Roosevelt Riders Fire Up for State Tourney at Pep Assembly
Well it’s about time!
A high school that advances to the state basketball tournament 13 times in its first 60 years of existence isn’t prepared for a drought lasting three decades. But that’s how long it’s been for the Roosevelt boys since their last appearance in 1982. Luckily the girls have kept the blue and white community’s thirst for state tourney runs quenched in recent years with five straight from 2004-08 including the championship in 2006. But the Rider faithful can’t wait for tonight’s matchup against Dubuque Senior at Wells Fargo Arena, scheduled to tip at 6:35. Nearly 1,000 tickets to tonight’s game have been sold out of the school office alone, they’ve run out of state tourney t-shirts and the pep assembly this morning in the gymnasium was worthy of the longstanding TRHS reputation for school spirit.
Senior Chris Bennett is the team’s driveshaft and his father played for the Roosevelt team that won it all in 1978. Chris has been hearing about that magical season all his life, though he says he’s been whipping his dad in H-O-R-S-E since “about 2nd grade.” Bennett and his fellow senior starters Tate Larsen, the school’s recently crowned “Man of the Year,” and Trey Burkhall have been opponents going back as far as 4th grade and inseparable teammates ever since their middle school days at Merrill. For The Three Basketeers the state tourney berth is especially sweet, even a vindication of sorts. Long and winding story short, a team standout transferred to Valley two seasons ago and with him, many figured, went the Riders’ chances to rekindle the school’s basketball preeminence.
But to the credit of the senior triumvirate, their supporting cast of current teammates, Roosevelt Principal Kathie Danielson and Coach Chris McMahon (TRHS Class of ’98) the school is back where it belongs, among the state’s roundball elite. At times you could even say it’s been a rough ride. But in a poetic twist, their ticket to “The Well” was punched in a heart-stopping triumph over Valley in last week’s sub-state final.
There’s a line in the Roosevelt fight song that goes, “unfurl her banners to the sky…” To punctuate this morning’s raucous celebration in the gym Coach McMahon told the crowd that in all the hoopla following the sub-state triumph the team neglected to collect its State Qualifier banner to hang along with all the others that decorate the gym walls. That was Danielson’s cue to unveil it at midcourt and present it to the plucky team while the packed house roared.
The festivities were at once energized and relaxed in the comforts of the team’s home court surrounded by their full-throated supporters. But there is pressure. They’ll have to win in primetime tonight to secure a field trip for their fellow students during class time on Friday!
“Stand up and cheer for dear old Roosevelt…”
