The Center for Health Improvement in Hays, Kan., played host to the annual High Plains Sports Medicine Testing Combine last weekend as more than 100 kids from high schools across northwest Kansas completed a number of athletic tests in a format similar to professional football's pre-draft combine.
The Hays event is the first of four hosted by HPSM with future combines scheduled April 16 at Meade High School and May 7 at Norton with a makeup event in Hays that afternoon at The Center.
In Saturday's event Hays High impressed with more than 50 athletes in attendance, but Ellis' Jared Herl, a junior who played fullback and linebacker last season for the Railer before injuring his ankle, gave possibly the best performance of the day.
The 6-3, 230 pound Herl, whose coaches say has been getting interest from the likes of Colorado State, Wyoming and other small FBS programs, displayed impressive athleticism for a player his size.
Herl finished third in overall athletic rating on the day, was third in the seated shot put with a toss of 244.1 inches, fourth in the vertical jump with a leap of 33 inches, second in broad jump with a jump of 114 inches, and fourth in the electronically timed 40 yard dash finishing in 4.93 seconds.
Herl began his high school football career as a tight end before moving to the backfield last season where he is expected to return this fall and could possibly play fullback and some quarterback.
Head coach Butch Hayes and assistant Troy Dale say linebacker is where he's most likely to play in college, but think he could return to tight end as well.
Second year Hays High head football coach Ryan Cornelsen displayed why his team has posted back-to-back winning seasons as more than 50 of his football players showed up to participate in the combine.
Junior linebacker Zach Binder and sophomore running back David Cardinal had excellent days as Cardinal finished first in overall athletic rating followed closely by Binder in second.
Key components of Hays High's football program, Binder and Cardinal both displayed impressive strength placing in the top three of the bench press. Binder also finished with the top seated shot put throw of the day while Cardinal showcased his speed and jumping ability with top four finishes in the vertical jump, broad jump and 40 yard dash.
LaCrosse junior Tayler Stull showed why he's one of the top quarterbacks and defensive backs in all of class 2A finishing with the second best vertical jump of the day at 35 inches and the third best pro agility time of 4.32 seconds.
For a complete list of the top five from the April 2 event click here. To find out more about the event visit click here.
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