“Calories” was the word of the day on February 17th. By that I mean that many calories were consumed (and enjoyed) on this day at one place in particular. A special place for MHS wrestling: Sam’s No. 3.
The tradition of going to Sam’s No. 3 started long before any current wrestlers know, but continues with them. It continues because of them.
The only way a wrestler can make their way to the grandest (calorie-filled) table of them all is by making an appearance at state.
“I’d say [my favorite part] is just like all the guys celebrating our hard work, you know? It’s like, here’s a little reward for grinding out.” Grant Gordon (‘25) stated in an interview. “They’ve got a crazy menu. You can get some big stuff there. It’s just like, for the guys that have to cut weight, ‘hey you get to go crazy for a little while now.’”
Such a delightful feast could be compared to ambrosia; the food of the Greek and Roman gods. Coincidentally, the Greeks and Romans had a fond appreciation for wrestling. Enough mythology, though. That’s not what you want to read about. You want to read about one thing, and one thing only: food and wrestling.
“I think [my favorite memory] was this year when we all ordered the big burrito, and we all just tried to finish it, and I was the only one that finished it. I like eating the shakes afterwards, too,” said Hunter Humphrey (‘25), the notorious champion of burrito-related endeavors. In fact, every wrestler I talked to had something to say about Humphrey’s love for burritos.
Gordon recalled a special memory of the human-head-sized-burrito: “…they have like a six-pound burrito, and every year [Hunter Humphrey] eats the whole thing. And then he finished our food, too. So, he might consume like ten pounds of food, which is crazy. It’s just ridiculous how he gets it all down there.”
Breckan Palko (‘26) said something similar.
The burritos are a specialty at Sam’s. Having ventured there myself many a-time, I can attest to that. This tradition is more than just burritos and strawberry shakes, though. The wrestlers know that. “Many of us this year were on a diet for wrestling, and making weight,” Palko stated, “so, it’s a good tradition to get to go there, and have one last meal with each other, and to get to eat with each other. I think it’s just been a tradition that’s been established, so I enjoy it.”
MHS Wrestling has built a tremendous community, and their palace dining hall is Sam’s No. 3.
The one thing about food is that it brings people together. It makes people like each other. And food’s much more enjoyable when you eat it with people you like. That’s no different for MHS wrestling.
“Honestly, [I love] just hanging out with the guys and getting the food,” Humphrey stated, “I think it’s just something we’ve always done, and I think it’s just ended up becoming special.”
All MHS wrestlers can attest to that.
