Gila Ridge Hawks continue to compete for $250,000 grant in T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Gila Ridge High School is competing against nine other schools across the West Coast for a prize that could bring significant upgrades to its athletic facilities.

The Hawks are participating in a competition that would award the winning school a $250,000 grant and an upgraded weight room.

Gila Ridge is the only school remaining in the competition from Arizona, giving the Yuma community an opportunity to support the Hawks as they pursue the prize.

Gila Ridge head football coach Jessica Slaughter said the potential upgrades could help athletes improve their performance and reach the next level of competition.

"I mean, to be able to train in a high-level facility, it could catapult guys to the next level of their training, getting better performance, better outcomes, so it could push some athletes to the next level," Slaughter said.

The potential funding could also help ease the financial burden on the school, which currently allocates one-third of its budget to athletics.

Gila Ridge head baseball coach James Kuzniak added that the benefits of the improvements could extend beyond the school, noting that the athletic field serves as a venue for numerous events throughout Yuma County.

"That field's one of the most rented-out fields in Yuma County, and there's AWC graduation, there's our graduation, Special Olympics, there's just a ton of things that go on on that field. I think it would just help the entire area, not just our school," Kuzniak said.

Community members can support Gila Ridge by submitting a vote once per day throughout the competition. You can vote here.

Voting runs through October 25. A victory would provide a major boost to Hawks athletics while bringing additional resources and benefits to the greater Yuma community.