Insane Impact x Gehlen Catholic Schools: Building on a Blank Canvas

When Gehlen Catholic Schools set out to upgrade their newly renovated gym in small-town Northern Iowa, they didn’t just turn to any ordinary scoreboard company. Instead, they partnered with an alumnus with deep ties to the community.  

For Insane Impact Founder and CEO Tod Puetz, this was no ordinary installation — it was a homecoming.  

"Growing up in this town, playing on this gym floor, it was very, very important to us that we poured everything we had into this," Puetz said. "To do it on the home ground, the home turf, is a really special opportunity for us."  

That opportunity arose when the PreK-12 private school decided to completely overhaul their facility. They were starting from scratch, looking to replace outdated hardware with high definition displays that would elevate the entire game-day experience.

“We didn't have screens before. We had old, very generic scoreboards, so you could still get the fouls and the score, but that's it,” remarked Matt Schilling, Director of IT and Curriculum at Gehlen Catholic Schools.

For our crew, an empty gym wasn't just a blank canvas — it was a unique opportunity to engineer a purpose-built, state-of-the-art visual experience.

"When we first started talking about this, we came into the gym, and it really was a blank canvas," Puetz explained.  

Our team transformed the gymnasium, installing:

• A commanding 17’x10’, 3.9mm pixel pitch main video board anchoring one end of the gym with stunning clarity and presence

• A 50’, 3.9mm ribbon board stretching above the stage at the opposite end — the showpiece of the entire installation

• A 12’x7’, 3.9mm secondary scoreboard ensuring scoring and advertising remain visible from every seat in the house

This digital transformation was a massive undertaking that instantly redefined the game-day atmosphere. The sheer scale, seamless performance, and pristine clarity of the display boards left the Gehlen community completely stunned.

"The public's reaction to the screens has been outstanding," stated Amy Jungers, Development Director at GCS. "When people walk into the gym, their eyes go wide. They can't believe the entirely new level of energy it brings to our facility."

It isn't just the home crowd taking notice. The Gehlen Catholic Jays have set a new standard, turning their facility into the envy of the entire conference. A gym that once felt like any other now stops visitors in their tracks. Coaches say their teams feel like they're playing in a big-city arena. Community members walk through those double doors and feel like they're part of something bigger. Staff put it simply: The entire energy of the space changed overnight.

“Visiting schools have come in, and they're just kind of in awe,” remarked Bryan Paulson, 7-12 Principal. "Coaches love seeing the stats up there right away. Our horn system is an arena horn, not an old-school clock horn, so they feel like they're in a bigger atmosphere, but in a small gym."

With an enrollment of just over 530 students, Gehlen Catholic is proving that world-class facilities aren't strictly reserved for massive districts. The screens have firmly set Gehlen on the map across the Midwest as a powerhouse program that takes pride in its presentation.

"I taught in South Dakota, and it was an arms race — everyone had a videoboard, but they were big schools," Paulson added. "Seeing our kids get that big-city feel and seeing their pride means everything to us. We all take a lot of pride in providing our students the best possible atmosphere."

That pride extends far beyond the basketball court and hallways of the school. The investment in cutting-edge LED video display technology reflects a broader commitment to the community's future and leaves a lasting impression on everyone who walks through the doors.

“The best thing that the videoboards have done is elevate the experience, and it's not just the experience for our students, it's the experience for our parents, the benefactors, and all of our community members when they're able to walk in and they feel at home and they're a part of something bigger at Gehlen Catholic,” remarked Jungers.

The scoreboards played just a small part in the pride that Gehlen has for their community, students, and staff. They mark a significant milestone in Gehlen’s forward-thinking journey.  

“It chokes me up just thinking about it a little bit, it's exciting. I feel like Gehlen is moving in a direction that no one ever expected it would be, and it's with videoboards, and that's just one small step to what's going to be coming for us,” stated Paulson.

Gehlen Catholic didn't just upgrade their gym — they set a new standard for what a small school can be. And now, every team that walks through those doors knows it.

Hear directly from the Gehlen Catholic School staff and Insane Impact Founder and CEO, Tod Puetz, about their experience partnering on this game-changing project.