Welcome

Dad,
The tournament went really well.  Keep up the great work, I'm proud of all you do for our community.  I'm lucky to have you as my dad.
Love you,
Rosie
February 22, 2010  

p.s. You Da Man. xoxo

 

Dale:
Each and every year the participation and support becomes greater and better.
You have done a wonderful job over the many years of running this program. Dale, we all appreciate your dedication and commitment to education and children. I wish to thank all of the coaches and volunteers that helped to enrich the players' knowledge of the game. We look forward to your tournament next year. Again, thank you!
Lee Griffin
GFSD Superintendent
February 22, 2010

 

Dale,
Thanks again for another fantastic job organizing the tournament. We're all very lucky to have someone like you who supports organized sports for Tucson youths.  Keep up the good work.
Adrian Garcia
Manzo Elementary
Physical Education
February 22, 2010

Dale. Kudos to you and your staff for putting on another fantastic tournament! The kids all had a great time and look forward to participating again next year!
Ruben J. Romero
M. Ed.
Counselor E, S-Z
Pueblo High School
February 22, 2010

Coaches and supporters,
Thanks again for all your support and cooperation.  We are also grateful for all the time and effort put in by the coaches to get the kids at your schools started in the right direction.  It’s very difficult to find a drop-out prevention program that’s more effective than interscholastic sports.  The earlier we get kids started in this direction, the better off our communities are.  If you have comments or suggestions for future tournaments, please feel free to contact us.
    A GIANT THANK YOU TO THE COACHING STAFFS AND ADMINISTRATORS AT PUEBLO HIGH SCHOOL AND APOLLO MIDDLE SCHOOL.  We want to especially thank Carlos Armendariz and John López.  We couldn’t have pulled it off without their many hours of assistance.
   -Dale López and the Roskruge Cougar Classic staff, February 22, 2010

 

Coaches, Principals and other supporters:

Thank you visiting the Roskruge Cougar Classic Website.  The Roskruge Cougar Classic will be conducting its 28th annual basketball tournament in February. The Tournament includes 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-grade students from elementary and middle schools all over Tucson.

The mission of the Cougar Classic is to provide an exciting event utilizing both quality facilities and experienced high school and college referees in a safe atmosphere of good sportsmanship.

Download: 2010 Team Registration Form

At this site, you can also find information on the Roskruge Softball Tournament held in May of every year and the Roskruge Open Cross-Country Meet, held every November.)

All of you involved positively touched the lives of many youngsters during this season and you should be commended. 

I appreciate the kind words that many coaches and administrators have sent to me during the course of the tournament.  I especially appreciate the flexibility and understanding you had concerning the scheduling of the games.  I received no complaints about the games being too early, too late, too far away, or too spread out, although I know that some of you were inconvenienced because of the many factors that must be considered when putting together the schedule.

We cannot thank the administrators and coaches from Tucson, Pueblo, Cholla and Northwest Center enough for all of their help and their willingness to make this event successful.  Thank you. Thank you.  Thank you.

Some of you have contacted me to express suggestions or opinions of how we can improve the tournament.  I appreciate this and please feel free to continue to contact me at dale.lopez@tusd1.org
    See you next year!
-Dale Lopez, February 2009

Dale, Congratulations!  Once again you’ve put on another fantastic tournament!
-Ruben J. Romero, Coach Valencia Middle School, February 2009

Another outstanding job on the tournament.  Thanks so much.  Our kids had a great time.
-Adrian Garcia, Coach Manzo Elementary School, February 2009

I just wanted to say thank you to all who organized this awesome tournament.  We had the time of our lives playing two thriller games on Saturday.  Two Sunnyside Schools played for the Championship.  Gallego and Rivera played one of the most unbelievable championship games ever!  The final score was Gallego 19, Rivera 18.  Gallego was down 18-14 with a little over one minute left in the game and they fought back like “Gatos” and took the lead with 15 seconds remaining.  I was proud of our students and our district.  Congratulations, Gallego.  Rivera was also in a fierce battle with Davis in a semi-final gameand prevailed, 20-19.  Thanks Dale and to all involved.
-Emilio Bustamante, Coach Rivera Elementary School,
February 2009

Once again, we here at Drexel had the time of our lives. I know these kids will remember this tournament forever.
Congratulations to Gallego for their terrific season, and thanks Mr. Lopez for making this possible. See ya next year.
-Terry Hunter, Coach Drexel Elementary School,
February 2009

Our kids have really enjoyed playing in your annual tournament.  Thanks again for all you do.
-Ilsa Bednar, Coach Van Buskirk Elementary School, February 2009

I wanted to thank-you for all the time and hard-work that you invest into the Classic so that my kids (and all the other kids) can have an exciting way to end the season.  We were able to play 4 thrilling games this year against teams that we might not have ever faced.  We celebrated our tournament experience yesterday afternoon with a pizza party, and the kids were smiling all afternoon.
-Andy Townsend, Coach Elvira Elementary School,
February 2009

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Thank you Dale for the fine job you do for this community.  We are all very fortunate to have you to work on behalf of our children.
-Herman House, Assistant Principal Tucson High Magnet School, February 2008

I agree.  Dale, great job.  I had a blast and so did the kids.
-Scott Waldorf, Coach Pistor Middle School,
February 2008

Great job Dale!...Once again you have done a wonderful job in getting everything organized for the tournament!
I have been lucky enough to have taken part in 20 of your tournaments with two different schools and each year it gets better and better.  A BIG thank you to your wife
for her support and help of running your tournament!!!
-Henry Barraza, Coach Sewell Elementary School,
February 2008
Drexel says thanks to all.  Good job to all schools.  We had a blast.  C YA next year. 
-Terry Hunter, Coach Drexel Elementary School,
February, 2008

Dale did a superb job in organizing the tournament.  I know that students look forward to the tournament every year and gain lasting memories from being part of the event.  Dale, thanks.
-Carlos Armendariz, Assistant Principal Pueblo High Magnet School, February 2008

Congratulations on a great tournament!  You have impacted so many student-athletes.  You will be the coach that is remembered as the true advocate of an active lifestyle and sportsmanship.  Bravo!
-Maria Marin, Principal Roskruge Elementary and Middle School, February 2008

Dale, congratulations.  I have heard many positive remarks about how well the Classic was organized.  Thanks for all you do!
-Patricia Lopez, TUSD Deputy Superintendent,
February 2008  

Coaches, Principals and other supporters:

Another Roskruge Cougar Classic is in the books---26 of them now. This year we played 67 games. When you have that many games, a lot of personalities and emotions will be involved and you can expect a few glitches along the way. I want to thank you for your cooperation and your understanding of the glitches.

Once again a big thank you to Herman House, Gary Lewis and Phil Elkins at Tucson High, Carlos Armendariz and Ray Unger at Pueblo, and Tariq Rasool, Esther Knight and Ralph Romero at Cholla for making the facilities available to us.

Interscholastic sports is one of the greatest drop-out prevention programs we have. And to get the kids excited about interscholastic sports at such an early age is a bonus to the entire Tucson community. Congratulations to all of our participants. They are all champions. See you next year.
-Dale López, February 2008

Thank you Dale for the fine job you do for this community. We are all very fortunate to have you to work on behalf of our children.
- Herman House,
Assistant Principal
Tucson High Magnet School
February 2008

I agree. Dale great job. I had a blast and so did the kids.
- Scott Waldorf, February 2008

Great job Dale!... Once again you have done a wonderful job in getting everything organized for the tournament! I have been lucky enough to have taken part in 20 of your tournaments with two different schools and each year it just gets better and better. A BIG thank you to your wife for her support and help of running your tournament!!!
- Henry Barraza ( Sewell Elementary) February 2008

Drexel says thanks to all. Good job to all schools. WE had a blast. C YA next year
- Coach Hunter, February 2008

Dale did a superb job in organizing the tournament. I know that students look forward to the tournament every year and gain lasting memories from being part of the event. Dale, Thanks.
- Carlos Armendariz
Pueblo Magnet High School
February 2008

Congratulations on a great tournament! You have impacted so many student athletes - you will be the coach that is remembered as the true advocate of an active lifestyle and sportsmanship! Bravo!
- Maria, February 2008

Dale, congratulations. I have hear many positive remarks about how well the Classic was organized. Thanks, for all you do!
Best,
- Patricia López, TUSD Deputy Supintendent, February 2008