The Wildcat baseball team celebrates their big playoff win
Just as today’s teachers strive to facilitate the growth of the “whole child,” the Lake Highlands Wildcat Club is on a mission to support student athletes and coaches in the entire LH community. From the seventh grade teams, where anyone who shows up for tryouts is given a uniform, to the talented athletes playing under Friday night lights, the Wildcat Club raises money for equipment, uniforms and other items to give neighborhood students a better chance at success, both on and off the field. Last year they gave $28,000 in college scholarships to LHHS graduates.
“I think many people living in Lake Highlands aren’t aware of the work the Wildcat Club does supporting all the different sports,” said Susan Brooks, whose son Jeffrey plays soccer for the Cats. Each of the 14 LH sports receives funds to buy everything from basketballs to a shade cover over the tennis court viewing bleachers. “Both junior highs were given ice machines for their training rooms because they couldn’t get to ice in the cafeteria during after-school practices,” Susan told me. “The Texas heat and occasional injuries made access to ice a high priority. The Wildcat Club made it happen.”
“Our schools are the heart of our community,” said Byron McCoy, who serves as president of the Wildcat Club with his wife, Deah. “Keeping these schools strong helps us maintain our sense of community and supports our property values.” McCoy is making a push to invite every resident of LH to join the Club. “Even if your kids graduated 20 years ago from LHHS or your kids (or grandkids) are going to be Wildcats in the future, supporting the Wildcat Club is a good investment in our community.”
“The Wildcat Club does so many great things in advancing Lake Highlands athletics,” said Travis Crawford, who played football for the Cats before turning in his cleats to study business as an Aggie, “from buying new equipment to providing scholarship opportunities. One thing that is often overlooked is the intangible support the Wildcat Club garners for our athletic programs. Although only 11 players appear out on the field at a time, it is evident that the entire Lake Highlands community is fighting together with us. From a player’s perspective, it gives you so much more to play for when you know the entire Lake Highlands community is behind you.”
“I know from experience that LH has a great training room, and there’s no telling how much longer my recovery time would have been from one injury to the next without the type of equipment we had there,” said Ricky Zorn, who plays football at Harvard after graduating from LHHS last year. “From a football equipment standpoint, I know that our helmets and shoulder pads were as advanced as they get, and that makes all of the players on the field safer. And I believe the players, coaches and fans all appreciated us having the best looking jerseys on the field (with the exception of the white game jerseys with the white numbers that [press box announcer] Bob Johnston could never see!)”
Since 1985, the Wildcat Club has spent $1,000,000 on LH-area athletics. There are currently more than 900 student athletes all over LH competing in baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, gymnastics, power-lifting, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball and wrestling.
Recently, the Dallas Morning News did a story on athletic booster clubs, and they found that LH ranked high in the metroplex, only trailing Highland Park on what it raises and distributes. “RISD does a great job providing the basics,” McCoy said, but LH keeps the participation fees charged to athletes low to encourage participation by students, regardless of financial status. LH traditionally ranks at the top of our district in overall sports performance.
How can you help the Wildcat Club?
- Join. You can become a member by returning this form with your dues. Memberships start at $25, and all members will be listed in the All Sports Program sold at athletic events.
- Eat. If you buy groceries from Tom Thumb, you can link your Reward Card to the Wildcat Club Good Neighbor Program. Visit the Customer Service desk and add #2453 to the list of charities receiving a kickback from Tom Thumb.
- Donate. You can make a donation in any amount via the Wildcat Club website.
- Shop. Profits on your purchases of Wildcat spirit gear online or at The Clawset shop under the homeside bleachers go directly to the Wildcat Club.
- Attend. Come out and cheer at athletic events. You’ll have a great time and the kids will feel the love.
