By Brandon Niles Explore Big Sky Contributor
LIVINGSTON – Park High School in Livingston, Mont. has tapped one of its
alumni to outfit athletes in professional, affordable uniforms.
Rob Grabow founded Intrepid Sportswear in 2003 during his sophomore year
at Gonzaga University, and Intrepid has since provided uniforms to nearly
10,000 schools, in all 50 states.
Grabow spent his senior year at PHS, and played shooting guard and small
forward for the Rangers. There he met teacher Scott Rosberg who later
became athletic director for Granger High School in Washington. It was at
Granger in 2008 that Rosberg first discovered Grabow’s Seattle-based
company.
“I got a flyer… about a new uniform company,” Rosberg said, and while his
teams didn’t need uniforms at the time, he noticed the company was run by
his former PHS student.
When Rosberg returned to Livingston in 2010 and was hired as the new Park
High A.D. and boys’ basketball coach, it was apparent the Rangers’ uniforms
needed an upgrade. Given Grabow’s Livingston connections, Intrepid was the
first company Rosberg reached out to.
The typical price for a full uniform set is about $125, according to Rosberg,
compared to $74 for Intrepid’s. He assumed the low cost would be indicative
of poor quality, but when the uniforms arrived he was pleasantly surprised.
“The quality of the color just pops,” Rosberg said of the Rangers’ blue and
gold. “The kids just love them.”
Intrepid’s business model makes its uniforms more affordable than its
competitors, Grabow explained. “We sell direct, [and] we have our own
production facility.” But his willingness to give PHS what Grabow describes as
“special, special alma mater pricing” of $54 a set, made Intrepid the obvious
choice for Rosberg.
The PHS football coach purchased Intrepid uniforms in 2011 and then last
year, girls’ basketball head coach Jon Willyerd ordered both home and away
uniforms.
Rosberg and Willyerd were both impressed with the tackle twill letters on
Intrepid’s jerseys, which are sewn on rather than screen-printed.
“The old uniforms had numbers that were pressed on and would crack,”
Willyerd said. “I think the tackle twill is more durable.” PHS has ordered five
sets of Intrepid’s uniforms in the past 2 ½ years, and the savings have allowed the school to order new uniforms more frequently, according to
Rosberg.
PHS has also used its relationship with Intrepid to increase its fundraising and
presence in Livingston. Rosberg ordered extra pairs of Rangers’ basketball
shorts soon after the first uniforms arrived and sells them to raise money for
the basketball program.
“We have 6th, 7th and 8th graders around the community wearing our shorts,”
Rosberg said.
Grabow’s family first moved to Livingston in the early 1900s, he said, and
through his business he’s left an imprint on PHS, and the community as a
whole.
“Even though I only played for one season [at PHS] it was a pivotal one in my
life,” Grabow said. “I feel so lucky to be able to outfit the team. It makes me
feel connected to not only the program, but also the community that has
been so important to my family’s story for over 100 years.”
