Linemen strut their stuff in second annual competition

CEDAR RAPIDS - The athletes in the trenches took center stage on Saturday.Skill-position players in football might get most of the attention, but the linemen put their talent and strength on display.Linemen from three area programs participated in the Second Annual Eastern Iowa Lineman Challenge at Kingston Stadium. Players from Anamosa, Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Cedar Rapids Washington competed in activities for individuals and four-man teams.Anamosa's Devonte Merrill claimed the individual title, while the Warriors' Wes Ennis, Noah Fox, Anthony Rodriguez-Blakely and Max Podgorski combined to win the team division.The tasks resemble those of the "World Strongest Man" series. Individuals competed in a medicine ball toss, an ATV pull, flipped a tractor tire 10 times and one-man sled obstacle.Team challenges included tire toss, 400 meter relay, farmer-walk relay, carrying 135 pounds for 20 yards, truck push and pull, tug-of-war and a hot-dog eating contest.The goal is to make the fun event bigger, including more players from other programs."Many other teams from the area indicated they were interested but did not attend," Washington assistant coach Frank Scherrman said in a news release. "We hope this expands to many more teams in the future."Below is the news release, including individual and team winners:

2ND ANNUAL EASTERN IOWA LINEMAN'S CHALLENGEThe 2nd Annual Eastern Iowa Lineman's Challenge took place at Kingston Stadium on Saturday morning.Teams from Anamosa, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, and Cedar Rapids Washington competed. Many other teams from the area indicated they were interested but did not attend. We hope this expands too many more teams in the future.The competition was broken down into two divisions. An individual competition and a four-man team competition.On the individual side the linemen competed in the following events:

Medicine ball toss. (For distance) Champion-Devonte Merrill-Anamosa

A Rhino pull (for time) Had to pull a ATV 25 yards for time Champion-Devon Green-Washington

Tractor tire flip. (Flipped 10 times for time) Champion-Dalton Kuehl-Jefferson

1-man sled obstacle (for time) Champion-Dalton Kuehl-Jefferson 

The overall individual Champion was Devonte Merrill from Anamosa In the team competition the 4-linemen teams competed in:

Team tire toss (combined for distance) Champion-Jefferson Team 1

4x100 meter relay (for time) Champion-Washington Team 1

Farmers-walk relay (20 yard relay carrying 135 pounds) Champion-Washington Team 1

4-man truck push & pull (for time) Champion-Jefferson Team 1

Team tug-of-war Champion-Anamosa Team 1

Hot Dog Eating Contest Champion-Jefferson Team 1

The winners of the Team competition were Wes Ennis, Noah Fox, Anthony Rodriguez-Blakley, & Max PodgorskiAnamosa team 2 was second.Jefferson Team 1 was third.