Kansas Shrine Bowl

For most Kansas Shrine Bowl football players, the trip to the St. Louis Shriner’s Hospital is a special event that’s part of the overall Kansas Shrine Bowl experience.

            For Jake Edelman of Bern High School, it could very well be a glimpse into his future.

            The 5’10” running back from the smallest school represented in the Shrine Bowl (56 students in grades 9-12) has his eyes firmly fixed on a career in pediatric medicine.  For him, the trip to St. Louis will be more than just a highlight—it is what he is looking forward to the most.

            “I’m looking forward to playing in the game, too”, he says.  “But I’ve always loved dealing with kids, and this will give me a chance to see some patients close-up, and see what kind of care they get.”

            Edelman was a major part of a very successful 2005 campaign at Bern.  The Indians suffered through a losing campaign in 2004, but bounced back to post a 10-2 record in 2005, including two wins in the 8-man Division II playoffs before losing to eventual Division II state champion Waverly in the sub-state round, 54-14.  “We had 16 players when the season started,” he says, “and by the time the season ended, we were down to only 13.  But we had gained a lot of experience over the previous year, and we ended up having a pretty good season.”

            An all-around athlete and a good student, Edelman has been a mainstay of the Bern athletic program for four years, earning four letters each in football, basketball, and track.  He was a member of the National Honor Society, earning academic and music honor every year, and serving as Bern’s Student Council President.  Besides keeping in shape for the Shrine Bowl, he’s playing baseball this summer for his local American Legion team.

            Two football games this summer will probably mark the end of Edelman’s organized football career.  He played in the annual Division II All-State game in Beloit on June 10^th, and is hoping for a different outcome in the Shrine Bowl.  “We lost by 21”, he says.  “We had a lot of good players, but the West team was pretty big.”

After the Shine Bowl, many of his Shrine Bowl teammates will be continuing their football careers at either two- or –four-year schools, but Edelman will be enrolling in Kansas State University’s pre-med program.  “I’ve considered trying out (in football) as a walk-on,” he says.  “But I’m going to concentrate on academics.”

            His last football game will also be his first experience playing 11-man football, and he admits to a bit of apprehension.  “I’ve watched a lot of football, but I’ve never played in an 11-man game,” he says.  “I am a little nervous, but it should be a great experience.”

            Despite its size, Bern has produced five Shrine Bowl players over the years, including Edelman.  The most recent was Brent Hecht, who played in the 2002 Kansas Shrine Bowl before attending Butler County Community College and Texas Christian.  Hecht will be a senior letterman, playing tight end for the Horned Frogs this fall.

            Proceeds from the game support the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, a network of 22 hospitals that provide expert, no-cost orthopedic and burn care to children under 18.

Advance reserved chairback tickets are $20.00 in advance, $21.00 on game night.  Adult general admission tickets are $9.00 in advance, $10.00 on game night.  Student tickets are $5.00 in advance, $6.00 on game night.  Banquet tickets are $20.00, and must be purchased in advance.  Advance game tickets and banquet tickets can be purchased through the Shrine Bowl office by calling 1-800-530-5524

Additional information and a link to Shriners Hospitals for Children can be found at http://www.ksshrine.com