The Lone Rangers rode again at Banks County High School last Friday morning.
In the finals of the Gladiator Wars, the team of the Lone Rangers earned the championship after competing in events such as rolling a 55-gallon drum filled with 20 gallons of water up a hill, flipping large tractor tires for 15 yards, carrying tractor tires, pulling a weighted sled while seated on the ground, pushing a five-man sled and running the “Leopard obstacle course.”
Captains for the Lone Rangers were Justin Bowen and Nick Sosebee. Other team members included Matthew Paton, Dylan Lackey, Logan Prater, Josh Staats and Thomas Baker. They earned first place in three of six events.
The second place team trailed by just three points led by captains Tyler Hulsey and Zack Dale and team members Kane Duncan, Brad Anderson, Nathan Krumnow and Jacob Blalock.
The runner-up team used three second-place individual finishes to stay in contention along with three third-place wins.
Barry Whitfield, Zach Sprayberry, Jameson Flyn, Clay Frink and Brandon Law comprised the third place team while Justin Lewallen and Justen Scott led the fourth place team consisting of members Riley Nicholson, Mitchell Reeves, Nathan Mathis, Joseph Denton and Jeff Smith.
The fourth place team just missed third place by three points.
BCHS coaches noted captains Chris Porter and Billy Dunn also had their team in contention until the end finishing just three points out of fourth place. Team members included Bill Redmon, Cody Gowder, Cody Evans, Homer Carver and Blake Cotton. The team won first in the barrel roll.
Friday’s event was also attended by the Junior Leopard Helmet Buddies, young players from Banks County Primary School and Banks County Elementary School. The young players also competed in three Gladiator War events while being encouraged by their older counterparts.
“It was incredible to see the great effort by these 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11-year-olds,” BCHS football coaches said. “We will be increasing the number of events for these young players next summer.”
The young players competed in the seated sled pull, the running sled pull and tire jumps.
In the 7 and 8-year-old category with the top totals between all three events, Easton Staton took third while Cale Compton and Blake Segars tied for second. Lex Mason won first although only one point separated the top three finishers.
The competition was just as tough for the 9-year-olds. Kelly Mize and Kelan Dalton tied for third while Stetson Boswell was second. Mitchell Patton was first for the age group.
In the 10-year-old division, Jamie Wood, Cody Stanley and Jody Poole tied for second place with Austin Holland and Brock Ivey tying for first.
Michael Patton was third in the 11-year-old division with Noah Trebech finishing as runner-up and Jake Franklin earning first.
BCHS athletic director and head football coach Blair Armstrong said he wanted to thank all the families who came out to offer support and help.
“Everyone is alreay talking about how they can’t wait until next summer when we start up again,” Armstrong said.
