By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Being part of the coaching staff of the 2021 Kansas Shrine Bowl is quite
the honor for Hoisington High School football coach Zach Baird. While Baird is
enjoying his time learning from six other coaches from around the state on the West
team, he acknowledges there is a lot of work that goes into the preparation
leading up to the game Saturday, June 26 in Hutchinson.
“There were a lot of meetings, Zoom meetings, with the coaches months before
this week arrived,” said Baird. “We have six days with the kids and 11 or 12
practices to try to get everything in. We’re blessed that we have great coaches
and players.”
Following a 12-1 season that ended as the Class 2A State runner-up for the
Cardinals, Baird was selected as an assistant coach for the 48th
Annual Shrine Bowl.
Baird will be going into his 8th year as the head coach at Hoisington and helped guide the program to their first ever state championship game appearance last November.
Baird said it’s unfortunate to be away from
his family and his players for summer weights, but there are several pieces of
home with him this week for the Shrine Bowl. Two of the team managers, Jakob
Breit and Braeden Hopkins, are former Hoisington Cardinals. Also, one of the
players this year will be recent Hoisington graduate Holt Hanzlick.
“Holt is such a fantastic kid and is super talented,” said Baird. “He’s a great
human being and his brothers were too. The chance to have one more week with
him and get to watch him play is special.”
The Shrine Bowl begins at 7 p.m. at Gowans Stadium on the campus of Hutchinson
Community College.