Wildcat football. Photo by Jeff Bargas.
Are you a member of the Wildcat Club? Consider this your gold-plated, hand-engraved invitation, says Lake Highlands High School Athletic Coordinator and Head Football Coach Lonnie Jordan. Whether you are the dad of a senior football star, mom of a peewee slugger, an empty-nester (like me) or you’ve never had kids in LH schools (and don’t intend to), Jordan says joining the athletic booster club is a great way to support LHHS and all the feeder schools and students within them.
The mission of the Wildcat Club is to assist LHHS student athletes and coaches, to increase adult/parent involvement and support of the high school and to improve our community through the athletic programs of LHHS, LHFC, LHJH and Forest Meadow Junior High.
“That’s probably the biggest misconception,” says Lori Toungate, current president of the club with her husband, Jay. “People think their donation and the money we raise goes just to LHHS athletics – or even just to Wildcat football. We support boys’ and girls’ athletics throughout the community including swimming, golf, tennis, baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, cross country, gymnastics, track, volleyball and wrestling.”
“We have seen how the support of the coaches, parents and the community have helped our diverse group of student athletes grow as individuals and team players,” continues Toungate. “With the new multi-sports facility, the coaching staff’s enthusiasm and continued community support of the Wildcat Club, we’re excited to see increased success for all our sports programs.”
Last year alone, the Wildcat Club purchased more than $80,000 worth of uniforms, equipment, team apparel, technology, training aids, coaching tools and facility enhancements to keep LH competitive.
“When you walk up to the LH softball field, the first thing you notice is the awesome windscreen banner in centerfield with the word ‘Wildcats’,” says Kelly Baker, LHHS softball coach. “No other field in RISD has this type of windscreen. This addition sets LH apart and creates a collegiate inspired facility for your Wildcat softball team. I always say, ‘If you look good, you will play good,’ and that is exactly how the LH softball field looks – like a place for champions to play.”
The Wildcat Club purchased sideline gym chairs with the Wildcat logo for use by wrestling, volleyball and basketball, and bags for the golf team. Men’s soccer received stadium jackets since they play in frigid weather and backpacks were purchased for women’s basketball and volleyball players. The list is a long one.
Toungate encourages LH families to check the Wildcat Club website for student camps, parent parties and other events designed to help Wildcat families get to know each other and feel a part of Wildcat athletics. Even fundraisers like the June 13 Cat Classic Golf Tournament, she says, are fun ways to bring the neighborhood together.
The entire LH community is invited to attend the Annual Red White Game on Saturday, May 20th. Pre-game festivities, including the announcement of graduating seniors and their schools, occur at 1:30 p.m. and kickoff is at 2. The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands will host their annual Hot Dog Cookout on the field after the game, so bring your camera. That’s the best chance for a photo with your child and his favorite player, cheerleader, band member, Bell Boy or Highlandette.
All athletic schedules and rosters are viewable on the Wildcat Club website, including the 2017 football schedule here, and you can follow them on Twitter and Facebook. Our first scrimmage is at Wildcat Ram Stadium against McKinney Boyd on August 25th at 7 p.m. Our first official home game – complete with All Sports Programs – is September 1st at 7:30 p.m. against Mesquite High. If you are not a season ticket holder, new seats may be purchased Tuesday, May 2nd from 6-8 p.m. in the LHHS library for $35 each (5 games) – but don’t wait. By the time those All Sports Programs are printed, season tickets are likely to be long gone.
To join Wildcat Club, you may pay online here. Memberships start at $25. Go Cats!
