Red Team Opens Omaha Challenge with Paintball Win
November 24, 2013 | Baseball
Nov. 24, 2013
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Red squad, captained by junior righthanded pitcher Jared Ruxer, opened the Omaha Challenge with a victory over the Black squad in the paintball competition to claim the first 50 points of the event on Sunday.
In the first of five days of physical and mental competition, the Red squad moved to an early lead before the action picks up on Monday with the vertical jump, long jump and shuttle run individual events at 6 a.m., ET while the tire flip and tug-of-war team events will close the day at 3 p.m.
Ruxer is joined on the Red squad by Zack Burdi, Jakson Deyer, Jeff Gardner, Ryan Summers, Ryan Lauria, Corey Ray, Jake Sparger, Brandon Alphin, Kyle Funkhouser, Colin Lyman, Blake Tiberi, Alex Sears, Nick Burdi, Sutton Whiting, Kyle Gibson, Aaron Gershenfeld, Mike White, Anthony Kidston and Alex Chittenden. Led by captain and junior infielder Zach Lucas, the Black squad also features Robert Strader, Joe Filomeno, Cole Sturgeon, Drew Harrington, Shane Crain, Nick Solak, Danny Rosenbaum, Will Smith, Jordan Simons, Brad Hedden, Logan Taylor, Jonah Philley, Jordan Striegel, Mason Richardson, Kyle McGrath, Josh Rogers, Grant Kay, Matt Rowland and Michael Bollmer.
About the Omaha Challenge
After being hired to lead the Cardinals, McDonnell introduced an intense test of physical and mental stamina during his first fall at the University of Louisville with what he refers to as the Omaha Challenge.
Two captains are selected and teams are drafted to compete against one another in a five-day series of events that tests the athleticism of the teams and the individuals, with a team crown and an individual champion to be named at the end of the competition. Sports performance coach Zach Farrel oversees the competition, while also motivating his charges to extend themselves to their limits.
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