Eden Prairie football team keeps tradition alive at The Waters

The Eden Prairie football team and cheerleaders made their 16th annual visit to The Waters of Eden Prairie senior living community on Friday, continuing a tradition that blends lighthearted competition with meaningful connections across generations.

The afternoon opened with a touch football game between the Eagles and The Waters staff. The outcome was familiar – the staff won, three touchdowns to one – but the score was beside the point. Residents laughed from the sidelines as players good-naturedly chased staff members into the end zone.

With the heat rising, the group moved indoors for a hot dog eating contest that ended in a draw and a push-up challenge won by a cheerleader. Players and cheerleaders then served hot dogs, chips and other snacks before sitting down with residents to swap stories.

Coach Mike Grant said the tradition reflects the program’s core values.

“Our motto on our football team is men for others,” Grant said. “And so we’re always looking for opportunities for our players to get out in the community and do something good.”

Grant said the visits benefit both sides.

“The people here at The Waters really like what we do; they really enjoy it,” he said. “So that’s just one thing, but it’s also really good for our players. It’s good for our players to take time to visit with people who are older than them, who give them a perspective on life.”

For senior captain Ethan Sather, the visit carried meaning beyond football. He talked about meeting a 98-year-old resident named Mike, “a really funny guy” who loved sharing jokes. “Hearing those stories and lessons from my elders – it’s invaluable,” Sather said.

Sather said he reminds younger teammates to view the day as an honor.

“It’s a privilege to be doing this,” Sather said. “This isn’t like, ‘we have to go to The Waters.’ It’s, ‘we get to come here.’ We get to celebrate and have a fun day with these people. I think this is one of the highlights of the year.”

Senior captain Zane Frost called the visit one of his favorite days of the year.

Frost said the conversations matter as much as the games. Residents, he added, “have so many life experiences and so much wisdom that can benefit us in so many ways.”

He spent time with Sally, a new resident in a Minnesota Vikings jersey. “She had been a teacher,” he said, noting that she taught in Madison and had only recently moved in. “She was surprised at how nice and welcoming we were. I could tell it made an impact on her being able to talk to us.”

As a captain, Frost reminds younger teammates to take the day seriously. “Be open to not just helping the residents, but making this something that we can learn from, too,” he said.

Grant said the team began visiting when the facility was called The Colony, nearly two decades ago, and he intends to keep the tradition going.

“The whole idea of giving back is an important thing for our players,” Grant said. “That’s why we do it. Our players are happy to come and visit. And, I think we’ll continue to do it as long as we can.”

The Eagles return to football later this month. They will host public scrimmages against Chanhassen and Champlin Park on Saturday, Aug. 23, beginning at 9 a.m. at Aerie Stadium. Admission is free. Their regular-season opener is Thursday, Aug. 28, at home against Anoka.

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