It didn't take Nic Dukat long to figure out at least one thing that makes him unique among the players selected for the 31st annual Sertoma 8-Man Classic.
"There's a lot of big people on the (West) team. I'm the smallest player out here," said the Palmer graduate -- a 5-foot-9, 150-pound defensive back/safety -- after the first practice took place Monday morning at Central Community College.
Even though Dukat won that honor by 15 pounds, he hopes it won't be a factor once the game kicks off Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Hastings College's Lloyd Wilson Field.
"As long as you're aggressive, it doesn't matter," Dukat said of the size differential.
And for once, size may not matter in the annual all-star game. While the East has usually held the size advantage while winning seven of the past eight meetings, weight is much more balanced this time.
"The West has some guys bigger than us," East head coach Ken Swanson of Coleridge said. "We'll see how that plays out."
The East has five players who are 230 pounds or more. The West has four, including Ewing's Bradley Wright, who at 285 pounds outweighs anybody else participating by 25 pounds.
"This is the first time I think the East is undersized, but they will be quicker (than in the past)," said West coach Duke Waln of Cody-Kilgore.
Dukat is the lone area player on the West who will be looking to take advantage of the balanced scales.
Derek Rodine and Clete Vrbka of High Plains; Mike Swanson of Nebraska Christian; and Thomas Thies of Giltner are members of the East.
Not being the biggest player on the field didn't keep Dukat from putting together an impressive high school career.
He was a triple threat while helping the Tigers go 9-1 during his senior year.
As a running back, Dukat carried the ball 137 times for 1,104 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Defensively he was among the area's leaders in interceptions with five.
He was also an all-around scoring threat on special teams. He kicked 20 PATs, averaged 27.0 yards on five punt returns with two touchdowns and averaged 34.0 yards on eight kickoff returns with two TDs.
But Dukat's goals are simple for the 8-Man Classic. Personally, he just wants to play. He also wants team success.
"I want a ’W'," Dukat said. "The West hasn't won in a while. I know there will be some trash talk."
Getting to participate in 8-man's annual June showcase is something Dukat aimed for.
"This was a goal I've had since the beginning of the season," he said. "It's exciting to play with a lot of good athletes.
"I've come to watch the game the last two years. I hoped I'd have a chance to play in it."
Sertoma All-Star Classic Rosters
EAST
Jeremy Anderson, Bancroft-Rosalie; Taylor Baumert, Pawnee City; Matt Bellard, Lourdes Central; Jonathan Bos, Clarkson; Eric Brabec, Clarkson; Jordan Brummels, Winside; Kyle Davis, Shickley; Bryce Ebel, Falls City Sacred Heart; Brent Haith, Johnson Brock; Alex Johnson, Clay Center; Jacob Kreikemeier, Dodge; Ben Lammers, Bloomfield; Jared Larson, Mead; Matt Peter, Winside; Troy Peterson, Lawrence-Nelson; Derek Rodine, High Plains; Bryan Ruzek, Dodge; Mike Swanson, Nebraska Christian; DJ Thiel, Sterling; Thomas Thies, Giltner; Patrick Tyrance, Parkview Christian; Clete Vrbka, High Plains; Kelan Walford, Exeter-Milligan; Lucas Weeder, Lindsay Holy Family.
Coaches--Ken Swanson, Coleridge, head coach; Jim Dooley, Bloomfield, assistant coach; Eric Kesseler, Humphrey St. Francis, assistant coach.
WEST
Nathan Bacon, Overton; Jeremy Barnes, Cody-Kilgore; Kiefer Burke, Maxwell; Jason Cameron, Chambers; Cody Childers, Leyton; Jake Childers, Leyton; Brett Christensen, Wallace; Tanner Crisp, Mullen; Taylor Dixon, Wauneta-Palisade; Nic Dukat, Palmer; Brad Dvorak, Stuart; Nick Fiene, Elwood; Kyle Giffin, Pleasanton; Jonathan Gunderson, Elgin; Jace Heiden, Bertrand; Tyler Klabenes, Chambers; Brandon Kopf, Overton; Bryson Mahlberg, Elwood; Jay Reicks, Elgin Pope John; Steve Rust, West Boyd; Adam Snyder, Arapahoe; Bret Spanel, Anselmo-Merna; Justin Swedburg, Axtell; Bradley Wright, Ewing.
Coaches--Duke Waln, Cody-Kilgore, head coach; Carlie Wells, Elgin, assistant coach; Daren Hatch, Arapahoe, assistant coach.
