The Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors has announced the East and West teams for the 2021 Kansas Shrine Bowl.
These players have been invited to participate in the 48th Annual Kansas Shrine Bowl to be played at Gowans Stadium in Hutchinson on June 26 at 7 p.m.
The 2021 Head Coaches, as selected by votes from the 2020 coaching staff, trainers, managers, and camp directors, are DeSoto’s Brian King for the East and Norton’s Lucas Melvin, leading the West.
Players are selected each year by a combination of media votes and selections from the Kansas Shrine Bowl coaching staff. Players must be nominated by their high school coach or athletic director. The players selected to the 2021 Kansas Shrine Bowl join the just over 3,000 players who have participated in the annual event since 1974.
“We are very excited about the great group of young men selected for this year’s game,” said B.J. Harris, executive director of the Kansas Shrine Bowl. “These players and coaches now have an incredible opportunity ahead of them, one that is sure to have a lasting impact in their life.”
“This is a very talented group of kids,” said East Head Coach Brian King. “Getting the roster down to thirty-six was tough, there are a lot of special players out there. I’m impressed by this group and I’m excited to get to work with them.”
There are so many great players out here in the West,” said West Head Coach Lucas Melvin. “I feel like we have tremendous talent at every position. I don’t think they’re just talented players, but great young men and I’m excited to get to work with them.”
The Assistant coaches for the East team are 6A Assistant, Steve Rampy (Lawrence); 5A Assistant, Anthony Orrick (Blue Valley Southwest); 4A Assistant, Rod Stallbaumer (Basehor-Linwood); 3A Assistant, Brooks Barta (Holton); 2A Assistant, Andrew Gantenbein (Osage City), 1A Assistant, Chirs Schmidt (Olpe). The East coaching staff had a combined record of 57-16 in 2020, including a State Champion with Olpe.
Assistant coaches for the West team are 6A Assistant, Randall Zimmerman (Junction City); 5A Assistant, Mike Vernon (Hutchinson); 4A Assistant, Jon Wiemers (Arkansas City); 3A Assistant, Troy Black (Wichita Collegiate); 2A Assistant, Zach Baird (Hoisington); 1A Assistant, Jeff Hennick (Oakley). The West Coaching staff had a combined 59-20 record in 2020, with three State Runner-Up finishes.
Here are the teams:
