By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Each summer since 1974, many of the state's top football players have gathered for a little summer action in the Shrine Bowl. In a rare year, the 49th bowl, scheduled for July 23 in Pittsburg, will not feature any Barton County athletes. But Great Bend's Greg King will serve as this year's President of the Board of Directors, and as the West team's camp director.
"There are so many other people involved," King said. "I'm humbled to take any credit for all the stuff that everyone else does. I'm just a figurehead. There are a lot of people who put in a lot of work. Whether its supporting financially or just volunteering, there are a lot of people involved in this."
Plenty of local talent has shined in the Shrine Bowl in recent years. Former Great Bend coach and current Hays High coach Tony Crough was selected as an assistant for the West in this year's game. Last year, Hoisington's Zach Baird was an assistant and Holt Hanzlick played in the game. Braeden Hopkins and Jakob Breit were selected as managers in 2021. Great Bend's Dalton Miller and Hoisington's Wyatt Pedigo played for the West in 2020, and GBHS coach Erin Beck was an assistant coach for the West that year.
"This is a rare year," King said. "We usually have somebody from Barton County to represent Great Bend, Hoisington, or Claflin. It'd be nice to have somebody from Barton County. I know we have band members from Hoisington and Great Bend, and we also have a cheer squad out of Central Plains will be there."
King has been involved with Shriners for 20-plus years after his father-in-law brought him into the program. He's known for driving his Shrine football helmet cart in parades. This will be his 22nd year working with the Shrine Bowl, and he said his favorite part of the week is seeing everyone - including hundreds of band members and cheerleaders - come together for a common good.
"I like the fact that the players and coaches, and everybody involved," he said, "they're not Shriners or anything but they're taking a week out of their busy schedules and going out and practicing in 100-degree temperatures to help us raise money for Shriners Hospital."
West team camp begins Sunday at Fort Hays State University, and the athletes will converge on Pittsburg by Wednesday. The Kansas Shrine Golf Tournament begins early Friday, July 22, and the Shrine Bowl Parade and football game follow on Saturday.
All proceeds from the Shrine Bowl and related events benefit the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children and their patients. Since 1974, the Kansas Shrine Bowl has helped raise more than $3 million.