Rochester High School Athletic Director Kevin Renie, left, and Rochester Athletic Booster Club President Charlee Schwenk show off some of the items the booster club recently purchased: the tackling dummy and the Rochester Middle School football helmet Schwenk is holding. The club is seeking new members. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — People who wish to help secure athletic-related items for Rochester Community Schools’ students may join the Rochester Athletic Booster Club.

Club President Charlee Schwenk said there are 200 club spots available out of 500 total.

Members pay $5 per month, taken out in two installments per year. Monies then go for “mainly school-use items, (primarily sports),” said Schwenk.

Recently, the club purchased the following items: a golf simulator for boys’ and girls’ golf teams, robotic tackling dummies for the Rochester High School football team, new football helmets for Rochester Middle School football, sensors/timers for track and field, RHS cheerleading uniforms, swim storage equipment and lap counters, a soccer speaker system, RHS softball pants and equipment, a baseball mesh fence and customized padding and RMS volleyball poles, nets and customized pads.

The club has donated more than $70,000 for athletic equipment from 2017-2023.

“Each month we meet and we talk about things that different coaches (request),” said Schwenk.

Aside from her, club leadership includes Vice President Staci Heinzmann, Secretary Debby Davis and Treasurer Teresa Houser.

Schwenk noted people don’t have to live locally to be boosters. Those who join also have the chance to win money.

“We do a monthly drawing and so now we give $500, $100 and $50 for our winners each month,” said Schwenk.

Rochester High School Athletic Director Kevin Renie noted items purchased through the club are things that are “more wants than needs.”

“We (through the general athletic department) try really, really hard to purchase their needs obviously,” he said. “All of those programs have their own individual (extracurricular activity) account.”

Schwenk noted the teams also conduct their own fundraisers as well.

To join the club, people may call Schwenk at (574) 835-4890.