AURORA | One of the highlights for Aurora prep football teams over the summer is Hog Wars, the annual strength and teamwork competition for city offensive and defensive linemen — or “hogs” — hosted by Rangeview High School.
The ninth edition of the event is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 10 at Rangeview and Raiders coach Dave Gonzales said eight of Aurora’s 11 high schools expect to compete. With a few schools entering more than one five-man team, Gonzales believes 14 squads will compete, which would be the largest number in the event’s history.
While the events teams get scored in remain the same — the 140-pound farmer’s carry, monster truck tire flip relay, 125-pound “log” press, firetruck push and tug o’ war — the storylines are different in 2013.
Three teams with new coaches, Gateway (Ashour Peera), Hinkley (Jaron Cohen) and Smoky Hill (former Gateway coach Justin Hoffman) are expected to compete, while Vista PEAK — which played its first varsity season last year — is also expected to take part in Hog Wars for the first time.
Cherokee Trail, which made it to the Class 5A state championship game last season, is also entered in the competition.
“We’ll be at Hog Wars in force as we typically are, it’s a great event,” said Cougars coach Monte Thelen, who has two teams set to participate.
Aurora Central is also set to compete as it has in the past.
Rangeview won Hog Wars for the first six years of the event, but Aurora Public Schools rival Gateway broke the streak in 2011 and Overland won the event for the first time in 2012.
Coach Seth Replogle’s Trailblazers will be on hand to try to join Rangeview as the first multiple winner in Hog Wars history.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
