By JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
NORTH BRUNSWICK – The Raider Nation is expanding.
The North Brunswick Football and Cheer teams have formed a new North Brunswick Township High School (NBTHS) Touchdown Club, a group of dedicated parents of Raider football players and cheerleaders.
“Since the mid-1970s, our football/cheer programs have experienced numerous successful seasons. A constant, in over four decades of history, is the hard work, effort and pride these players and coaches feel when they put on the blue and gold. One of the goals of the Touchdown Club is to bring the alumni back to ‘Raider Nation.’ We want to keep them involved and updated on current and future news and events,” club President Dean Petrillo and Liz Dwyer LaVielle, a member of the club, said in a joint statement.
Therefore, the Touchdown Club will hold a picnic/pep rally beginning at 10 a.m. on Aug. 27 to kick off the 2016 football season at the Steve Libro field at NBTHS, 98 Raider Rd., North Brunswick.
“Come out and support our football and cheer teams as they fine tune their skills on the field. The public is invited to attend and not only watch the practice, but participate in some fun activities afterwards,” Petrillo said.
There will be flag football games, corn hole, volleyball and other activities. The snack shack will be open for food purchases.
In other efforts to bring alumni members together, the Touchdown Club has produced a comedy fundraiser and more recently a golf outing.
“It was nice to see so many familiar faces at these events. Many have graduated and moved on to other towns, but their pride and dedication to their roots at NBTHS remain strong,” Petrillo said.
“Coach [James] Lind always said that the experience and relationships you make in high school football will be with you forever. Those words ring true. It was a great night talking about the glory days with Raider brothers,” said Greg Prott, a varsity football player for the Class of 1983, who attended one of the fundraisers.
Executive members of the Touchdown Club include Petrillo, vice President Mark Rossman, secretary Milissa Rossman and treasurer Blayre Petrillo. Every parent is considered a member of the club.
For more information, visit www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=nbraiders.
Contact Jennifer Amato at [email protected].