Tehachapi Warriors Booster Club announces new president

The Tehachapi Warriors Booster Club would like to thank Maria Curiel for her years of service as President of our organization. Her selfless leadership and diligence helped keep the Booster Club on track during some difficult times. But we have come through those challenges stronger than ever.

Following her second stint as president, Curiel resigned her position on July 13 prior to the start of the 2022-23 athletic season and installed Corey Costelloe as president. Curiel returned to the Booster Club in 2018 as president although her own children had graduated Tehachapi High School. Curiel’s expertise and knowledge were needed to assist the Boosters in generating revenue for multiple THS teams and assisted in the rebuilding of that program.

She and Costelloe had worked together over the last several seasons building corporate sponsorships, improving the working relationship with the Tehachapi Unified School District, improving athletic facilities and generating excitement for the program, especially following the COVID-19 restricted season in 2020-21.

Costelloe takes the reins of the organization after serving as vice president the last two seasons. His initial work on the board of directors was to implement a corporate sponsorship program with the goal of preventing coaches from spending so much time and effort fundraising and more time working with their student-athletes. Since 2019 the corporate sponsorship program has generated over $72,000 in paid sponsorships with an additional $16,000 committed in renewals for the upcoming season. These funds have been used to purchase new equipment, uniforms, cover travel expenses, purchase championship patches and improve facilities. 

Following a career in sports media and intercollegiate athletics administration at Cal State Bakersfield, Costelloe returned to Tehachapi and immediately noticed needs within the THS programs and decided to pursue bringing some of the marketing and corporate sponsorship elements he was involved with at NCAA level to Tehachapi to partner local businesses with our local team.

“I owed a lot to the Booster Club for everything they provided my teams when I competed for Tehachapi. When I returned, I noticed some of the shine and swagger was gone from our program, most of it stemming from aesthetic and facility needs. I had to get to work to help reconcile that,” Costelloe said. “Tehachapi is unlike most teams we compete against. We are not one high school in a giant soup of high schools in a major metro area. We are Tehachapi. Competing for Tehachapi is competing for the entire community. Our kids should look the part and play the part each time they step on the fields or courts. It is not only important for our community, but makes the student-athletes feel like they are part of something special, because they really are.”

Stacey Peel will continue as treasurer of the board and Monica LaMonte will continue to serve as secretary. The Booster Club is seeking volunteers for board positions including vice president. Elections for next season will begin in September. Maria Curiel will continue to support the Booster club with her expertise which dates back to 2004.

“I hope this community, the coaches and the student-athletes really appreciate what Maria has given to this organization. I have been so blessed to collaborate with her over the last several years, she and her family are dedicated to the Warriors, and she has been an amazing leader for our organization and a mentor for the rest of us,” Costelloe said.

The Tehachapi Warrior Booster Club is a nonprofit organization benefitting all teams at Tehachapi High School. Memberships for the 2022-23 season are available now and can be purchased online at thsboosters.com. Renewals for Booster Green Seats for the 2022 football season are also underway. Current seat holders can also renew online, anyone wishing to purchase green seats for the upcoming season may do so following all current renewals. There will be a lottery drawing for priority during the intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, August 6 at 8 a.m. at Coy Burnett Stadium.

The next Warrior Booster Club meeting is Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. at The Village Collective in Downtown Tehachapi. The Boosters will meet in the downstairs conference room accessible through the entrance off Green Street near Centennial Plaza.

For more information about memberships, Green Seats or volunteering please email the Booster Club at [email protected].