By Ella Franzman – Editor-In-Chief 

The Jonathan Law Sports Booster Club has been up and running since 2016. 

The Booster Club has supported all 23 teams at Law in many different ways, including starting the Law Nation program, updating the trophy case, different presentations and the new sound system in the weight room. They have also given out at least one grant to 19 out of those 23 teams. 

“The Booster Club has helped in raising school spirit at Law and the club helps to support the needs of our Athletic teams where there may be a budget shortfall,” Vice President Michelle Merchant said. “The Booster Club helps provide resources to enhance the student athletes’ experiences at Law.”

Last year the Booster Club gave out its most money since being established. They granted about $13,500 which included a brand new vault for the gymnastics team, swim caps for the girls swim team, entry fees for the New Balance National Outdoor track meet, and pitching mats and tees for the softball team. 

“It is so important for every single athletic family to join the Booster Club, it costs next to nothing and everything they do gets poured back into our kids’ lives,” head softball coach Mrs. Blude said. “It is no coincidence that since our Booster Club started in 2016, our sports programs have flourished.” 

This past June the softball team advanced to the Class L State Championship game for the first time since 1980. The Booster Club provided two fan buses to the game at UConn and breakfast for the team. 

“It’s very exciting for us to be able to help the teams in so many ways. The Law Nation program, in particular, is something I’m really proud of and I truly think has boosted student attendance at games,” President Sherri Franzman said. “Providing fan buses to big, championship away games also helps to ensure our athletes are supported by their peers.”

The Booster Club also funds Law’s Student-Athletes of the Month by providing gift cards to the students that are awarded that honor. 

“I am always so proud that the Booster Club awards scholarships to our seniors each year,” Merchant said. “A lot of volunteering and funds from the community help to make this possible.” 

One of the Booster Club’s annual contributions to the Law athletes is to pay for all the seniors to attend the Senior Sports Banquet and they offer up to five $750 scholarships to graduating seniors. 

“One of my favorite parts of being the Booster Club President is handing out the scholarships to the seniors in May,” Franzman said. “I love reading the applications and learning about the amazing accomplishments of our student athletes.” 

Just within the last two months the Booster Club has already approved five grants. This includes, a coaching clinic for softball, different equipment for girls soccer, travel bags for the wrestling team, a new shooting machine for girls and boys basketball and a pitching machine for baseball. 

“They recently awarded our program and the girls basketball programs with a new shooting machine that will continue to aid in the development of our players for many years to come,” head boys basketball coach Jamie Anderson said. “If we weren’t recipients of this funding our programs would’ve been forced to seek external donors and continuous fundraising which may have taken the entire season.”

The Booster Club raises 100% of the funds used for these grant requests mostly through concession and apparel sales but also through donations from the community and membership dues paid by members of the club.

“In my past two years as Co-Treasurer, I have seen firsthand the support provided to our school’s athletic teams,” Co-Treasurer Dawn Black said. “Programs like Law Nation, concessions and apparel are among the many that the club organizes to raise funds and engage the JLHS community and beyond.”

The Booster Club plans to continue to work with the coaches and Athletic Director Mr. Drew to help support the athletic programs at Jonathan Law. 

“I’m happy we are able to provide the equipment that teams need in order to practice and compete at the next level,” Franzman said. “I’m proud that we have been able to raise substantial funds over the years to fulfill these requests made by the coaches.”