Reunion in the works — All-school reunion will feature sports events, fundraisers
Newcastle High School alumni will gather July 3-6 for the 2025 all-school reunion, which will offer a plethora of opportunities for students of every graduating class to reconnect.
In addition to events that have been part of past reunions, such as a parade and fireworks, there are also several new events, such as a cornhole tournament and school tours.
In another new event, Allen Von Eye, who has coached basketball at NHS for 21 years, is holding a few men’s basketball events from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Dogie Dome. Von Eye told the News Letter Journal that several teams have been put together for a tournament of five versus five basketball. Von Eye also plans to hold a 3-point contest and a dunk contest, provided that enough people enter. He said part of the reason he decided to start the events was to allow former student athletes to don “the black and the orange” once again.
“Because basketball is a sport that the older you get, the more difficult it is to play, I was kind of curious what we’d have (for participation levels), but already I’ve had lots of people that were incredibly interested and really looking forward to it,” he said. “The biggest thing is just for people to show up and have fun with it and maybe get some laughs.”
Entrance fees — $15 per person for the 3-pointer contest, $10 per person for the dunk contest and $100 per team for the basketball tournament — will support current NHS basketball teams’ summer camps, tournament participation and other expenses, according to Von Eye. Not to be outdone, Matt Conzelman, who coaches NHS Dogie football, is organizing the reunion’s first alumni flag football game from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 3 at Schoonmaker Field. Any past football players are welcome to participate and may pre-order a shirt for $25, he told the NLJ.
The reunions lend a unique sense of stability to Dogie football legacy, according to Conzelman. He said it’s a great opportunity for alumni to spend time with current players and share stories of Dogie football.
“What I really love is knowing that every five years, you’ll get to see former players, students, past teachers, and coaches you haven’t seen in a long time,” he said. “It’s always special to sit around and reminisce about the good times while they were in school.”
He said that he wants to make the game an annual tradition for both current and former NHS football players to enjoy. The football team will be prominently featured at another reunion mainstay, the golf tournament, as an autographed football helmet from the Dogie football team will be featured in an auction held by the Newcastle Booster Club.
As of May 26, 10 spots remain in the July 4 golf tournament, according to reunion organizer Tracy Olson, and anyone who would like to participate should contact Lacey Von Eye.
Olson said David Whitley will again be the auctioneer for the live auction hosted by the reunion, which is at 2 p.m. on July 5. A silent auction will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both auctions are held to provide funds needed to hold the reunion every five years, and the money is also used for reunion scholarships presented to NHS graduates each year. The auctions will take place on the lawn of the Weston County Library, 23 W. Main St., after the parade, which starts at 11 a.m. Those interested in entering parade floats are required to provide at least a $20 donation to NHS’ Student Council.
Auction items, which should be labeled with the donor’s name and class year, can be dropped off at the library anytime before 5 p.m. July 3 or immediately after the parade, Olson said in a post in the 2025 Newcastle All School Reunion Facebook group.
Reunion T-shirt orders are also being accepted until June 6, according to a post in the Facebook group.
Weston County School District No. 1 Education Endowment Foundation and the NLJ will host a welcome reception for alumni, featuring tours of the schools and other facilities on July 3, foundation chairman and NLJ publisher Bob Bonnar said. Former Weston County resident Collin Townsend is donating dozens of vintage license plates for a “Plates for the Pool” fundraiser to pay for the remodeling of the Kozisek Aquatic Center.
“These renovations are vital to preserve this valuable resource for Weston County,” Bonnar said.
Fund-raising events include a “Putt for Plates” competition where contestants could try to make a putt on portable putting greens deployed in conjunction with other events around the city and “Pong for Plates,” where contestants would try to toss ping-pong balls into plastic cups placed on top of the license plates. Winners would receive the corresponding license plate.
“We are really blessed by this gift from Collin Townsend, and looking forward to having a little fun with these fund-raising activities. We are hoping they provide a little extra entertainment and enjoyment for the people who attend, and it will give alumni another chance to give something back to the community and preserve an opportunity we all had as kids growing up here.”