While on the Pittsburg High School football coaching staff this past fall, Robert Shapel was bitten with the football bug again.
“I enjoyed coaching at Pittsburg and got to thinking ‘I can do this one more year.’” Shapel said.
“This” is play football. Shapel, a 2007 Iola High graduate, made up his mind to play profession football — overseas. He had a good source to go to. Former IHS teammate Jeremy VanNice played for The Bergen Storm, an American football team based in Bergen, Norway, last spring.
Shapel and VanNice are in Iola working out together. VanNice is working at Gates and is starting to contact teams again to see if he can find a spot. Shapel has signed with the Sollerod Gold Diggers, an American football team from Rudersdal, Denmark, and leaves Feb. 12.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to play football again. After four years of college football and being out of it for a year, I wanted to get back in,” Shapel said. “I talked to Jeremy about his experience plus coaches at Pittsburg High knew of players who had gone over to Europe to play.”
VanNice was the first import player selected by The Bergen Storm last year. He said he played linebacker on defense and tight end and running back on offense.
“Over there most players from America play both sides of the football and help coach. The level of football knowledge in Europe is not the same as it is here. The guys don’t start playing football at a young age like we do,” VanNice said.
VanNice played for Iola High then went to Hutchinson Community College. The 6-3, 230-pound VanNice played linebacker for Friends University in 2008 and 2009.
“I had a great time over there. The competition in the league I was in was pretty good. I enjoyed helping coach the players. It is definitely worthwhile or I wouldn’t want to go back,” VanNice said.
“Right now, I’m contacting teams to see if I can find a spot on one. My ultimate goal is to play in the Canadian Football League some day.”
VanNice and Shapel have been getting into football shape by lifting weights and running drills.
“I’m going to be playing on the defensive line for the Denmark team. I haven’t played there since high school. Plus I’m the defensive line coach for the team,” Shapel said.
Shapel is a 6-4, 300-pound lineman who played on back-to-back NJCAA national championship teams at Butler Community College. He played NCAA Division I football as an offensive lineman for Missouri State University in Springfield. Mo., in 2009 and 2010.
“I’m working on getting back to my playing weight-lifting totals and working hard on drills,” Shapel said. “My coaching experience at Pittsburg High was great and I’m excited about being able to coach in Denmark.
“I’d like to come back after this experience and become a college coach. Plans are for me to come back and go to chiropractic school, which I want to, but school will always be there.”
