Athletes put summer workouts to use in Fox Chapel’s Big Man Challenge

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 10:47 AM

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Apollo-Ridge right tackle Connor Bogdanski was tired, but earned the feeling he was looking for July 23 at James M. Burke Athletic Facility. The Vikings had the smallest school enrollment at the Big Man Challenge, but they were able to earn a team victory over host Fox Chapel and Knoch.

Bogdanski was happy with the overall experience.

“I enjoy the grit, the toughness and the teamwork,” Bogdanski said. “I enjoy having to carry heavy stuff and competing.”

The event was initially scheduled to take place the previous week with a few more teams, but the Foxes had to delay it due to maintenance at the field. A few of the schools had to drop out due to the schedule change.

Bogdanski, a senior, earned wrestling experience as a younger athlete and has applied some of those skills to being an offensive lineman.

During the Big Man Challenge, the teams competed in events that included a sled pull, various relay races, and one where participants flipped tires and carried a wrestling dummy in tandem. There was also a throw with a medicine ball. Each event was scored individually and contributed to the team score.

Apollo-Ridge sealed its win with a victory over Knoch in the finals of the tug of war.

“When you are going against a tough team, you are trying to push past your limits and how tired you can be,” Bogdanski said.

Fox Chapel finished second. Aiden Elwood, a senior at Fox Chapel, said his favorite event was the sled push relay.

“It was team-oriented,” Elwood said. “It showed us how hard we had to work together to win.”

Elwood said he was happy with how Fox Chapel performed.

The Foxes welcomed a break from the regular grind of lifting and competition.

“I think it is a good way to show off what we’ve worked on all summer,” Elwood said. “It gives our guys a chance to compete and gives them something to do over the summer instead of just practice.”

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Fox Chapel, Knoch