The Pride of Summer continues at Banks County as the football players finish out the month in the weight room.
Banks County’s gridiron Leopards recently competed in the Lineman Challenge at Gilmer County and finished up the start of the Gladiator Wars.
With the GHSA mandated holiday off-week July 5-9, the Leopards will take a few days to relax before returning to attend a Defensive Camp July 11-14.
The fourth annual Lineman Challenge at Gilmer County proved to be a challenge across the board as Banks County took fourth in the trench warfare challenge. Calhoun won the challenge followed by Dade County and Gilmer taking third. Falling behind in the trench warfare challenge was Fannin, Rockdale, North Paulding, Lumpkin, Armuchee and Walhalla.
In the bull-pull, Eli Autry took third place, while in the tug-of-war, Banks County took third, but brought home the trophy for the 7-man sled.
The following week, Banks County hosted the annual Gladiator Wars.
Coach Blair Armstrong said that the competition is a way for the players to compete and have fun. Competing for prizes in six events, including the tire flip, farmer walk, 2-man sled, 5-man sled, bog jumps and the toughest challenge, the Leopard’s Eliminator.
The players were able to pick their own team names and draft which teammates they wanted.
Points were given in each event and the Seekers won after guaranteeing the victory with a first place finish in four events. Captain of the Seekers was Joe Denton with his chosen team of Homer Carver, Eli Smallwood, Blake Cotton, Tyler Beezley, Cody Turpin and Ty Blackard.
Taking second place was the Crazier team of Kenny Langston, Hunter Stringer, Matthew Dilbeck, Hayden Dilbeck, Deston Patrick, Parker Watson and Carmin Hicks.
The Navy Seals took third and Children of the Korn came in fourth.
Several of the seniors missed the wars due to summer baseball games or other obligations, including Matthew Patton and Nathan Mathis, who were at the Furman University ‘s football combine.
