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C of I cross country/track and field programs gear up for 2018 Coyote Bolo Ball

April 17, 2018
A traditional bolo photographed at the 2017 Bolo Ball.

Following a year of new school records and another individual national championship, the C of I cross country and track and field programs are coming together to celebrate with the 2018 Coyote Bolo Ball, set to begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 4 in the Basque Center in Boise, Idaho.

Running for its seventh-year, the Bolo Ball is a western-themed dinner and dance featuring live music, catered dinner, line dancing and live auctions to benefit the cross country and track and field programs, helping to offset the travel costs for NAIA championship events, among other team expenses. Sora Klopfenstein ’14, a former team member and current co-organizer of the ball, said the ball has regularly raised between $10,000 and $15,000 annually while bringing together current team members with a variety of alumni.

“My favorite part of every year is seeing everyone interact,” Klopfenstein said. “It’s like a reunion feeling. Our alumni come from all over the place to meet the current team, and the current team gets excited about hearing all their stories. It’s a fun blend of old and new. We’re like a big family.”

This year’s event will once again feature catering from Imelda’s, as well as a wide dance floor following dinner. Klopfenstein said a new addition to this year’s ball is a photo booth which will feature a giant ceramic bolo for attendees to pose with.

“We’re not really a black tie affair,” Klopfenstein said. “It’s a casual party type atmosphere. We’re called the bolo ball because we encourage everyone to wear a bolo if they can, along with their boots and jeans.”

Klopfenstein said the goal for this year’s ball is to increase attendance, encouraging all members of the YoteFam to come out to Boise for a night of western-style fun, not just the current and former members of the team.

“This is still a pretty new event relative to how long the track and cross country programs have been around,” Klopfenstein explained. “We would love to get the word out to as many people as we can to get them to stop by.”

Dinner begins at 6 p.m., with dancing set to begin at 7 p.m. Registration for both the concert and dinner costs $50 until April 23, after which it costs $60. Attendees may register for the concert only for $20.

Click here to RSVP and register for this year’s Bolo Ball. For more information — along with sponsorship opportunities — please contact head coach Austin Basterrechea at [email protected] or by phone at 208-459-5081.

The College of Idaho has a 127-year-old legacy of excellence. The C of I is known for its outstanding academic programs, winning athletics tradition and history of producing successful graduates, including seven Rhodes Scholars, three governors, four NFL players and countless business leaders and innovators. Its distinctive PEAK Curriculum challenges students to attain competency in the four knowledge peaks of humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and a professional field—empowering them to earn a major and three minors in four years. The College’s close-knit, residential campus is located in Caldwell, where its proximity both to Boise and to the world-class outdoor activities of southwest Idaho’s mountains and rivers offers unique opportunities for learning beyond the classroom.  For more information, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.