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Punt, Pass and Kick sparked Josh Cherry's aspirations
Bison senior competed
in PP&K in 1999, 2000
Josh Cherry and his buddies were just "looking for something to do" on a Sunday afternoon, and it turned into a major part of his life.
Cherry, the senior starting kicker/punter/quarterback/free safety for the No. 1-ranked McCook Bison football team, got his start in the local Optimist Club Punt, Pass and Kick competition in 1999.
"I was just doing it for something to do on a Sunday," Cherry said. "My friends were doing it. It was a lot of fun. It might not be for everyone. You get to compete with your friends."
Now Cherry, who has made a verbal commitment to play football at Kansas State University in 2007 as a kicker, and his Bison teammates will be participating in a skills competition from 1:45-2:15 p.m. Sunday at the 2006 Punt, Pass and Kick competition Sunday at Weiland Field.
During his second year in PP&K in 2000, Cherry finished second at the state competition. It was then that Cherry knew he wanted to pursue kicking full-time.
"It kind of opened up my eyes to being a kicker," said Cherry, who has kicked 16 field goals and 98 extra points during his career at McCook High School. "It's kind of where everything started.
"Back then I probably liked passing more. Passsing was my strong suit. I have played quarterback since I was little. My dad (Pat) saw that I needed to work on my kicking."
Registration for the PP&K is 1-1:30 p.m., followed by the skills competition. The PP&K competition is at 2:30 p.m. and is free.
There will also be 8 separate age divisions for both boys and girls from ages 8-15, with the age determined as of Dec. 31, 2006.
Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each division.
The first-place finishers from each age group will be eligible to compete at the sectional competition Oct. 8, at Nebraska Wesleyan's Abel Stadium in Lincoln.
Entry forms may be picked up at the Sports Shoppe in McCook or at the McCook Schools. Participants' parent or guardian is required to sign the entry form and a copy of the participant's birth certificate is required in order for the individual to participate.
Participants may only compete in one local qualifying competition. No football shoes/cleats/ turf shoes are allowed, only gym shoes (soft sole) are permitted.
For more information, call Darren Esch at (308) 364-2573 evenings or 340-8789 daytime.