The Red Oak community is invited to celebrate the start of the school year and fall sports at TigerPalooza this Monday, August 17, at Russ Benda Field

The Red Oak community is invited to celebrate the start of the school year and fall sports at TigerPalooza this Monday, August 17, at Russ Benda Field

 

 

The Red Oak community is invited to celebrate the start of the school year and fall sports at TigerPalooza this Monday, August 17, at Russ Benda Field. The evening features an open house for the newly renovated locker room followed by a fun community pep rally — and a big thank-you to the dozens of sponsors who made the project possible.

 

Event Details

Locker Room Tours: Begin around 6:00 p.m. Community members are welcome to walk through the updated space, see the sponsor recognition on the lockers and walls, and get a first look before the regular season begins.

Tiger Palooza Pep Rally: Starts at 7:00 p.m. Athletic Director Mark Erickson will kick things off, followed by the athletic and music boosters, the band, and introductions of all fall sports teams — players and coaches. Cheerleaders will put the athletes through some lighthearted and usually funny activities. It’s a relaxed, family-friendly chance to put names with faces and cheer on the Tigers.

Admission: Free. No admission fee.

What to Bring: Gatorade, Propel, water, or other sports drinks are encouraged. These will be distributed among the fall teams to help with hydration throughout the season. Please do not bring pop — coaches prefer the athletes stick to better hydration options.

Weather note: The event is planned for the football field, weather permitting. A chance of rain is in the forecast; organizers will adjust if needed.

Shop Local All Day

Tiger Palooza has long been more than just the evening pep rally. Throughout the day, many local businesses offer specials and discounts as part of a “Shop Local” push. Community members are encouraged to support Red Oak and area merchants during the day, then head to Russ Menda Field in the evening to wrap up the celebration.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Sponsors & Community

The biggest story of the summer for Red Oak athletics may be the complete transformation of the locker room — and it would not have happened without extraordinary community support.

Head Coach Allen Gray and Offensive Coordinator Carter Bruce, along with the coaching staff, spent countless hours this summer renovating the space. What began as a modest project quickly grew thanks to an overwhelming response from local supporters.

Approximately 50 to 60 sponsors stepped up with contributions of various sizes. Sponsor spots for the lockers sold out in less than 24 hours. Facebook posts and word of mouth generated a flood of interest — at one point Bruce was at a track meet texting that his phone would not stop with donation notifications.

“The community has been and was fantastic,” Bruce said. “We really didn’t have to worry about trying to go out and ask anybody.

The Athletic Booster Club matched funds that had already been raised, allowing the coaches to expand the project well beyond the original scope. The school administration, including Athletic Director Mark Erickson and Superintendent Ron Lorenz, supported the effort from the beginning.

Special recognition goes to Scott Bruce and his crew. When the coaches needed help with the ceiling, walls, and other construction work, Bruce sent workers down repeatedly. The coaches noted they are “probably not the best with power tools,” and the professional help made a critical difference. Many phone calls and hours of labor later, the room looks completely different.

The coaches also thanked their wives for the patience and support while the project consumed hundreds of hours over the summer.

From Concrete to a True Locker Room

Previously the space featured concrete walls, a concrete floor, no ceiling, and simple benches with hooks. Players had little personal space.

Today the locker room includes:

• Turf flooring

• Individual lockers for every athlete

• Finished walls and a tin ceiling

• A television for film study at halftime

• Athletic training tables for proper care of athletes

• A new refrigerator for sports drinks

• Signage and branding that builds Tiger pride

Community members who cannot attend Monday can look for a video tour that coaches said will be recorded and shared on Facebook.

Tiger Palooza is a chance to celebrate the Tigers, support local athletes, thank the generous sponsors who transformed the locker room, and kick off another fall of Red Oak sports the right way. Bring a case of sports drinks if you can, leave the pop at home, and join the fun at Russ Benda Field.

Locker room tours begin approximately 6:00 p.m. • Pep rally at 7:00 p.m. • Monday, August 17 • Russ Benda Field