Negaunee’s Brenten Belanger, right, attempts to intercept a Gladstone pass intended for the Braves’ John Hansen, left, in their Oct. 29 game in Negaunee during the MHSAA Division 6 playoffs. (Escanaba Daily Press photo by Todd Rose)

MARQUETTE — Two area players were among the winners in the nine events at the Skills Challenge, Wednesday’s featured attraction during the weeklong lead-up to the Upper Peninsula All-Star Football Game to be held Saturday afternoon in the Superior Dome in Marquette.

Marquette’s Alex Schlemm won the foot race for linemen, while Negaunee’s Brenten Belanger won the punting competition.

Both will play for the Black team in Saturday’s all-star game, which is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. with doors opening at noon. The Black team’s coaches included several from western Marquette County, led by former Westwood head man Scott Syrjala and former Ishpeming mentors Jeff Olson and George Niemi.

The nine challenges on Wednesday began in the second-floor weight room with the Strongest Man competition for both linemen and non-linemen.

They moved onto the main floor on the football field with fastest man for both linemen and non-linemen, quarterback challenge, receiver challenge for linemen and non-linemen, punting and field goal kicking.

Schlemm won the linemen’s 40-yard dash in an electronically timed 5.49 seconds, while Belanger took the punting after making a boot of 46 yards.

Two other winners, also both Black team players, had the second-best all-time performances in this 15th edition of the all-star game — Chance Bridgers of Hancock made 25 repetitions of bench-pressing 225 pounds in the Strongest Man contest for linemen, while Hunter Potier of Gladstone made a throw of 58 yards in the Quarterback Challenge.

Here are the remaining challenge winners as listed in an email about the Skills Challenge — Fastest Man, non-linemen: Dryden Nelson, Calumet, Black team, 4.56 seconds; Strongest Man, non-linemen: Ryan LaPlaunt, Sault Ste. Marie, Red team, 11 reps of 225 lbs.; Receiver Challenge, non-linemen: Jestin Matusewic, Ironwood, Red team, no statistic available; Receiver Challenge, linemen: George Edington, Pickford, Red team, no statistic available; Field Goal Kicking: Toby Wilcox, Kingsford, Red team, 40 yards.

The email said it gave the players a much-needed rest from the grind of two practices per day as each event had a gallery of players watching and cheering them on. While there were some friendly rivalries, the atmosphere overall was casual and players had some fun during the events.

Parents and fans were among those who attended, and afterward, the players had the rest of the afternoon off to relax and let their bodies recover from the physical stress of returning to football practice for the first time in at least six months.

Following Thursday evening’s Youth Camp on the dome floor, the All-Star Banquet is scheduled for 6 p.m. today in the University Center, the last scheduled event before Saturday’s game.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.