This article is part of a series focused on this year’s motto of Unum: Engage, which highlights how students engage as one in different groups across campus. 

Football is one of the biggest sports here at Cathedral Catholic. Every year, tons of freshmen join the sport for the athletic benefits. But what many people don’t realize is that you also gain something much more important: a community. By practicing together almost every day, these students form bonds like no other. Ones that lead to knowing each other’s next move in a game, or to having a best friend. By doing almost everything together, these freshman boys have built some of the strongest bonds seen at Cathedral. 

Summer workouts are the building blocks for the teams. By constantly training together, the team forms strong connections. Lucas Johnson, Freshman Red strong safety, made some of his first friends at summer workouts. At first, Lucas “barely knew anyone.” However,  “after every practice, [he] got closer and closer to these kids [he] was gonna be playing with.”

Since the players got to know each other over the summer, they had a much easier time coming onto campus as school started. Ryan Hughes, Freshman Gold safety/quarterback/slot receiver, said that his first day was “not super awkward” because he knew so many people from football. Starting football in July meant he was able to get a good feel for the campus and even get to know some of the staff. Both players felt very comfortable knowing that they would have their teammates right there with them in the early days of their freshmen year. 

Getting to know each other off the field translated into these players getting to know each other better on the field. The athletes engaged in “team bonding” at a barbecue, but they also practiced together almost every day. Because of this, Johnson felt that he and his teammates had “created some serious chemistry.” For example, they’ve created signals to talk to each other in the middle of a game. When a player knows his teammate’s next move, the “flow of the game is so much nicer,” said Johnson. 

The “flow” of a game is caused by togetherness, according to head Gold coach Hugo Werstler. This “togetherness” is achieved by doing everything as a team: working hard together, celebrating together, losing together. He believes that the disconnect within a team is caused by only focusing on yourself. Coach Werstler believes that “a team is only as strong as its weakest link, support it.” 

On the outside, freshmen football may seem like it only teaches you discipline and grit, when really it creates a community. Johnson is grateful for the “brotherhood that this freshmen team has made.” These teams show how having a shared interest can lead to a strong community.