College of the Redwoods Raises Over $245,000 at 20th Annual Dinner & Auction, Honoring Wrestling Legends and Announcing New Rodeo Program

Press release from College of the Redwoods:

CR Wrestlers & Coaches
In photo from left to right, CR Wrestlers & Coaches:
Eric Woolsey (1974-1976)
Dale Rene (1974-1976)
Mark Martinez (1974-1976)
Jon Sylvia (1975-1977)
Bert Van Duzer (1975-1977)
Dan Phillips (1976-1978)
Jack Norton (1981-1982)
Former CR Wrestling Head Coach John McGuire (1979-1982)
Brandon Benvenuti, CR’s Men’s & Women’s Wrestling Coach (2023 – present)

College of the Redwoods hosted its 20th Annual College of the Redwoods Dinner & Auction, a benefit for CR’s Intercollegiate Athletics Program, on August 15th, 2024. The college estimates the event raised at least $245,000, with funds still coming in. This year’s event was attended by 460 community members and hosted by over 125 student-athletes, who assisted in running the event.

This year CR honored its first era of wrestling from 1966-1982, the 1976 wrestling team which placed second at the first ever California State Small College Wrestling Tournament and former CR wrestlers Bert Van Duzer and Jon Sylvia. During the event, CR also announced its new Rodeo Program and introduced the new Rodeo coaches, Kelly, and Gianna O’Day.

During the event’s “In Memoriam” section, CR honored the memories of Mike Bode and Tino Romero. Bode was a CR graduate, a member of the undefeated 1969 CR football team, was an inductee of the CR Hall of Fame, and was a longtime attendee of the CR Dinner & Auction. He generously donated Bode Cellar Wines to the auction every year.

Tino Romero played two seasons for CR from 1988-1990. Romero, a defensive lineman, was a two-time First Team All-Golden Valley Conference selection, and a two-time unanimous First Team All-State selection. In 1989, Tino was selected as the GVC’s Defensive Player of the Year. In 1990, he accepted an athletic scholarship to Washington State University, starting as a defensive tackle for the Cougars. Romero finished his football-playing career at Southern Oregon University in 1993. After football, Romero found his real passion in life: coaching. In 1999, Romero joined the College of the Redwoods Athletic Program serving as the linebacker coach, which eventually led him to becoming an assistant coach and then head football coach. Romero would go on to become CR’s Athletics Program Coordinator in charge of all home game management operations and was also the college’s equipment room manager.

The community’s generous contributions continue to support CR’s Athletic Department and invest in the future of CR’s student athletes. Keith Flamer, CR’s President said, ” Our staff, coaches, and student athletes are grateful for the tremendous support that is continually shown for College of the Redwoods athletics.”

Marty Coelho, Executive Director for College Advancement & the CR Foundation stated this year’s generosity was overwhelming, “We had nearly three hundred businesses, individuals, and families donate to this year’s event and the value of what they donated was over $115,000. Those who came to the event were bidding on some amazing items and packages.”

The generosity of those who gave was matched by those who attended the night of the event. Bob Brown, Director of Kinesiology, Health, Recreation, PE & Athletics, Housing & Student Conduct said “We continue to be amazed and humbled by the outpouring of support for this event. It is so critical that we connect with our community and have our student athletes see firsthand how fortunate they are to have their support. In return, we love hearing how happy our community supporters are in being able to personally interact with the athletes during the evening.”

Next year’s CR Dinner & Auction will be held Thursday, August 14 in the CR Gymnasium.