Liberal and Dodge City Start Backyard Battle for the Bell

The Dodge City and Liberal High School Athletic Departments are pleased to announce that Sunflower
Bank has chosen to partner with both schools for naming rights to the Backyard Battle Rivalry Series.
Dodge City and Liberal have been competing on the football field since 1919. In 1921, the rivalry moved
to the basketball court. Fast forward to the 2023-24 school year – the rivalry includes multiple match-
ups across (20) sports each year! Over the course of the past (100) years the rivalry has grown not only
in intensity but also in the number of events hosted by the two communities.
The rivalry series will begin this winter as Dodge City High School and Liberal High School will compete
for a trophy that will be presented each time the two schools compete in the following: Boys & Girls
Basketball, Boys & Girls Wrestling. The series hopes to expand to several more potential events over
the course of the spring and fall seasons.
“Sunflower Bank has been able to build longstanding relationships with these schools and communities
through our ABC program and other efforts. We are both honored and excited for the opportunity to
support these two amazing cities and school districts in this 104-year-old competition.” – AJ Krehbiel,
Marketing Associate, (Sunflower Bank)
“What better sponsor for these annual battles than Sunflower Bank of Dodge City and Liberal!
Sunflower Bank (founded in 1892) has been around even longer than the rivalry between the two
schools!” – Jay Gifford, A.D. (Dodge City High School)
“What a way for Sunflower Bank to continue to be visible and recognized for their community support
of the student athletes and programs representing each school!” – Kerri Miles, A.D. (Liberal High School)