Ellie Hays is crowned 2026 Duchess of Wellington. (Photo by Tanner Ford)

Sumner Newscow report — Ellie Hays is the new 2026 Wellington Duchess.

Hays was crowned at halftime of the Wellington-El Dorado football game. She was escorted by Solomon Ledesma. The other Duchess candidates were: Evie Ewing, Kierstyn Gregory, Addy Wilson, and Dru Zeka. The child attendants were Canyon Djurovic and Harly Rae Bannister.

The 2026 homecoming court. (Photo by Katie Ford)

Hays is the daughter of Kyle and Mytzi Hays and Alyssa and Zlatko Djurovic. She is the granddaughter of Darren and Lisa Vargas, James and Carrie Hays, Hal and Bena Townsend, and Phillip and Lupe Vaughan. Ellie has been involved in BPA, SCCDAT, tennis and cheer for four years. She has been a member of the National Honor Society for three. She is also involved with leadership and powerlifting for two years.

She is a Junior Lions Club award recipient nd has received leadership awards for cheer for two years. Hays is working as a CNA for two years at Wellington Health and Rehab and Spring View Manor. Her future plans include attending KU Tech to become an ultrasound technician.

The other escorts were Liam Swingle for Ewing, Kaiden Travino for Gregory, Sawyer Richmond for Wilson, and Boston Lawrence for Zeka.

The homecoming court was inside at the Wellington High School Library.

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