Kennesaw State University Athletics

KENNESAW, Ga. - After two days of grueling competition in November, Kennesaw State outfielder Joe Gorley and pitcher Ryan Rodebaugh were proclaimed the winners of the 3rd Annual Iron Owl Challenge. 

Ten events spread out over two days tested the physical and mental strength of the KSU baseball team.  "The Iron Owl Challenge is an event we look forward to each year," said assistant coach Kevin Erminio.  "It gives the coaching staff a chance to see our guys compete in some tough situations both mentally and physically.  It gives the guys an opportunity to see where they are from a development side in terms of strength and conditioning."

For scoring purposes, position players are pitted against other position players while the pitchers battle amongst themselves.  Gorley came home the winner among the position players, with Rodebaugh taking the pitcher's title.

Gorley, a sophomore from Marietta, Ga., finished in first place in the obstacle course, the broad jump, and the Owl Run. Gorley continued his all-around strong performance by finishing second in the dumbbell bench press rep test, the 300-yard shuttle run, and the vertical jump.

Rodebaugh, a junior from Marietta, bested the other pitchers in six events.  The hurler won in the 300-yard shuttle run, the pull-up competition, the pro agility event, the broad jump, the vertical jump, and the front squat competition.

Rodebaugh became the first pitcher other than Wes Tignor to win the award.  Tignor won the Iron Owl in both of his years of eligibility at KSU.  For Gorley, he joins Josh Whitaker and Tyler Stubblefield as an Iron Owl winner.