BattleFrog College Championship to Air on ESPN Networks

MIAMI - June 5, 2015 - PRLog -- Athletes from 16 of America’s top college obstacle course racing teams face off against one another in the BattleFrog College Championship (http://www.battlefrogcollegechampionship.com/), an exciting single elimination tournament, premiering June 9-11, 2015 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2 with encore performances throughout the summer.

The three-night television event features a brand new form of mud run/obstacle course racing (OCR), known as Sprint OCR.

“We’ve created a new sport within the world of obstacle course racing that is going to exhilarate our ESPN viewers,” said director Ron Luscinski.  “It’s fast, it’s challenging and it takes a team to conquer the course.”

With its roots in the popular BattleFrog (http://www.battlefrogseries.com/) obstacle course race series founded and designed by former U.S. Navy SEALs, the BattleFrog College Championship pits co-ed teams of four (two males and two females) in a winner-take-all competition for the coveted Trident Cup and a $10,000 scholarship prize.  Standing in their way is a 350-meter course with 20 obstacles specifically designed by former U.S. Navy SEALs to test the competitors’ speed, strength and intelligence.

“I can say that I am really impressed with how these students attack the obstacles,” said Michael Donnelly, a former Navy SEAL and a co-founder of BattleFrog. “It is great to see these college athletes demonstrate their athletic prowess in the new sport of sprint obstacle course racing.”

A new chapter is added to some of America’s fiercest college rivalries as these accomplished OCR athletes fight their way through this single-elimination, bracket-style tournament.

Athletes from the following schools will compete in the BattleFrog College Championship:  University of Alabama, United States Military Academy, University of Florida, University of Illinois, University of Kentucky, University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of Mississippi, North Carolina State University, Penn State University, University of Southern California, Syracuse University, Texas A&M University, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and the University of Wisconsin.

The BattleFrog College Championship is produced by 51 Dons, the critically-acclaimed production team whose eponymous film anchored ESPN’s 2014 celebration of Black History Month.

“Obstacle course racing has grown in popularity and we are excited to share the BattleFrog experience with our viewers,” said Dan Margulis, senior director, College Sports Programming for ESPN.  “It is a unique test of athleticism, endurance and mental strength.”

The Battlefrog College Championship (http://www.battlefrogcollegechampionship.com/) brings together diverse broadcasting talent including veteran broadcaster Ron Pitts, a former cornerback for the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers, who is joined in the broadcast booth by Evan Dollard, an American Ninja Warrior finalist and former American Gladiator.  Sports television personality Emily Reppert and Shawn Ramirez, national youth program director for BattleFrog and 2014 CrossFit Masters Champion, provide on-course analysis.

“One thing my lifetime in the NFL has taught me, whenever the word team is involved, anything and everything can happen,” BattleFrog College Championship host Ron Pitts explained.  “The BattleFrog College Championship promises to deliver unexpected outcomes that are sure to thrill fans of every sport.”

To apply for Season 2 of the BattleFrog College Championship, go to www.BattleFrogCollegeChampionship.com. To see a preview of the BattleFrog College Championship visit https://youtu.be/LNppBV4Z3F4.



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About BattleFrog College Championship

With its roots in the popular BattleFrog obstacle course race series founded and designed by former Navy SEALs, the BattleFrog College Championship pits athletes from America’s top colleges and universities against obstacles inspired by the challenges Navy SEALs face every day in training. For more information about BattleFrog visit www.BattleFrogSeries.com or follow @BattleFrogUS on Twitter. For more information about the BattleFrog College Championship visit www.BattleFrogCollegeChampionship.com or follow @BattleFrogCC on Twitter.

About 51 Dons

Launched in 2011 by the producing trio of Ron Luscinski, Danny Llewelyn and Tom Davis, 51 Dons has created memorable sports-themed programming for ESPN and other partners.  The BattleFrog College Championship is just the latest among numerous projects in development with major television and sports entities on a host of platforms.