Anyone participating in a fall sport or keeping up with the latest at Ransom Everglades has likely noticed the athletic department taking things to the next level this year. Building on their success from last season, they’ve introduced upgrades like a brand-new scoreboard on the Robert E. Walker Field and increased engagement on the RE Athletics Instagram page. According to the Athletics Department, the new investments reflect an ongoing commitment to enhancing the student-athlete experience.
One of the most visible and popular upgrades has been the installation of the brand-new, state-of-the-art LED scoreboard. This isn’t just any scoreboard – it’s a massive display that not only keeps track of the score but also displays videos, photos of players, and important news happening around the school.
Whereas the old scoreboard simply displayed scores, the new board has the ability to display player highlights, clips of practices, and even school-wide announcements.
Upper School Assistant Athletic Director and Coach Joe Supple shared the department’s vision for the new scoreboard. “If you come to some games, or during your lacrosse season, your picture will be up there when you score a goal,” he said. “It creates a really cool game atmosphere, like you’re at a college or pro game.”
The scoreboard has brought a new level of excitement to game days, with Coach Supple adding that it’s also a tool for promoting other aspects of school life, as clubs and organizations can use it to share updates with the community.
Some students at RE’s Homecoming game got their first glimpse of the scoreboard in action, promoting energy and attention throughout the crowd. “I liked it a lot. It felt more like a professional game…the graphics were really cool and fun to watch…it created a happier and more engaging environment,” said Luke Jaffee ’26.
Beyond the scoreboard, the Athletics Department has also increased its focus on digital outreach, particularly through Instagram. The RE Athletics Instagram page has seen a surge in activity, with more frequent posts and coverage of every sport played this fall season. The new activity is partly due to the efforts of Mr. Teo Delia, who works at RE both as the Study Hall Proctor and as a soccer coach. “I think we are posting a lot more, whether it’s post-game interviews, or game posts, or follow up posts of the events,” Mr. Delia said.
In his efforts to promote RE Athletics, Mr. Delia is tapping into skills he learned from the professional world of sports broadcasting. “I worked at ESPN in Connecticut for six years. I was in the TV Soccer production world, and then I moved to Miami because I got hired at Univision also to work in sports and soccer. Then I decided to go for a change of career, and I wanted to be a soccer coach, and then this amazing opportunity showed up for me at RE,” he explained.
According to Coach Supple, Delia’s expertise in video editing and graphic design have elevated RE Athletics content. “He’s taken our Instagram and all our social media to another level,” Supple said, adding that this transformation has been part of a clear push from the administration to increase visibility and engagement around RE sports.
Mr. Scott Berman, the Upper School Athletic Director, echoed this sentiment. “We feel pretty good, and we’re just trying… to get the community to support it and come out to games. The most important thing is just to continue to get the community involved,” he said.
Another key area of investment is Media Day: an annual tradition where student-athletes get professional pictures taken in their uniforms. This year, the department switched to a new photography company, Cinco Creative, and focused on delivering polished, professional-looking photos that represent the athletes in the best light possible.
According to Coach Supple, the athletic department evaluated last year’s Media Day and decided that an upgrade was needed. “We thought that was a simple way to make it more exciting for student-athletes and give their parents more images,” he said.
According to Mr. Berman, these updates are part of a broader effort to continuously improve the student-athlete experience at RE—and to heighten visibility for athletics programs. “Every year, we just try to improve more and more,” he said. “Everyone knows we’re excellent academically. I think people are starting to come around that Ransom is a significant piece in the athletic world now.”
