Grizzled Old Men: the streak is broken

Jaxson Groby (12) defends against Mr. Betz.  Both teams had to face the challenge – bought and paid for by supporters of the Class of 2025 – of playing with a soccer ball. February 26th, the Cascade seniors took to the court to face the “Old Men” - a team composed of CHS staff and community members. “It was fun, but it’s a lot more fun when I win. Props to the senior class: they played hard and made us look like old men this year,” explained Mr. Betz.  PC: Rylie Songer (9) 

On February 26th, Cascade High School (CHS) carried on the decade-plus traditional Grizzled Old Men (GOM) game in the CHS big gym at 6pm. Grizzled Old Men is where CHS staff members, locals in the community, and coaches compete with the graduating class in a game of basketball, but with a twist. The game is a fundraiser for the senior class and the money raised helps to support the senior trip and other senior ventures at the end of the year. For years, seniors have raised money through ticket sales for the event.  And for years, over ten in fact, the Grizzled Old Men have beat the seniors.  During the 2024 iteration of the game, the senior class began a new tradition: the availability of “challenges” for players on the court.  Despite the support of many parents in purchasing “challenges” to hinder the GOM team, in 2024, the GOM won yet again. 

Senior class officers for the Class of 2025 decided to carry on this tradition.  The locals, students and staff members who are not participating in the game were offered the opportunity to enact challenges for a player of their choice. For the locals to mandate the players to do these challenges, they must donate money to the senior class to “purchase” the challenge gear and or enact the tasks. Challenges consisted of drunk goggles, wearing the mascot head, participating as a three-legged player, playing with a soccer ball instead of a basketball and being required to play while wearing oven mitts.  

"It was extremely hard not because [the drunk goggles] made it disorienting, but because of how dark they were. It was more of a blind fold than drunk goggles,” said Maizy Groff (12). 

This year, these challenges did not only hinder members of the GOM team but were assigned to student competitors as well.  

Halfway through the game Mr. Barnes announced that both teams had to switch from playing with a basketball to playing with a soccer ball. Along with that, another fun challenge that happened to the players was the triple leg, where two people got one leg from each person  tied together and had to make it work in the game and learned how to play while attached to each other.  

“Being tied to Ethan (12) was unexpected, they just told me on the spot. He was bigger than I expected, so it was kind of hard to maneuver. We ended up scoring, but got tripped up and we fell on Teyva’s (12) dad,” explained Ivan Alejandre (12). These fun challenges are what make Grizzled Old Men interesting to watch, because of all the unexpected twists and turns that happen to the players and the game itself.  

In hopes of thwarting his play and giving the GOM team an advantage, Jaxson Groby (12) had to play for a short time wearing the Cascade Kodiak mascot head.  This challenge was purchased by his parents as an ode to the many times that Groby was the mascot during the football games and assemblies.  

“I was so thankful my mom bought the mascot head, I’m beyond grateful. It was an honor to wear it one last time, representing the school on last time,” said Groby (12).  

In addition to all of the fun surprises in the form of challenges, this year, the senior class won the game for the first time in twenty years.  

During the game there were many seniors who helped take the win, but some of the standouts included Jackson Feeney (12), Jonas Johnson (12), Maizy Groff (12), Ethan Davis (12) and Teyva Dillon (12), all of whom, with the exception of Johnson played for CHS this past basketball season.  

“It was fun getting back onto the court since I didn’t play my senior year. It was good to play one more time against staff and people I’ve known my whole life,” explained Johnson.

This was a huge goal accomplished by the class of 2025, because they wanted to be the ones who finally beat the old men and break cascade history.  

“Winning the game was a massive moment for our senior class, it was the first time in 20 years. It just shows what a special group of guys we have in the class of 2025,” said Cole Slette (12).  

The Grizzled Old Men were disappointed to see the end of their winning streak.  

“I was kind of bummed that us Old Men lost, we seemed a little slower like we are getting older in that game. I’m a very competitive person so it was an upset to lose,” stated Mr. Betz CHS health and sports med teacher. 

Grizzled Old Men was wildly successful this year, ensuring that the tradition will ensure for years to come.  The Grizzled Old Men are sure to come back next year ready to resume their winning streak once again; hopefully the Class of 2026 is prepared.