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Show Crunch Bunclh Leader Plays Big , Role M BUB , By DAVE WIG HAM BOUNTIFUL As a unit they are known as the Crunch Bunch and since he's one of their leaders then it's safe to call Chris Badger Captain Crunch. AT 6'2" and 200 pounds, Chris tends to stand out in a crowd but it's his football prowess pro-wess that has his coaches talking. talk-ing. "He's one of the best linemen line-men we've had at the school," is how his head man Paul Waite sees him. Chris is the starting tackle for the Braves, both on offense and defense. CAPTAIN CRUNCH was born in Ogden but in his youth he found himself in California. "My dad taught at USC a couple cou-ple of years and I can still remember re-member going to their games. Once we were sitting in the end zone bleachers and I caught the ball on a field goal," he beamed. By the time he was in the fourth grade he was back in Bountiful where he has lived ever since. At age eight he began be-gan his little league football career. He was always one of the bigger guys, in fact, he usually had to play with guys a year older than he. "Little league was iun. 11 seems une in high school there is a certain pressure on you to win all the time. I didn't feel that in little league." AT MILLCREEK Jr., Chris made a name for himself as a middle linebacker. "That was fun," he laughed, "you're almost in on every play." Than as a 6' 170 lbs. sophomore sopho-more he soon found himself on the line due to the fact that his team needed people at that spot. "I only played defense, though. I missed the first week of practice and by the time I got there they had already picked the offensive line." AS A JUNIOR he showed up on time for football and won a starting berth on both sides of the line. He really didn't start on the varsity team but he played a lot. Now as a senior he's a big part of the success of the Braves. Talent isn't the only reason he sees for their improvement, im-provement, though. "Last year there was a lot of back biting, no one really got along with each other. An example would be that the seniors used to hold hands in the huddle for unity, but when the juniors went in to play they wouldn't do it. There deflnately was some bad feelines." THIS SEASON the Braves are getting along just fine, in fact they have lost only one game all year. "Against Roy we just lost our poise and started getting on each other in the huddle a little. But then we decided to get together after that and we have." Chris was injured two weeks ago against Weber when another player fell on his knee. He missed the East game but is expected to play this week against Davis. CAPTAIN CRUNCH is also a great wrestler for the Braves. As a sophomore he placed fourth in region. As a junior he was second at region and fifth in state. He gets better each year. When not involved in sports this big lineman likes to read. That's right, as in books. I know those big guys aren't suppose to be that way but Chris is a bright student, 3.0 gpa. "I like the adventure or mystery books." AS FOR sports after high school, "I'm thinking of going to business school. Right now I'm undecided about football in college, as you know those guys are huge." That's right Chris they are. But then you're no little guy. I aikle Chris Badger is one l the lop lineman in the area. )us( call linn (.apt.im Crunch. |