Free testing combine scheduled for April 13th in Salina

After a brief stint in Wichita, one of the state’s largest high school athletic testing combines is back in Salina and scheduled for Saturday, April 13th, at the new Salina Fieldhouse at 140 N. 5th St. Sharp Performance CEO Jake Sharp announced Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine will join the event as the title sponsor, helping to keep the event free for athletes across the state.

The Salina Regional Sports Medicine Athletic Testing Combine is open to athletes from the classes of 2020 to 2023 to gain valuable combine experience at no cost. Registration will start at 8 a.m. with testing to begin at 10 a.m.

As many as 500 athletes from throughout Kansas could attend, making the combine again one of the largest athletic testing events in the Midwest.

The combine will provide athletes an accurate height and weight and test them in the 40-yard dash, the 5-10-5 pro-agility drill, the vertical jump, the broad jump, the Gopher Performance Medicine Ball Toss and the bench press. College recruiters will be able to use the data from these tests and measurements, coupled with a player’s film, to judge an athlete’s ability to play in college.

Regional and statewide sports media and recruiting reporters will be in attendance, including representatives from SportsinKansas, Kansas Pregame and others.

“We are proud to offer this free event in the heart of Kansas at the new Salina Fieldhouse,” Sharp Performance CEO Jake Sharp said. “This event is about more than just getting in front of college recruiters with verified results from the 40, pro agility and vertical jump. It’s also about setting a baseline for the summer program, getting experience on how to perform the various combine tests and compete with athletes from across the state in one centralized location.”

The combine will be conducted by professional athletic trainers including former University of Kansas and Salina Central running back Jake Sharp, former Shawnee Mission West and University of Wyoming wide receiver David Leonard, former Fort Hays State and Salina Central running back and track athlete Cale Sharp, former Friends University track athlete Grace Camp and other former standout high school and college athletes and coaches.

While the combine is free, pre-registration is required. The registration deadline is March 14. Register online by visiting www.sharp-performance.com and clicking on Events and 2019 Combine.

Athletes will only need to bring their cleats, water, and any other equipment they use to train. Parents, coaches and high school sports fans are encouraged to stay and watch in designated bleachers and sitting areas.

The free combine is not possible without the support of a number of sponsors:

Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic is the title sponsor for the combine and is one of the leading healthcare providers in the state.
Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic providers work with athletes of every level to help prevent injuries or to heal through surgery and rehabilitation. Led by Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Timothy Hawkes and Sports Medicine Physician Dr. Matthew Pyle, along with a team of certified athletic trainers, physician assistants and physical therapists, Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic serves five Salina area high schools, as well as Bethany College, providing their athletes timely high quality sports medicine and orthopedic care. For more information visit the Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Clinic website at www.salinaregionalsportsmedicine.com.

Gopher Performance joins the combine as the naming sponsor for the Gopher Performance Medicine Ball Toss. With over 70 years of experience supplying coaches with everything they need for their athletic programs, Gopher Performance knows strength and conditioning. With the most innovative assortment of training equipment and a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee on every product, strength coaches will find the tools, expertise, and service they need to develop first-class programs. Find them online at www.gopherperformance.com.

State Farm Insurance Agent Bary Martin, with offices located at 1023 Greeley Ave. in Salina, offers a complete line of insurance products including auto, home, business, property, life and health. A native of Hutchinson, Kan., and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Martin began his agency career in Salina in 1996. For more information, or to request a quote, go to Martin’s website at www.barymartin.com.

Sports Connection, with locations in Emporia and Salina, is a team sporting goods provider supplying Kansas teams with silk screening, embroidery, uniforms, equipment, trophies and more since 1980. Find them online at www.sportsconnectionks.com.

Sports in Kansas is the most popular high school sports social media outlet in Kansas. With more than 200,000 combined social media followers across multiple platforms Sports in Kansas content is viewed millions of times each month. Sports in Kansas provides comprehensive coverage of high school sports through their website, podcasts, radio shows and videos. Find out more by visiting @sportsinkansas on Twitter or www.kansas-sports.com on the web.

For the past 13 years Kansas Pregame published the only comprehensive statewide high school football preview magazine for Kansas and recently expanded to coverage of all sports with their launch of their new website www.kansaspregame.com. Kansas Pregame expanded into basketball and wrestling coverage with last November's Winter Sports Preview and a late March release is planned for the new Kansas Pregame Spring Sports Preview which will cover baseball, softball and track & field. Find Kansas Pregame on Facebook and Twitter.