Sigg and Bowen earn spots
on Kansas Shrine Bowl squad
By JOCELYN SHEETS
Jerrik Sigg and Jayden Bowen were all smiles Wednesday. And well they should be.
The two high school seniors were recently named to the 2012 Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star East football team. The annual all-star football game teams were announced last week.
Sigg is the single-season rushing leader for Iola High School. He led the Southeast Kansas League in scoring for the 2011 season.
Bowen continues a proud tradition for Crest High School’s Lancers. The eight-man football team has had five straight selections to the all-star charity football game.
“It’s a huge honor and I’m going to be in good company,” said Bowen of his selection
“Hey, I have to echo Jayden. It’s an honor to be selected. I’ve had a lot of big things go my way this season and this is just the icing on the cake,” Sigg said.
The 39th Annual Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Game will be July 28 at Emporia State University’s Welch Stadium. Teams for the game are chosen by Kansas media. The coaches involved with the game also have selections.
Sigg is the first Iola High player to be selected for the East squad since 1989. Larry John Kress was selected that season. According to Shrine Bowl website records, Tim Sinclair (1987) and Mike Taylor (1985) were the only other IHS players selected to play in the Shrine Bowl.
Kyler Thompson of Iola played in the 2010 Shrine Bowl. Thompson was a replacement player picked by the East squad head coach. When players selected have to decline for whatever reason, there are alternate lists for each squad.
Sigg was named as the Topeka Capital-Journal’s Kansas All-Class 4A state football team’s kicker returner. He also received Class 4A recognition from the Wichita Eagle.
Sigg finished the 2011 season with 1,323 yards on 220 carries. He reached that pinnacle because of a school-record performance in the season’s final game.
