Welcome to our New Blog!

Roll Wildcats Roll!

Welcome to the all-new Oak Ridge Wildcat Football Blog! My name is Darrell Pellegrin, and I'm proud to serve as your current Wildcat Football Booster President. Let me share a little about myself, my family, and my connection to our amazing Oak Ridge community.

About Me

For those who don't know me, here's the nutshell version: I'm a constant mover and doer. I've always been someone who's running non-stop, helping wherever I can, and tackling projects that aren't even asked of me—no acknowledgment or recognition needed. It's just who I am.

I'm a major sports fan, with high school and college football topping my list. More importantly, I'm a husband to my incredible bride of 20 years, Michelle, and father to two wonderful children who keep me on my toes constantly:

• Gage - Sophomore at Oak Ridge High School and proud member of the Wildcat Football team

• Sadie - 6th grader at Jefferson Middle School who can be found on softball fields year-round

I'm also a proud business owner here in Oak Ridge, running two local businesses:

• Extreme Lightscapes - Commercial lighting and entertainment production company

• Oak Ridge Gel Tactical - Small but growing family fun entertainment business

But This Isn't About Me...

That's enough about me—this blog isn't about myself! Let's get to the real reason you're here: your invested interest in Wildcat Football.

In a town so rich in history, legacy, and football tradition, I was immediately drawn to Oak Ridge's small-town feel. Even though I didn't grow up here, I quickly discovered there's nothing better than Friday nights surrounded by family and friends under the lights of historic Blankenship Field!

This sense of community, family, and fellowship that defines Friday nights in "the SHIP" is exactly why I do what I do for our program. My goal is simple: giving these young athletes an incredible high school athletic experience.

Building Something Special

I have plenty of projects in the works focused on building strong relationships with all the programs that share our field on Friday nights—Football, Cheer, Dance, Band, ROTC, and fans just like you.

The future is bright for Oak Ridge Football, and we want that flame to burn brighter than ever! Many of you reading this—whether you're alumni, business owners, or simply fans of ORHS Football—might be wondering how you can do more and what our program needs to continue performing at such a high level.

How You Can Help

With several projects currently in development, our biggest need is a complete locker room overhaul—from lighting to flooring and wall graphics. We also have the ever-growing need for updated equipment as technology in the sports equipment realm constantly evolves.

And of course, there are the ongoing yearly expenses: uniforms, team meals, camps, and coaching clinics, just to name a few!

What's Coming Next

Over the next few blog posts, I'll take you behind the scenes to show you firsthand the day-to-day operations of our program. We'll address these needs up close and personal, so please join me as we explore how you can help Oak Ridge Football reach new heights!

Roll Wildcats Roll!!!

Best, Darrell Pellegrin Wildcat Football Booster President boosterclubpresident@oakridgefootball.net