BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend football coach Erin Beck has accepted an offer to coach in the 2020 Kansas Football Shrine Bowl. The Panthers were 5-5 last year and Beck’s four-year record is 28-14.
The 47th Kansas Shrine Bowl is scheduled July 18, 2020 at Washburn University, Beck’s alma mater. The West will conduct training camp at Lindsborg.
At least one of Beck’s former players — either safety Dalton Miller or receiver Alex Schremmer — is expected to be selected to play in the Shrine Bowl. A second player may be invited by the head coach, or if a selected player is unable to play.
“It’s a great honor, and something a coach in Kansas can aspire to,” Beck said. “It’s a great opportunity and I’m very excited; to learn from other coaches. I’ll be around the best football players in the state.”
Panthers Koy Brack, Aaron Clark and Jacob Murray have competed the past three years and Great Bend has been respresented nine consecutive years.
“It’s a really cool opportunity to help and bring recognition for the job the Shriners do for others,” Beck said. “When I see our players after they’ve competed, they all tell me what a great experience and honor it is to be part of the Shrine Bowl.”
Goddard’s Tommy Beason will lead the West and Washburn Rural’s Steve Buhler will lead the East.
West assistants are Weston Shartz, Wichita West; Derek Tuttle, Andover Central; Shelby Wehrman, Cheney; Lucas Melvin, Norton; and Jeff Werner, Sedgwick.
“I am excited to work with a couple coaches I have gotten to know over the years, including a mentor coach Schartz,” said Beason. “Coaching in last year’s Shrine Bowl was an awesome learning experience.”
East assistants are Jesse Owen, Olathe East; Brian King, DeSoto; Mike Dumpert, Paola; Mike Paramore, Perry-Lecompton; Johnny Mallatt, Riverton; and Larry Glatczak, Centralia.
“It is always a privilege to be a part of the Shrine Bowl,” said Buhler. “This game offers all the participants a great opportunity to support a worthwhile cause. I’m looking forward to working with some of the best football players in Kansas with a great staff of very successful coaches.
The Kansas Shrine Bowl is an all-star high school senior, East vs. West, football game put on each year in Kansas, by the Kansas Shrine. It is a 501c 3 non-profit charity that produces annual events and related activities, with net proceeds benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children.
