Kearney, Neb. - In preparation for the upcoming 2010 season, the Nebraska-Kearney football team recently tested out in the weight room.

Weather permitting, the team will start spring ball this coming Monday, March 22nd.

Under the direction of strength and conditioning coach Jon Larsen, a pair of Kearney natives have the team's best strength index after winter workouts.

The index is determined by adding all three lift totals (bench, squat, clean) and dividing by body weight.

Linebacker Brian Hegert, a 2008 KHS graduate who recently rejoined the Lopers, had a team-best 6.11 strength index.

The 5-10, 217 pound Hegert led UNK in the bench press (428 lbs.) and squat (585 lbs.) while also cleaning 331 lbs.

Running back Rustin Dring (6-0, 203 lbs.), the 2009 RMAC Offensive Player of the Year and Kearney High's all-time leading rusher, came in second at a 5.84. He cleaned 374 lbs., benched 289 lbs. and squatted 523 lbs.

Also of note, starting QB Jake Spitzlberger (5-10, 175 lbs.) tied for fourth in strength index as he squatted 420 lbs., cleaned 273 lbs. and had a top bench press of 240 lbs.

The top five numbers in each category are listed below.

Hang Clean
1. Mason Brodine (Sr., DE, Elm Creek) - 413 lbs.
2. Stephen Goodin (Sr., OL, Hastings) - 391 lbs.
3. Rustin Dring (Jr., RB, Kearney) - 374 lbs.
4. Jason Wilcox (Fr-R, OL, North Platte) - 370 lbs.
5. Caleb Tyler (Sr., DL, Grand Island) - 368 lbs.
   Jay Kropp (Sr., OLB, Grand Island) - 368 lbs.

Bench Press
1. Ben Harger (Fr-R, DL, Ponderosa, Colo.) - 428 lbs.
2. Brian Hegert (So., ILB, Kearney) - 409 lbs.
3. Stephen Goodin - 365 lbs.
4. Justin Thiel (So., DL, Hastings) - 355 lbs.
5. Rashard King (So., ILB, Miami Beach, Fla.) - 351 lbs.

Squat
1. Brian Hegert - 585 lbs.
2. Justin Thiel - 583 lbs.
3. Nate Bryan (So., OL, Katy, Texas) - 581 lbs.
4. Stephen Goodin - 575 lbs.
5. Heath Kruger (Sr., OL, Grand Island) - 541 lbs.

Strength Index
1. Brian Hegert - 6.11
2. Rustin Dring - 5.84
3. Jack Douglas (Fr-R, S, Weeping Water) - 5.50
4. Jake Spitzlberger (Jr., QB, Lakewood, Colo.) - 5.36
    Alex Hutchinson (So, RB, Stapleton) - 5.36