By Emily Carbajal & Kiana Diamond

Thirteen teams went head to head in the annual Granada Hills Charter (GHC) dodgeball competition known as Dodgeball Inferno on Thursday, November 20. With strong competitors and eager spirits all around, the football team took home the title of the 2025 Dodgeball Inferno winner.
Dodgeball Inferno, an Associated Student Body (ASB) event, invites GHC’s athletic and academic clubs and teams every year to test their dodgeball skills and ultimately see who takes the winning trophy. Teams begin each match on opposite sides of the court, rushing toward the dodgeballs placed at center court as soon as the whistle blows. Once the game begins, players must eliminate the opposing team before time runs out.
The football team went up against boys soccer in the championship round, relying on their quick reflexes and strategic catches to stay in the game, creating a suspenseful environment for the crowd.
“It felt like winning a championship,” junior Leland Gargaro said. “We worked hard, and overall it felt awesome to win.”
Football, as a sport, requires skill in throwing, catching, and dodging, all of which the team put to good use in the Dodgeball Inferno.
“We were hyped and excited not only to play but to win,” football player and senior Nathan Pham said. “Winning the game was very exciting and it felt like winning the ‘Superbowl’ of dodgeball. The competition was fun as well. Winning felt great even after our rough football season.”
On the way to the final game, the football team found themselves faced with many challenges and obstacles during competition with the girls softball team, giving them a run for their money in the quarter finals.
“Girls softball was awesome,” Gargaro said. “They were throwing some heaters at us, but we beat them fair and square. It was really fun playing against them.”
During the matches when teams were battling it out against each other, they were also getting roasted by members of ASB who emceed the event. Roasts were sometimes about the team as a whole and sometimes about individual players.
“The roasts were very funny, especially against other teams,” softball player and senior Zoe Justman said. “Some of them were personal but in a good and funny way. It was fun to talk about it afterwards and say ‘Oh my gosh, did you hear the roast about this guy?’”
Many teams came into the game with their own different strategies so they were prepared.
“Our strategy was sending the two fastest players on the team to run up to the balls, and we would leave the rainbow balls that were harder to throw for the other team,” soccer player and junior Adriano Andernians said.
The event added a sense of unity and school spirit that made teams hyped and fostered a sense of community. Being able to play with teammates is an incredible bonding experience. Especially with the fun all the players had, Dodgeball Inferno may inspire students to participate in more events.
“Playing was funny yet scary,” volleyball player and junior Ronin Acosta said. “It was enjoyable because my teammates were fun to be with. It got really competitive which was fun for me but also getting to build more memories with my teammates outside of volleyball was great.”
Each game contained its own twists and turns keeping everyone on the edge of their seat. The roasts were a perfect touch leaving everyone laughing and in shock.
Now the talk is about next year. Will baseball make a comeback after not winning for two years? Will football win next year without scandal? Will we finally see an academic team carry the winner belt?