By Al Benson
West Aurora High School’s 16th annual Battle of the Big Butts was a showcase for more than 200 football linemen from 25 suburban high schools in strength, speed, and agility contests Thursday, July 14.
Varsity and fresh/soph divisions were included.
Michael Runge, West Aurora assistant football coach and science teacher, coordinated the event.
He announced varsity individual winners were Jacob Varner, Wheaton North, bench press; Grant Rylander, Wheaton-Warrenville South, 40-yard dash; Jake Davies, Yorkville, medicine-ball throw; and Brian Dillon, Neuqua Valley, agility run.
Team winners were Batavia, bench press; Yorkville, medicine ball; Glenbard East #1, 40-yard dash; and Glenbard East #1, agility run.
Final team results: Glenbard East #1, 49; Yorkville 1, 46; Batavia #1, 39; Plainfield Central #1, 26; Jacobs #1, 19; Lockport #1, 19; Aurora Christian #1, 17; Oswego East #1, 17; Wheaton Warrenville #1, 16; Plainfield North #1, 14; St Francis, 14; Neuqua Valley 2 , 14; West Aurora #1, 12; Wheaton N. #1, 8; Geneva #2, 7; Plainfield East #2, 6; Neuqua Valley #1, 4; Marengo 3; Plainfield North #2, 2; Burlington Central #1, 2; Plainfield East #1, 2; Plainfield East 3, 2; Oswego #1, 1; Plainfield Central #2, 1.
Other schools entered included East Aurora, Blue Island Eisenhower, Plano, Waubonsie Valley.
A watermelon eating contest was a non-scoring event.