Gators -- and Go Gettas -- cap summer workouts at Gator Charity Challenge; Schmitt is push-up champ
Saturday, July 30, 2011 | Women's Basketball, Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gator football team has been going hard in the shadows of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium all summer during voluntary workouts on the team's practice fields.
They took their workouts inside The Swamp on Friday night as part of the Fourth Annual Gator Football Charity Challenge.
The Go Gettas – a team captained by Trey Burton, Frankie Hammond, Jon Harrison, Jaye Howard and Jelani Jenkins – took home top honors by scoring 14 points, winning the sled push competition and finishing second in the torpedo hold.
The event featured three competitions – the six teams also battled in tug-of-war – and served a larger function as a food drive for the Salvation Army of Alachua County.
More than 650 pounds of canned food was donated by fans getting their first glimpse of the 2011 Gators and volunteers collected numerous personal hygiene products to for the Salvation Army to donate to the homeless and families in need.
“It's kind of one final event. We've been leading up to this all summer long,'' said Scott Holsopple, assistant director of strength and conditioning. “We've already had our last voluntary training session for the summer. So once again, they are coming back on a Friday night volunteering their time for a bigger cause.
“This was just one small glimpse that you got to see throughout the whole summer of what they have actually been doing.''
It was obvious the players enjoyed the competition and release after an intense summer of conditioning drills in preparation for the start of fall camp in a week.
“This is just showing that we're determined,'' Harrison said. “We're out here, we'll give it our all to do everything it takes to get better.''
While the Go Gettas won the team competition, 5-foot-7, 175-pound walk-on fullback Jesse Schmitt won over his teammates and fans with an impressive showing in the push-up competition. Schmitt outlasted Chris Rainey and Jeremy Brown in the final.
Schmitt is a UF junior and tried walking on during his freshman season but did not make the team. He tried again in the spring and earned a roster spot. He is planning to join the Marines after college and said his training for the Marine Corps helped him pull off the upset.
“I did my training [for the Marines] last summer, so we did a lot of push-ups there,'' Schmitt said. “That certainly helps. I've got a lower body weight than most of those guys by at least 100 pounds, so that comes in handy.
“These guys are incredible. They are just athletic freaks. It's great to work out with them. It makes it hard to keep up.''
Schmitt was mobbed by his teammates on Team B.E.D.I.C.K. after winning. His next goal is to run out of the tunnel for the Sept. 3 home opener against Florida Atlantic.
“It's going to be an absolute dream world,'' he said. “I cannot wait.''
Here is a look at the final standings and scoring system:
|
Teams |
Sled push |
Tug-of-war |
Torpedo hold |
Total points |
Rank |
|
Team Takeover |
3 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
6th |
|
Trend Setters |
4 |
2 |
4 |
10 |
3rd |
|
B.E.D.I.C.K. |
5 |
1 |
2 |
8 |
4th |
|
Pandemonium |
1 |
3 |
3 |
7 |
5th |
|
Against All Odds |
2 |
4 |
6 |
12 |
2nd |
|
Go Gettas |
6 |
3 |
5 |
14 |
1st |
Scoring: First place – 6 points; Second place – 5 points; Third place – 4 points; Fourth place – 3 points; Fifth place – 2 points; Sixth place – 1 point.
