By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When high school football practice begins in August, linemen will go back to laboring in relative obscurity.
Shawnee Heights senior Christian Gonzales completes the obstacle course in Monday's Battle of the Bigs lineman challenge at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior Jacob Hawks pushes the weighted sled during Monday's Battle of the Bigs at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Monday's Battle of the Bigs lineman challenge at Shawnee Heights was all about the men in the trenches.
Appoximately 85 linemen representing seven city and area high schools took part in the Battle of the Bigs, competing in a variety of drills/activities while vying for individual and team prizes.
"We do it because the skill guys get to have fun all summer and the linemen, all they do is push sleds and work in the weight room, so we see this as kind of a way to reward the linemen and kind of create that unity in their unit,'' Shawnee Heights coach Jason Swift said. "They always say they have a great time.
"We wanted to do something fun for the linemen. Linemen are always like, 'How come we don't get to do 7 on 7, how come we don't get to do stuff?' So that's why we put this together: 'Let's make it a fun day, non-contact, but competitive. More importantly, we want to help build that brotherhood inside the trenches.''
Washburn Rural junior Jermarion Lyles participates in the tractor tire flip Monday at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Jamond Lane participates in the 10-yard sled pull in Monday's Battle of the Bigs linemen challenge at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Participating athetes took part in nine measured events:
• 40-yard scoop and score.
• Tractor tire flip.
• Pro agility drill.
• 10-yard sled pull.
• 185-pound bench press for reps.
• Medicine ball toss.
• 10-yard sled drive.
• Pursuit drill.
• Obstacle course.
Top 6 City Individuals
Alex Dawkins, Shawnee Heights -- 223 points
Jamond Lane, Washburrn Rural -- 216 points
Kyrece Robinson, Topeka West -- 209 points
Rykan Carver, Shwnee Heights -- 205 points
Caleb Seelbach, Shawnee Heights --193 points
Jermarion Lyles, Washburn Rural -- 180 points
