The Lower School cheer squad joins HRA’s varsity cheerleaders on the court during the Noodle Night pep rally
Hampton Roads Academy’s varsity and middle school basketball teams showed off their talent on the court and honored the school’s oldest unbroken tradition with a clean sweep in their Noodle Night triple-header against Summit Christian Academy on Friday, January 23.
Following a rousing pep rally to round out the school day, the evening began with a sold-out sophomore-class fundraiser dinner in the Mary and Larry Pope Dining Hall, featuring lasagna, salad, and delectable desserts, along with a raffle for prizes generously donated by supporters of the school.
Meanwhile, in the Charles R. Spencer Gymnasium, the Navigator middle school girls team pulled off the first victory of the night, defeating their opponent 28-18. HRA’s middle school boys then took the court and notched an impressive 41-13 win. The climax of the occasion was the boys varsity game, in which the Navigators triumphed over the Summit Christian Eagles 79-46.
The trio of wins echoed another outstanding evening for Navigator Basketball on the first Noodle Night in February 1976. As HRA celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of its longest-running tradition’s inception this winter, the school is proud to carry on a legacy of athletic excellence.
“Win or lose, it’s always a thrill to be on the court with these players,” said varsity boys basketball Head Coach and Director of Admissions Ed Swanson. “But the team was energized to play on this night especially, because of the history this night holds at HRA. To come out on top is a tremendous honor.”
A Storied Tradition
Now a staple of HRA’s community calendar, the tradition of Noodle Night grew from humble roots. The annual event originated as a one-off effort by the juniors of the Class of 1977 to raise money for an off-campus senior prom in a more glamorous setting than the “Old Gym,” now known as the Multi-Purpose Room.
Carrying on a time-honored tradition, members of the sophomore class serve up a delicious lasagna dinner for the whole HRA community on Noodle Night 2026
The night of a highly anticipated face-off against HRA’s basketball rival Peninsula Catholic High School, Navigator mothers brought their stock pots and hot plates to campus and whipped up salads, French bread, and pound after pound of pasta, attempting to replicate a beloved sauce recipe passed down from Pete Paine ’77’s grandmother. The organizers sold so many tickets for the dinner that they had to hold two seatings to accommodate all the members of the HRA community, who were as hungry as they were eager to cheer on the varsity and junior-varsity teams.
Energized by noodles and school spirit, HRA went on to best Peninsula Catholic in both matchups.
The varsity game, an 82-59 win for the Navigators that followed on the tail of two prior losses against their rival, was especially historic. On the court, junior Bill Shelly ’77 set a new school record with 41 points, propelling him to a 1,000-career-point milestone—a total he would nearly double by the end of his senior year.
Memories of such achievements were front-of-mind when alumni joined current students and families on campus for the landmark 50th Annual Noodle Night in January 2025. With wins in both the boys and girls varsity basketball games that evening, the Navigators maintained a high standard that the program has only furthered this winter season.
A Night of Excellence on the Court
Seventh grader Tommy Lanier ’31 takes a shot during the middle school boys team’s triumphant game against Summit Christian
The middle school girls kicked off the action on Noodle Night 2026 with a textbook illustration of the power of teamwork. “They played well together,” said Head Coach and Middle School math teacher Chyna Roberts. “They did a lot of sharing the ball. A lot of girls got to bring the ball to the court today.”
This synergized group effort paid off. Though the Navigators initially traded point for point with the Eagles and ended the first quarter tied, they pulled ahead to a healthy lead by the half. The margin tightened to just four points during the final quarter, but the girls rallied and ultimately defeated Summit Christian by ten points.
Coming off a string of highs and lows throughout January, HRA’s middle school boys marked Noodle Night by winning their game handily. They dominated throughout, expanding their lead each quarter and routing their opponents, with a final score more than triple that of Summit Christian’s.
“I’m proud of the kids,” said Head Coach and Lower School physical education teacher Ron Sims. “Defensively, we played well, moved the ball around on offense, made some tough shots. We played well today.”
Varsity basketball player Graham Hutchens ’27 delivers an especially strong performance during the climactic matchup on Noodle Night
“Hopefully, we can build on this and keep stacking up those wins,” he added.
As a school, HRA had one more win to stack up before the night was over. With the Lower School cheer squad joining the varsity cheerleaders to boost the players’ spirits from the sidelines, the boys varsity basketball team capped off the triple-header with yet another phenomenal display of athletic talent, including standout performances by juniors Graham Hutchens ’27 and Mekhi Ward ’27.
Energized by a victory against the Steward School the day before, the Navigators pushed through a tight first quarter and opened up a ten-point lead in the last two minutes, an advantage they had nearly tripled by halftime. The boys built on this momentum in the second half, eventually winning by over 30 points.
With three outstanding teams cheered on by a school community bonded by time-honored tradition, the 51st Annual Noodle Night will be remembered as another proud entry in the history books of Navigator Athletics.
