The beauty of the team dinner
Gila Ridge's pasta dinner brings football players closer off the field so they are ready to crush opponents on the field as brothers
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Plates piled high with pasta, laughter echoing through the cafeteria and teammates joking about the latest memes on social media.
That's the scene every Thursday night at Gila Ridge High School before game day on Friday.
The tradition is simple: After a long practice, the Hawks come together for a team pasta dinner. What helps with carb-loading has turned into one of the football program’s most cherished rituals.
"It's not just the food, it’s the camaraderie," senior Isaiah Chatman said. "It's pretty dope being here with the guys a day before the game and then going out and playing tomorrow, you know what I’m saying? It’s really a family. Feels like I’m eating at a dinner table with family."
Senior wide receiver Gabriel Cota said the dinners give players a chance to connect beyond football.
"You get to know each other outside of football," Cota said. "We're with each other a lot, you get to know more about people."
The results have carried over to the field. Gila Ridge is off to its best start since 2019 (excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season) and is one win away from matching last year's total. The Hawks have also taken down some of Arizona's top programs, including St. Mary's (21-14) and Northwest Christian (31-24), as they now rank ninth in the country, according to Sports Illustrated.
Head coach Jessica Slaughter said she has seen firsthand how the dinners have helped the team grow closer.
"They're laughing and joking outside of their position groups," Slaughter said. "In practice, that's where they're stuck, so you kind of get to see them mingle in and out of those position groups."
The weekly gathering is about more than football, though. Before the team eats, Gila Ridge's Culinary Arts Class and Club prepares the meal, creating its own sense of community.
"I really just enjoy cooking with my friends," senior Isaiah Habegger said. "It's pretty laid back, relaxing because we have a couple of hours to finish everything."
Classmate Samantha Regalado said being part of the program has helped her come out of her shell.
"I've definitely made a few close friends throughout this class," Regalado said. "I used to be very shy and this has gotten me to get a little bit outside of my comfort zone."
Whether in the kitchen, the cafeteria or on the field, one thing is clear: Gila Ridge pasta dinners bring people together. And while nothing beats Friday Night Lights for the Hawks, a pasta dinner might be a close second.
