🏈 West team reports to HutchCC campus Sunday ahead of Kansas Shrine Bowl

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — More than 40 of the state’s top high school football players will arrive in Hutchinson on Saturday morning for practices and preparation leading up to the 53rd annual Kansas Shrine Bowl, set for Saturday, June 27, at Welch Stadium in Emporia.

Hosted on the campus of Hutchinson Community College, the West team’s players and coaches will check in at Elland Hall and will remain in Hutchinson through Thursday afternoon before departing for Emporia.

The Shrine Bowl, an all-star game showcasing recently graduated seniors from across the state, is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff and will be broadcast statewide on EAGLE Media stations, including locally on Country 102.9.

The West squad will spend the week practicing at Gowans Stadium under the guidance of an all-star coaching staff, beginning with an orientation weekend and the first of 14 scheduled practice times. Players and coaches will also participate in team-building activities, community meals, and nightly meetings in preparation for the game.

Local student-athletes that will be playing for the West team include Jackson Anderson (Hutchinson), Drew Dechant (Trinity Catholic), Zane Farney (Sterling), Ethan Coutre (Hesston), and Josiah Schmidt (Pratt).

Hutchinson’s facilities, particularly Gowans Stadium, Smith Science Center, Elland Hall, and the Parker Student Union, will serve as the hub for all West team operations until the group leaves for Emporia on Thursday afternoon.

The Kansas Shrine Bowl is produced annually by the Shrine Bowl of Kansas, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since its inception in 1974, the event has raised nearly $4 million for Shriners Children’s, a global health care network specializing in pediatric specialty care, research, and education. All Kansas Shrine Bowl events are presented to benefit Shriners Children’s, which serves children regardless of families’ ability to pay.

In addition to the football game, the Shrine Bowl week includes a variety of supporting events, such as the Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band Camp, the Shrine Bowl All-Star Cheer Camp, and the KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals wrestling exhibition, all helping to elevate the impact of the week’s fundraising efforts.

The Shrine Bowl has been held in cities across the state, including Lawrence, Manhattan, Wichita, Topeka, Pittsburg, Hays, Hutchinson, and this year’s host, Emporia.