Aurora 20th annual 'Battle of the Big Butts' to showcase prep football linemen
West Aurora High School's 20th annual Battle of the Big Butts, eight contests for offensive and defensive linemen from 30 area high schools, will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at Ken Zimerman Field, 1201 W. New York St. in Aurora.
The public is invited. Admission and parking are free. Concessions will be available.
Battle coordinator is Michael Runge, Blackhawk assistant football coach.
Runge said, "During the summer, football skill players compete by throwing, catching passes and making interceptions. This event is about the other positions on the field - the offensive and defensive linemen."
Scheduled events
• Bench Press, varsity: 185 lbs.; frosh/soph: 135 lbs. Total reps counted for team score.
• 40-yard dash
• Medicine-ball throw
• Agility run including chutes, bags, cones, hurdle, ladders
• Tractor-tire relay, two-man teams will flip tires for 10 yards
• 5-man sled drive for 5 seconds
• Tug of war
• Watermelon-eating race; nonscoring event
Awards will be presented to team and individual winners to close the event.
According to Runge, events feature watermelon-eating and tug-of-war contests. Also, scouts from college football programs and football media reporters are expected to observe the local talent.
Runge added, "This event was organized in 1999 by Mike Powers, assistant coach at St. Charles High School. He brought the competition with him when he came to West Aurora in 2006. In 2015, it gained national recognition when it was covered by Sports Illustrated.
"In 2016, Mike retired from coaching football. West Aurora is proud to continue this event in Mike's honor and for all of those unsung heroes of the gridiron, the linemen!"
For more information, call (630) 301-5565 or email mrunge@sd129.org.