Eaglecrest’s “Hogs” continue to feast.
The Raptors furthered their tradition of linemen excellence July 12 at the annual Hog Wars strength and teamwork competition, which returned to Rangeview High School after a year hiatus.
Eaglecrest brought two teams to the competition that included other Aurora squads from the host Raiders, Vista PEAK and Smoky Hill along with newcomer Pomona and coach Mike Schmitt’s groups finished first and third when the results of seven events were tabulated.
On a sun-drenched day, teams contested the event’s traditional farmer’s carry, log press, sled push, truck push and tug-o-war — in addition to bench press and medicine ball toss added by Rangeview coach Chris Dixon — and the Raptors’ group of seniors Kael Weatherby, Caden Harry and Tyler Tipton, juniors T’Mar Walter and Brandon Replogle and sophomore Parker Hocker prevailed.
“We take a lot of pride in the weight room and being big, strong and powerful,” said Eaglecrest offensive line coach Seth Replogle.
“We know you win football games in the trenches. Winning this is not really the end game, but it’s definitely a reward for all the hard work we’ve put in for the past year.”
FULL PHOTO GALLERY FROM 2023 HOG WARS, HERE
The Raptors won their first Hog Wars title in 2021 (when the event came back after it was lost to the coronavirus pandemic the previous year) and are the first two-time champion in the event other than Rangeview, which has won 11 times since it debuted Hog Wars in 2005 under former coach Dave Gonzales.
Gateway (2011), Overland (2012), Cherokee Trail (2013) and Vista PEAK (2019) also have won one Hog Wars title.
Weatherby — a 6-foot-4, 297-pound offensive lineman whose brother Kaden (another former Eaglecrest standout lineman) is at the University of South Dakota — also competed in the event in 2021 and loves it.
As much as it demonstrates the gains made in the weight room, Hog Wars is a foreshadowing of what those in the trenches can expect when times get tough during Friday Night Lights.
“After this, I know that every single guy that was on my team, I can rely on them and I don’t have to worry about them when the game is on the line,” Weatherby said.
Eaglecrest’s second team also held up the tradition, as it finished third.
In between the Raptors’ two teams came Rangeview’s top team, which got a big boost from the performance of junior Brandon Jones Jr., but couldn’t quite earn the trophy back for the program.
Dixon — who is about to enter his second season as head coach — believes his line group, which has a healthy mix of seniors and juniors, will be a major factor come the start of the season.
Getting back the trophy will have to wait, however.
“We got a tracker on the trophy, so we expect to get it back next year,” Dixon said with a smile. “This is only temporary.”
Newcomer Pomona finished fourth, ahead of coach DaVaughn Thornton Sr.’s Vista PEAK team, coach Brandon Alconcel’s Smoky Hill group in sixth and Rangeview’s No. 2 team seventh.
The Bison, who return some of their key figures up front in Nathan Hunholz, Cahlel Barthlow and Jalen Payne, won the Big Boyz War last summer, which was held in the place of Hog Wars. The Buffaloes, meanwhile, have a lot of new faces after the graduation of forces Amir Copeland and Calem Grimble.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
