Ethan Zhao ’26

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On a crisp autumn afternoon in early October, the SJ Football team held their annual Challenger Football event, where children and students with impairments across the community were invited to participate in a mock football game. Filled with excitement and laughter, all of the participants had a joyous time running around the field with our school’s best players. 

The Challenger Football event has been a long-standing tradition of Strake Jesuit. Complete with the band, catering, and even the football tunnel, nothing was left out of the experience. As participants arrived onto the field, they joined the football players in mini-games across the field. When more and more people arrived, the game was set to begin. Before the competition started, a young student commenced the event by singing the national anthem. His voice rang beautifully across the crowd and stadium, captivating everyone’s attention. After, the 45 minute game began and players began running around the field, guiding participating students and children. SJ athletes ran all over the field, were constantly tackled, and defended the kids as they scrambled towards the touchdown ends. As the competitors scored, the cheerleaders and band cheered them on and celebrated their victories. From throwing around a football to playing duck-duck-goose, the players and participants happily and intimately interacted, creating a spectacular moment for all. As time progressed, the kids and athletes both began to tire out after almost an hour of constant motion, and it came time for dinner. Catered and served by the parents of SJ athletes, the dinner was splendid. From pizza to salad to a plentiful array of handmade desserts, there was nothing that the evening meal was missing. The kids sat down with parents and athletes, enjoying the meal and beauty of the evening. As the event came to an end, the athletes said their goodbyes to the students and everyone left happily. 

“Challenger football is a great event that brings players from all walks of life together on the football field for a fun experience,” Head Varsity Football Coach Donovan Fikac said. “From the band to the cheerleaders, to running out of the tunnel, each player gets to experience the thrill of what it feels like to be a football player. The impact has such a positive effect on everyone who participates, and I am very proud of how our players and cheerleaders create such a welcoming, fun-loving environment.” 

Both the participants and athletes felt great connections to their partners throughout the game, providing for a heartwarming moment for all. SJ athletes had once again elevated their community, representing Jesuit’s long standing tradition of being Men for Others.

“One quick fact about Challenger Football,” Coach Fikac added, “is that Strake Jesuit was the first school to host a challenger game in Houston.”