Courtesy photos Before each Monte Vista High School home football game, moms prepare a meal for the Pirates. MVHS football coach Manny Wasinger appreciates the support.

MONTE VISTA — Leah Weyers of Monte Vista is proud to be a part of the team of moms who hosted a dinner last week for the Monte Vista High School football team.

The dinner was held on Friday. Oct. 21. It was one of many that have been held for the team, as the mothers of these student-athletes come together before every home game to help feed the team.

“The football dinner was a success,” Weyers said. “Monte Vista has great parents that are willing to help in any way that they can. All these parents have joined together and volunteered to help feed the team. A big shout out goes to Tiffany Pacheco and Marisa Jiron for all their help with this. We have a great group of boys we can all be proud of, and we are happy to do this for them.” 

Weyers explained that every time the Monte Vista football team has a home game, one mother will volunteer to feed the team. The mother then seeks out other members to help with the dinner. They usually feed around 48 people per dinner. 

Cameo Marquez, mother of Alex Marquez, who is on the MVHS football team said it's great to see the kids smile, and she enjoys participating.

“The boys were hungry and even went up for seconds, the dinner really went well,” Cameo Marquez said. “If something as simple as a meal puts a smile on their faces, I will do it over and over again for these students. I was happy to be a part of the dinner. I hope the kids enjoyed it.” 

Brooke Gallegos who also helped with the dinner, as a football mom added, “My son is a freshman on the team this year, and I love that Coach Wasinger keeps the team dinner a tradition. This group of young men are some of the most humbled and polite group I have ever had the privilege to help with. This dinner is a really great way to build team unity, and there is a fantastic group of parents that help organize and support this.”

MVHS varsity football coach Manny Wasinger said the dinner tradition has been going on for years.

“Since I started here 10 years ago this has really been a tradition,” Wasinger said. “We used to have the dinner the night of the game, but now we do it the night before because it just works out better that way. The parents really get involved and it's nice. The dinner is a chance for the kids to get together and socialize. The kids work hard.”

Coach Wasinger said it’s truly a community dinner.

“Anika Velasquez has put the schedule together for parents to sign up,” Wasinger said. “The meals are put together by families, it's moms, dads, brothers and sisters, they all get together and help serve. Parents and families make and donate the food and it's really appreciated.”

Wasinger said the team looks forward to the dinner and they adjust their practice time to fit the dinner into their schedule.

“This is something I know the kids really look forward to. We have a shorter practice on Thursday nights so we can have this dinner, when we have home games,” Wasinger said. “I know the kids are always anxious to see what the meal is going to be that night. This is a good time for us to come together as a team and as families, and show people what we are trying to do, and show our appreciation for the team as well."