Red Caps meet bus promise

A motorist traveling on Highway 14 asked this newspaper why there was so much weekend traffic on the highway. Thankfully the traffic wasn’t being diverted from another road because of an accident or natural disaster. The traffic was caused by the annual youth basketball tournament held in the Superior school gyms and sponsored by the Red Caps.

That answer led to another question, “Who are the Red Caps and what do they do?”

Red Caps is the name of the Superior School Athletics Booster organization. Organized more than 60 years ago by the Superior Chamber of Commerce, it is now an independent organization.

With another successful Red Caps Youth Basketball Tournament finished, it is fitting to summarize what the expenditures from the Red Caps have accomplished for Superior Junior and Senior High Schools.

This year will mark the completion of the group’s $50,000 pledge that goes to the purchase of the activity bus. This amount was paid over the course of three years even though the pledge was promised to be paid over five years. In the last year, the Red Caps purchased a new commercial grade tent for use by the expanding track and field program. This tent replaces a long line of stopgap tents that had provided exposure protection for the student-athletes when the team was smaller in number.

Another benefit the Red Caps continue to provide to the student-athlete, are funds for the purchase or making of meals and snacks for the varsity sports teams following away competitions. This year the Red Caps implemented the same provision for the junior high sports teams as well. This benefit allows the participants to receive timely and nutritious snacks and meals upon completion of events prior to the bus ride home which is often late at night.

These are but three examples of what the booster organization does for the Superior Wildcats. Funds for the Red Caps organization come from sporting event advertising, the annual Red Caps Golf tournament, the annual youth basketball tournament, and membership dues. All four facets of funding are an integral part of the continued positive investment in the youth of the Superior Schools.