Ten contestants will be competing for the 2025 Sons of Erin colleen. The colleen and her court will be announced at the Sons of Erin Colleen Ball on Feb. 7 at the Tekoa Country Club in Westfield.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
WESTFIELD — Contestants for the Sons of Erin Colleen Contest gathered on the morning of Jan. 19 to have their photos taken, get to know each other, and learn about all the responsibilities of the colleen and her court, including the upcoming schedule of events.
The breakfast meet-and-greet at the Sons of Erin on William Street in Westfield is the first step before one of them is chosen as the colleen and four others as members of her court at the 42nd annual Sons of Erin Colleen Ball on Friday, Feb. 7, at Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Rd.
Tracy Oleksak, who serves on the Colleen Committee and is herself a former member of the court, said as always, this year’s 10 contestants are a well-rounded group of young women.
“We are excited to have such a well-rounded representation of our geographic area this year. In previous years, the majority of our contestants attended Westfield High School. This year we have equal representation from Westfield High, St. Mary’s and Southwick Regional,” Oleksak said.
The 2025 contestants are Jillian Cierra Battles, 17, of Westfield, a senior at Westfield High School; Jaiden Lynn Caban, 18, of Westfield, a senior at Westfield High School; McKenna Kathryn Clark, 17, of Southwick, a senior at Southwick Regional High School; Emmerson Lynn Collins, 17, of Westfield, a senior at St. Mary’s High School; Kalee Danielle Conner, 17, of Chester, a senior at Westfield High School; Brena Nichole Hawley, 17, of Southwick, a senior at Southwick Regional High School; Madison Maire LeClair, 17, of Westfield, a senior at Westfield High School; Alexandria Marie Monczka, 20, of Southwick, a sophomore at Westfield State University; Isabella Louise Proietti, 17, of Southwick, a senior at Southwick Regional High School; and Kaitlin Elizabeth Roxo, 17, of Westfield, a junior at St. Mary’s High School.
The judging process takes place over two days. Last year, Oleksak said the committee works very hard to have an unbiased three-person judging panel, in order to give all of the contestants a fair shot at the crown. Judges cannot live or work in Westfield, they cannot be a member of the Sons of Erin, and must not know any of the contestants.
On Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. the contestants will meet with the judges for their interview and first round of judging based on personality and intellect, each making up 25% of their scores. Judges will know them only by their numbers, and contestants will answer a series of questions unknown to anyone beforehand.
On Feb. 7 at the Colleen Ball, contestants will be introduced by name and walk the runway, where they will be judged on their poise and appearance, making up another 25% each of their scores. The judges’ selection of a colleen and her court will be announced at the ball.
The deadline to purchase tickets for the Colleen Ball was Monday, Jan. 27.
Cocktail hour begins at the Tekoa Country Club at 5 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m., and the colleen events to start immediately afterward. Music and dancing will follow. Entertainment will be provided by The Bards.
The colleen and her court will represent Westfield during the “Green Season” events leading up to the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade on March 23, where they will ride on the Sons of Erin float.
