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There’s no better way to close out summer than with good food, live music, plenty of laughs and, most importantly, the ZOOZ community.

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On Sunday, ZOOZ athletes, parents, families, caregivers, coaches and friends came together for our first-ever Summer Nights at ZOOZ, an evening dedicated to celebrating the people who make our community so special.

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From the moment guests walked through the doors, it was clear this wasn’t going to be an ordinary night at ZOOZ.

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Longtime ZOOZ athlete Manny and his mom were among the first to welcome everyone, serving up freshly made quesadillas from Manny’s small business, Tu Queso Mucho. Between the incredible smell of quesadillas cooking and their big smiles behind the table, they provided the perfect welcome to the evening.

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Nearby, coaches Tahlia and Emma kept everyone refreshed at the drink stand, where guests could choose from an assortment of fun and unique mocktails.

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And there was plenty to do.

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Athletes and guests tested their skills at cornhole, challenged their strength with a dead-hang competition and stopped by the print press to create their own customized tote bags to take home.

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But one of the biggest highlights of Summer Nights was the live music.

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Singer and musician Trevan became the evening’s unofficial MC, performing classics while athletes, families and coaches sang along, danced and enjoyed being together.

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Trevan also made sure the spotlight wasn’t only on him. Throughout his performance, he took time to showcase artwork created by ZOOZ athletes, including Spencer, and invited athletes to become part of the show themselves.

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One particularly special moment came when ZOOZ athlete Isaiah sat down at the piano and played while Trevan sang, turning the performance into a collaboration—and giving the crowd another reason to cheer.

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The performances didn’t stop there. Athletes took the microphone throughout the evening, including Jess, who sang the national anthem, before the night eventually turned into karaoke.

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For Jake, ZOOZ’s founder and owner, evenings like Summer Nights represent something that has always been at the heart of ZOOZ: creating a place where athletes can build relationships, express themselves and feel part of a community.

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“ZOOZ has always been about so much more than what happens during a workout. It’s about creating a community where our athletes and their families feel connected and supported. Seeing everyone together—eating, dancing, performing and just having fun—is exactly what we hoped Summer Nights would be,” Jake said. 

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And for the athletes themselves, the evening was a chance to spend time with friends and enjoy ZOOZ in a completely different way.

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 “I loved getting to hang out with everyone and listen to the music. It was so much fun seeing my friends, dancing and having everyone together at ZOOZ,” Caroline, a longtime ZOOZ athlete said. 

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By the end of the evening, Summer Nights had become much more than an end-of-summer celebration. It was a reminder of what makes ZOOZ special: the athletes, families, coaches and supporters who show up for one another—not only during workouts, but beyond them.

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There was food. There was music. There was art, dancing, karaoke and plenty of laughter.

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But most of all, there was community.

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And we couldn’t think of a better way to end the summer.

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