District welcomes athletics booster club
The Webutuck Central School District is welcoming back a sports booster club for the first time in at least a decade to recognize varsity, junior varsity and modified athletes. The booster club was organized by district residents and is still welcoming new members.
A booster club is a nonprofit group organized and operated by parents, community members and volunteers with the goal of raising money and providing support for a district’s athletic programs.
“Our primary goal is to help our student-athletes feel recognized for balancing sports and academics,” said Liz Agustin, booster club president. “We hope to soon sell snacks and drinks during all home games. With the profit we make, we are planning in the future to provide trophies for the athletes.”
Matt Pascale, high school principal, said Agustin approached he and Athletic Director Rob Scott in the spring about starting up a booster club. Pascale said up to 10 families attended the first meeting.
“It’s an exciting time because having a booster club will help with a number of things, not just the fundraising components of it,” said Pascale. “For a school district our size, it’s really helping encourage the student athletes, showing up and being present for them at games, getting to know them and encouraging other students not playing to get involved. It’s a wonderful way to show your support for these young student-athletes.”
Pascale added about the boosters, “I’m excited because there are numbers and they all have great ideas. They’re all enthusiastic. They’re engaged, focused and they seem to be committed to revive the organization and get more families involved and bring a positive sense of school spirit to the student body.”
The booster club had a table at the Watermelon Welcome, held at the start of the school year, to recruit new members and explain what the booster club is looking to do for the student-athletes.
“As a booster club, we plan on so much more but need to build up and look forward to the future when we will be better organized and be able to offer more,” said Agustin.