Ten Rockets were recognized for their performances in the annual Ironman competition, which took on a new look this season. Linemen and skilled-position players competed amongst their own. Leading the skilled players (front from left) were Landon Brooks, Seth Birdwell, Adam Beavers, Ethan Hunt and Devon Nesbitt. Leading the linemen (back) were Travis Fitzgerald,Travis McKinney, Devin Hopper, Gary McConnell and Jake Ellington.
For about 15 years, Crittenden County football players have been starting the season with an individual strength, speed and agility competition called the Ironman. Since its inception into the football preseason, the measuring stick hadn’t changed.
This year, however, everything was revamped and tailored toward two specific phases of the game – linemen play and the so-called skilled positions.
Jared Brown, the team’s strength and conditioning coach, said it was a move to refine the competition’s goals and to focus on physical traits that define linemen type players and those at the skilled positions such as running back and receiver.
“Your skilled guys should be explosive up and the lineman should be explosive out,” said Brown. “Linemen work horizontally rather than vertically.”
He said lineman were timed in the 20-yard dash and skilled players in the 40-yard dash. The mile-and-half and weightlifting were eliminated this year, as were some other categories.
In their places were the 10-pound Med Ball throw, Pro Agilities (like employed at pro combine camps) and jumping – vertical for skilled players and broad jump (standing long jump) for linemen.
Brown said the new approach to Ironman was developed to more accurately test the physical output and skills of players who have trained for particular roles on the football team.
The top five skilled players and top five linemen were recognized by the team. No longer is there an overall Ironman champion. There was a three-way tie for third in the lineman competition. At right are the results from the competition.
SKILLED PLAYERS
Overall Points
1. Landon Brooks
2. Seth Birdwell
3. Adam Beavers
4. Ethan Hunt
5. Devon Nesbitt
LINEMEN
Overall Points
1. Travis Fitzgerald
2. Travis McKinney
3. Jake Ellington
3. Gary McConnell
3. Devin Hopper
| 40 Yard Dash | Time | . | Pro Agility | Time |
| Birdwell, Seth | 4.91 | Birdwell, Seth | 4.52 | |
| Brooks, Landon | 4.96 | Brooks, Landon | 4.82 | |
| Russellberg, Jacob | 4.99 | Russellberg, Jacob | 4.9 | |
| Cosby, Alex | 5.01 | Cosby, Alex | 4.56 | |
| Beavers, Adam | 5.02 | Beavers, Adam | 4.75 | |
| Hicks, Dylan | 5.03 | Hicks, Dylan | 5.06 | |
| Lamey, Brannen | 5.04 | Lamey, Brannen | 5.1 | |
| Hunt, Ethan | 5.06 | Hunt, Ethan | 4.65 | |
| Nesbitt, Devin | 5.07 | Nesbitt, Devin | 4.55 | |
| Hollis, Dylan | 5.11 | Hollis, Dylan | 4.87 | |
| Castiller, Nick | 5.2 | Castiller, Nick | 4.79 | |
| Smith, Dylan | 5.24 | Smith, Dylan | 4.95 | |
| Myers, Maeson | 5.26 | Myers, Maeson | 5.05 | |
| Belt, Jesse | 5.28 | Belt, Jesse | 4.87 | |
| Dossett, Ethan | 5.29 | Dossett, Ethan | 4.87 | |
| Coleman, Tyler | 5.36 | Coleman, Tyler | 5.22 | |
| Dickerson, Gavin | 5.41 | Dickerson, Gavin | 4.88 | |
| Johnson, Charlie | 5.43 | Johnson, Charlie | 5.21 | |
| Castiller, Kyle | 5.47 | Castiller, Kyle | 5.12 | |
| Joyce, Mitchell | 5.6 | Joyce, Mitchell | 4.9 | |
| McKinney, Bryce | 5.65 | McKinney, Bryce | 5.22 | |
| Riley, Paxton | 5.72 | Riley, Paxton | 5.1 | |
| Boone, Hunter | 5.76 | Boone, Hunter | 5.37 | |
| Hood, Tony | 6 | Hood, Tony | 5.32 | |
| Riley, Payton | 6.02 | Riley, Payton | 5.32 | |
| Belt, Cody | 6.12 | Belt, Cody | 5.33 | |
| Lundy, Jared | 9.99 | Lundy, Jared | 9.99 | |
| Med Ball | Dis. | Vertical Jump | Jump | |
| Hunt, Ethan | 36' 10" | Brooks, Landon | 28 | |
| Brooks, Landon | 36' 1" | Myers, Maeson | 26.5 | |
| Coleman, Tyler | 36' 1" | Beavers, Adam | 24.5 | |
| Beavers, Adam | 35' 10' | Birdwell, Seth | 24 | |
| Hollis, Dylan | 34' 9" | Hicks, Dylan | 24 | |
| Riley, Paxton | 34' 8" | Nesbitt, Devin | 24 | |
| Castiller, Nick | 34' 7" | Hollis, Dylan | 23 | |
| Lundy, Jared | 33'10" | Hunt, Ethan | 23 | |
| Birdwell, Seth | 33' 10" | Castiller, Nick | 22.5 | |
| Smith, Dylan | 32' 10" | Cosby, Alex | 22.5 | |
| Dickerson, Gavin | 31' 9" | Smith, Dylan | 22.5 | |
| Nesbitt, Devin | 31' 6" | Lamey, Brannen | 22 | |
| Boone, Hunter | 31' 4" | Belt, Jesse | 20.5 | |
| Hicks, Dylan | 31' 1" | Dossett, Ethan | 20.5 | |
| Russellberg, Jacob | 29' 6" | Coleman, Tyler | 20 | |
| Lamey, Brannen | 29' 4" | Russellberg, Jacob | 20 | |
| Johnson, Charlie | 29' 1" | Joyce, Mitchell | 19.5 | |
| Dossett, Ethan | 29' | Lundy, Jared | 19.5 | |
| Cosby, Alex | 28' 2" | Dickerson, Gavin | 19 | |
| Hood, Tony | 27' 9" | Castiller, Kyle | 18.5 | |
| Belt, Jesse | 27' 8" | Johnson, Charlie | 18.5 | |
| Joyce, Mitchell | 27' 2" | Riley, Paxton | 18.5 | |
| Myers, Maeson | 26' 9' | McKinney, Bryce | 18 | |
| McKinney, Bryce | 25' 9" | Belt, Cody | 17.5 | |
| Castiller, Kyle | 23' 9" | Boone, Hunter | 17 | |
| Belt, Cody | 23' 5" | Riley, Payton | 16.5 | |
| Riley, Payton | 22' 8" | Hood, Tony | 15 |
