Left to right: Hamish Riddel ’26, Trey Frantz ’25, and Nate Wright ’25 in a cave they discovered on a hike.
Although Las Vegas is known for flashing lights, towering casinos, and sprawling resorts, Northwood’s Soccer team prefers somewhere a bit serene for the beginning of their trip. The tradition of hiking through the Red Rocks National Conservation Area began years ago when the program’s staff decided to do something out of the ordinary in hopes of building the team’s culture. “I think that after a long day of travel and sitting on flights and in vans, it’s important to reconnect with nature and get the blood flowing,” said Coach Moodey. At first, the trip was met with some disappointment from the players. It was hard to get everyone motivated to get in the vans again for a task that seemed so tiring and futile, but once everyone was there, it was an instant hit. Some players chose to bask in the Vitamin D of the sun, whereas others climbed rock outcroppings hundreds of feet in the air. Whichever option players chose, it left them feeling relaxed and took the stress of the travel day off their shoulders, thus leading to a tradition being born.
The Journey begins in the concrete Jungle that’s downtown Las Vegas and ends in the barren desert, with towering skyscrapers making way for gorgeous mountains. Every year, one group rushes ahead to climb the stacks of boulders which are coloreds varying from a pale orange to dark maroon, while the others remain behind and chat leisurely while walking the trail. “It’s honestly one of the highlights of the trip. Last year, some friends and I climbed until we found an amazing cave to relax in,” said Hamish Riddel ’26. The coaches also enjoy the hike for their reasons; it allows them to relax after a tense day of travel, as it’s no easy feat keeping 48 teenagers together in the crowded airport. In total, the trip lasts about an hour or two before the team relents to the shade of their vans and cools off with the much-needed air conditioning.
Overall, the trip sets the Las Vegas trip off to a great start every year, providing excitement and stimulation for the players while the coaches get a breath of fresh air after an intense day of travel. The outing consistently puts the team in the right state of mind to perform, and the results from prior years speak for themselves. Since the tradition began, the Northwood programs have won The Players Showcase a total of four times in the last seven years. This day of adventure in the sun has become both a staff and player favorite and will surely remain in the itinerary for years to come.
