By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
From Monty Hobbs in 1974, Jeremy Rusco in 2002 and Jeremy Reed in 2007…Great Bend has a long history of sending players to compete in the Kansas Shrine Bowl. The Kansas Shrine Bowl is an all-star game for graduating high school seniors played each summer.
This year, Owen Kaiser will represent Great Bend High School in the game to be played in Dodge City on Saturday. In between his junior and senior year, Kaiser knew one of his goals was to play in the Shrine Bowl.
"It's a very special thing to me," said Kaiser. "I'm proud to put on the Great Bend helmet one last time and go show what Great Bend High School football was last year."
Kaiser becomes the first Panther to participate in the Shrine Bowl since 2020 and the 26th overall player from Great Bend.
Kaiser will be on the Barton Community College baseball team this upcoming school year and is currently playing summer ball for the Great Bend Bat Cats.
"It's definitely a grind now that I'm picking up from doing a lot of baseball stuff," said Kaiser. "I'm just getting back into the groove of conditioning."
Kaiser was a Western Athletic Conference first-team selection as an offensive lineman for the Panthers his senior year.
Kickoff from Memorial Stadium in Dodge City is at 7 p.m. on Saturday. You can listen to the radio broadcast on 100.7 Eagle Country or online by clicking HERE.
The Kansas Shrine Bowl broadcast in Great Bend is sponsored by:
Cody Crook Red Cedar Land Company
Freedom Claims Management
Kern Floor Service
Chris Ramsey - Shelter Insurance
The Fieldhouse
Jimlo Glass Center
Equity Bank
Advanced Truck and Diesel
Charlie's Place
Great Bend Rec
Advanced Therapy and Sports Medicine
Fastenal
Murphy Mini Storage