Annual Kansas Shrine Bowl festivities set to take place this weekend in Topeka with six area athletes and two area coaches to partake in the football and two-mile race competitions on Saturday at Yager Stadium at Washburn University.

After the parade and festivities in the morning the two-mile race gets the evening competitions underway at 6:15pm and the finish of the race will be featured on the TV broadcast of the football contest as the racers will end the two-mile race on the track in Yager stadium.

Decorated area runners, Lukas Koch of Centralia and Leah Murata of Horton will be competing as a pair of the featured runners from throughout the state of Kansas. Both Koch and Murata enjoyed highly successful high school athletic careers in cross country and track and field and both will look to continue that success on the collegiate level next year, as they continue their athletic careers.

Koch etched himself in the Kansas records this year in competition and definitely proved to be one of the most dominant runners in the state of Kansas during his four years at Centralia. Lukas capped of his high school athletic career in impressive fashion sweeping the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter runs in Class 1A in the state track competition for the second straight year. While he set a state record in the 3200 with a time of 9:27.96 and was less than a second off of the state record in the 1600. His success in his senior year started in the fall, as he won every cross country event in compete in and won the Class 1A state title with a time of 16:16.00, 24 seconds better than second place. Koch finishes his Panther career with a trophy case full of great performances and will be looking to make some new athletic success memories when he competes at Kansas State University next year for both the cross country and track and field teams.

Murata, too enjoyed a great running career for the Horton Chargers winning multiple events including the Delaware Valley League title and Sabetha Invitational in her senior year of cross country competition, while capturing a fourteenth place in Class 3A at state with a time of 16:25.50. Leah placed seventh at state in 2011 in cross country. Leah’s success didn’t stop in the cross country scene as she took home a sixth place in the 1600 meter (5:25.52) and placed tenth in the 3200 meter in Class 3A at the State track meet this past year. Leah will continue her athletic career next year at Haskell Indians Univeristy in Lawrence as she will compete in cross country and track and field.

One area coach will also be participating in the cross country competition as KCCTFCA Girls 1A Coach of the Year, Axtell Eagle coach, Brenda Peschal will help coach the runners. Peschal lead the Axtell girls track team to an eleventh place at state this year in Class 1A and Axtell took home seven total medals at state this past year, headlined by Aurdey Schmitz who took silver in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. In cross country, Peschal coached Aurdey Schmitz to her third straight Class 1A girl’s state title, while Tracy Schmitz took fifth in the boy’s competition. As a team the Axtell girls cross country team place second in 1A this year, while both the boys and girls placed third as team in 2011.

After the cross country competition wraps up the annual football game takes center stage at Yager stadium on the campus of Washburn University. The East Roster will feature four area football stars and one area coach for the annual game. Hiawatha’s, Denzel Chilcoat, Holton’s, Trent Tanking, B&B’s, Curtis Stallbaumer and McLouth’s Marc Walbridge all were selected to play in the annual football game, while McLouth’s head coach, Chris Stewart will serve as one of the six coaches on the East squad.

Hiawatha Redhawk, Denzel Chilcoat lit up the field just about any time he was on the field being a prime-time playmaker for the Redhawks all season. Denzel had his best game of the season in the opening round of the 3A playoffs as he carried the ball 36 times for 411 yards and three touchdowns, he wasn't done as he added an 84-yard kick return touchdown and amassed over 500 all-purpose yards in Hiawatha's first playoff win since 2001. Hiawatha took down Nemaha Valley in the first round of the playoffs then fell to Silver Lake to end their season with an 8-3 record and a playoff win. Chilcoat was a major part of the success for Hiawatha this season and looks to continue his football career in college, when he attends Washburn next year to play football.

Holton Wildcat, Trent Tanking has been a staple for years now for the Wildcats and his senior leadership helped the Wildcats finish off this past year a perfect 14-0 and capturing a 4A state title. Tanking did most his damage on defense with 155 total tackles, 105 which were solo, while adding three interceptions, three sacks and three fumble recoveries to his stat line, too. Trent's 155 tackles easily lead the team as the second leading tackler only had 93 total tackles on the season. He also made his presence known on offense with 427 yards rushing and 10 TD's and one reception, which went for 65-yard TD to win the playoff game against McPherson. Tanking will be playing college football at Kansas State University as a walk-on.

B&B Falcon, Curtis Stallbaumer might not have the stats that jump on the paper but as a lineman for the Falcons he played an integral part this season to help propel the Falcons to a perfect 13-0 record and an 8-Man Division II state title. Curtis blocked for a balanced offense this season that averaged 124.1 ypg passing and 185.5 ypg rushing, as the offense amassed 3,700 plus yards on the year. Stallbaumer on defense registered 26 tackles and a fumble recovery on the season. In his four years at B&B he was part four Falcons teams that made the state title game every year, including two state titles in that time. Stallbaumer will be continuing his football career at Hutchinson CC.

McLouth Bulldog, Marc Walbridge quarterback his team to a 9-2 season this year and a playoff bid for the first time since 2005. Marc even lead the Bulldogs to a playoff win over Jackson Heights, 42-8 were he was 6-10 for 156 yards and a TD. On the way to a DVL South title and a great season Walbridge amassed over 2,000 yards of total offense and close to 30 touchdowns on the season. Walbridge will continue his football career collegiately at Fort Scot Community College. 

Walbridge's, coach Chris Stewart while be a part of the East coaching staff after leading McLouth to that 9-2 record and a playoff berth for the first time since 2005, which included that playoff win over Jackson Heights.

This will be the 40th year of the annual Shrine Bowl football game as the four Kanzaland area athletes competing in the competition will look to help the East break a seven-game losing streak. The game is slated for July 27th, at Washburn University at 7pm. While, two area athletes run in the in the cross country event at 6:15pm. For tickets to the game visit www.kansasshrinebowl.com.