Redbank Valley Successfully Resurrects ‘Meet the Bulldogs’

Blane Gold

Blane Gold

Published August 18, 2018 4:45 am
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NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (D9Sports) — Until Friday night, it had been six years since Redbank Valley had held a “Meet the Bulldogs” night to kick off the school year.

What used to be an annual event which allowed the community to meet all of Redbank Valley’s fall athletes and band and choir members had died out in 2012.

Redbank Valley volleyball coach, Matt Darr, led the charge in bringing the annual event back to the valley.

“It’s all about recognizing our student-athletes,” Darr said. “They put so much time and effort into being athletes on top of what they do as students here at Redbank. A lot of times, parents of fall sports athletes, because of overlapping schedules, don’t get to see every team. So, this was an opportunity to get everyone together to recognize every athlete and bring the community together for an evening.”

Athletes, students, parents, and other community members had the opportunity to meet at 5:00 p.m. for a tailgate-style meal together in the cafeteria. Adults paid a suggested donation of $5.00 and all proceeds were split between the Branden Truitt and Cassie Westover families. Truitt is a 2017 graduate of Redbank Valley and Westover is a rising junior. Both are currently battling cancer.

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Darr told exploreClarion after the event that the financial support was simply something that New Bethlehem regularly does for their own in need.

“We’re a small community, and anytime someone is in need, everyone comes together,” Darr said. “This was just a chance for everyone to come together for a former student, a current student, but more importantly, friends of the Redbank Valley community.”

After the tailgate, everyone in attendance was escorted into the auditorium where they had the opportunity to listen to performances by the marching band while being introduced to every fall sports athlete with their teams.

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The bright spot of the night was when Cassie Westover herself took the stage to sing the national anthem.

All in all, Darr could not have been happier with how the evening turned out.

“I was overwhelmed by how many people were here tonight and once again it shows what the community does here in the small New Bethlehem area,” Darr said. “They come together and support each other.”

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