When looking at high schools in the region, Bridgeport is closer to the bottom of the list than the top when it comes to the age of their educational facility. When it comes to the quality of their athletic facilities, they’re much closer to the top.

 

It did not happen by accident. And most already know that because the past few decades have witnessed millions spent on the facilities, often with organized efforts.

 

The turf project, the installation of the all-weather track, the BHS baseball and concession stand facility, major upgrades to the Wayne Jamison Field press box and more are well into the seven figures.

 

As noted, those large projects usually begin with a grassroots effort that carries the project to the finish line. Most of those projects, as well as dozens of others through the years that are on a smaller scale, either get an assist or are done completely by a group that has been in place for as long as most can remember – the Bridgeport High School All Sports Boosters.

 

Those major projects all received financial assistance from the boosters. If you live in Bridgeport, you have probably heard of them. If you have had children or loved ones involved in athletics you may have even been a member.

 

Right now, they are about 130 strong on the membership front. Typically, the majority of those involved do so at the time their children are involved. That is certainly a good thing. And we’ll get back to membership in a bit.

 

The first thing you need to understand is the Boosters do more than man the concession stands. They do more than assist with paying for some of the manpower needed to make sports functions take place at ball games. In fact, they do a whole lot that comes with a big price tag attached.

 

The 2023-24 list of projects (beyond the time allotted for things above and other expenses through the year) and expenditures is extensive. The biggest is a donation of $20,000 for an ongoing weight room project located inside of BHS.

 

While that is the biggest, there are several more. The boosters provided $5,000 to help with ongoing renovation of locker rooms at the Wayne Jamison Field complex often used by visiting football teams and by the Bridgeport Middle School football team.

 

Although it has not arrived, delivery is expected on a $2,300 custom made media backdrop for collegiate signings that take place, usually in the BHS library. It should arrive this month.

 

Already in use is a set of wrestling scales for the wrestling program. It came at a cost of $850.

 

The boosters also have invested $4,000 for a commercial grade refrigerator and freezer for the Jamison Field concession stand. The refrigerator is already there, and the freezer will soon be added.

 

“The boosters have been doing things like this for a long, long time,” said current Boosters President Sam Olivio, who is in his fourth year as president and 11^th year with the Boosters. “The role changes, but it’s always directed at our student-athletes.”

 

Student-athletes in the BHS Boosters’ case are not just a term of hyperbole. Last year, the group awarded $31,000 in scholarships to BHS senior athletes.

 

While I do not think the community takes the work of the Boosters for granted, perhaps getting a new insider’s perspective to it from their previous outside experience would be a good thing. Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Tom Sears, who served as the AD at South Harrison last year, said BHS is fortunate to have the program have such heavy investment from a larger community.

 

“One of the great benefits of why Bridgeport High School athletics operates the way that it does is because of the support organization in place in the form of their boosters,” said Sears. “You have individuals that take so much time out of their own personal lives to make sure the student-athletes have what they need.

 

“There are so many components to a successful sports program at any level,” Sears continued. “There is no doubt one of the sometimes-overlooked reasons you see the hallway trophy cases overflowing is due to support organizations like the Bridgeport All Sports Boosters.”

 

Olivio is attempting to bring more awareness to what the group is doing and is doing so for a few reasons, none of which is to toot his or anyone else’s horn. First is that raising funds through the boosters is more imperative now than it has ever been.

 

“State dollars on the education front, dollars on any front for education, are becoming tighter and tighter,” said Olivio. “If they have to make a choice between cutting education or cutting extracurricular activities, the cut is coming to extracurricular activities. I can’t say if that’s happening, but I think it will and the need if it happens will be great, and the need will be immediate. If that funding falters, you better be ready for it.”

 

Right now, the Boosters are in solid shape for needs. The problem will be if there are needs as the result of the aforementioned possible funding cut or a drop in numbers of those involved with the Boosters.

 

“We raise our dollars through fundraising with the annual spaghetti dinner, and all the other fundraising activities we do at the school such as the advertising signs you see around the school that are handled by Tom Mellott, who heads up the Bridgeport Middle School boosters and has forever. The concession stand is a big fundraiser for us, and we have essentially turned that into a business,” said Olivio. “We do very well with the concession stand.”

 

And they do well even when you consider Bridgeport’s track and field handle concessions for their events to fund programs. The middle school does as well, and they often partner on projects to make things work.

 

“I don’t want anyone to think they owe us, or past groups did, a thank you, but we do hope people will take part in our fundraisers. We’re having a spring one for the first time in a long time this year,” said Olivio.

 

It is actually April 14. And they will be utilizing a familiar resource in Mellott and another community and sports friendly donor in David Alvarez. On that Sunday, there will be a car wash at the Eastpointe Auto Spa (with a rain date of Sunday, April 21).

 

Alvarez owns the facility. Mellott manages it. And for $15, you will get your choice of utilizing any of the three bays. Once done, you will exit where booster members and student-athletes will be shammy drying your vehicle and doing some tire detailing.

 

“David Alvarez is giving us 100 percent of the money we make that day,” said Olivio. “That is extremely generous and creates an opportunity to raise a lot of money for current and future projects.”

 

Those future projects are the second reason Olivio is talking about the booster. It’s highly likely Olivio will not be involved with many of them. His hope is that he can find community members to not only join but take on the roles in the leadership positions – such as president and treasurer, a position held by Julie Love.

 

There will be more on that in the future, perhaps in this blog, on Connect-Bridgeport.