Members of the Darlington Redbirds football team traveled to Green Bay on Friday July 10 to compete in the Packers’ 11-On tournament. A total of 22 players participated including 13 skill players and nine linemen. The event included eight select Wisconsin high school football teams participating in a 7-on-7 tournament, lineman challenges and skills events. The skills events featured the fastest man, strongest man, and the longest throw.

The 11-On competition was held at Titletown and Emplify Health Field next to Lambeau Field. The other teams that participated included Kenosha Bradford, West DePere, Lake Mills, Sussex Hamilton, Delavan-Darien, Menomonie, and Green Bay Notre Dame.

“The Packers recognized us as one of the teams to invite,” said Darlington coach Travis Winkers, adding Darlington was the smallest school at the competition.

The Packers provided the Darlington football team with $1,000 to participate. Jake Krueger, the Packers Outreach Coordinator, contacted Winkers about bringing the Redbirds to Green Bay for the competition.

Of the eight schools that participated, Darlington finished in fourth place. “To finish in fourth place against bigger schools is quite an accomplishment,” Winkers said. “A special shout-out to Calum Crist. He won the strongest man competition. He beat multiple guys who had Division 1 rides.” Last year as a junior, Crist was a two-way, all-state player for the Redbirds.

Winkers said the Packers 11-On competition was beneficial for the whole Redbird team.

“It was a cool experience going against bigger schools,” said Winkers.

Darlington will scrimmage Monroe on Friday, August 14 and have their first game on Friday, August 21 at St. Mary’s Springs in Fond du Lac.