cheerleader and HOSA member who works at North Florida Christian Camp. She plans to become a pediatric nurse.
Rigby Morford — The daughter of Isaac and Carey Morford of Keystone Heights, Morford is varsity basketball captain, Student Council vice president, and secretary of the Athletic Leadership Council and the Senior Girls Club. She is pursuing an AICE diploma and plans to study communications and film.
Dominick Rodgers — The son of Scottie and Daphne Johnson, Rodgers takes part in varsity cheer, color guard, dance and Drama Club. He played Gomez Addams in last year’s production. He hopes to become a costume and fashion designer for theater, with an eye on Broadway.
Trenton Noble and Kayden Huntley — Noble, known to classmates as “Pedro,” is the son of former Keystone Heights assistant football coach Sid Noble and Melisa Noble. He runs cross-country, plays varsity soccer and hopes to play soccer in college. Huntley, the daughter of George and Kelly Huntley of Keystone Heights, plays varsity soccer, cheers, and serves on Student Council and the Athletic Leadership Council. She plans to become an esthetician.
The KHHS Marching Band performed during the program. A planned fireworks display was canceled due to rain.
