Five Uinta County athletes play in 45th Shrine Bowl

Mark Madia, Herald Sports Editor
Posted 6/15/18

45th annual Shrine Bowl

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Five Uinta County athletes play in 45th Shrine Bowl

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Three Mountain View Buffalos, one Lyman Eagle and one Evanston Red Devil represented the south team in the 45th annual Shrine Bowl game played June 9, in Casper. The north continued its recent dominance, despite the score being close, notching its sixth consecutive win, 13-7, for the game played at Cheney Alumni Field on the campus of Natrona County High School.

The south team scored first on a touchdown run by Josh Dawson of Star Valley and led 7-0 until the third quarter, when a pick-six 83-yard return by Aaron Sessions of Sheridan and the ensuing point-after-touchdown tied the score, 7-7.

Riley Hill of Greybull plunged in from one yard out late in the 4th quarter to seal the victory for the north team. Sessions and Hill were named the defensive and offensive players of the game, respectively.

Proceeds from the game benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Salt Lake City. Going into the 2017 contest, more than $450,000 had been raised and the amount likely exceeds a half-million​ dollars to date. Teams are selected from the best graduating seniors in all classifications across the Cowboy State with rosters of 36 players for each squad.

A week of practice takes place prior to the game, along with other activities, highlighted by a trip from Casper to Salt Lake City, where the participants meet and visit with the children at the hospital.The Wyoming Shrine Bowl slogan, “Strong legs run, so weak legs may walk,” becomes personified.

The Herald had a chance to catch up with the Uinta County athletes who had the opportunity to take part in the 2018 Shrine Bowl and related festivities​. 

Blake Overy, Evanston

Blake Overy was a 3A all-state selection for the Evanston Red Devils, and like Lyman’s BeauDee Bluemel, the only member of his high school team to be represented in the Shrine Bowl. He considers the experience to be the pinnacle of his football career.

“It was an honor to be selected,” Overy said. 

“It was neat to be a part of — to play with the best-of-the-best from around the the state.”

Overy was impressed with the athleticism of his teammates and the competition from the north, but perhaps even more so with the collective mental aspects of the game.

“There was not near as much downtime in learning and walk-through,” he said. 

“The coaches would install the plays one day and everyone understood and could carry out their assignments the next day.”

According to Overy, his south squad had the momentum until the north’s interception for a touchdown took place.

“We had the momentum until the north got their defensive score and then I felt it shifted,” he explained.

“They scored again with about four-minutes left on the clock and we just couldn’t seem to take back the momentum,” Overy added.

The visit to the Shriners Hospital for Children had a profound effect on the five-foot, 10-inch, 225-pound former Red Devil.

“It really opened up my eyes,” Overy affirmed. “It made me realize what we were really playing for. It wasn’t so much about who won and who lost. We were playing for those kids, to raise money for those kids, so they’ll be able to walk and get the surgeries they need. It was all about doing our part to help those kids.” 

Overy is unsure about his continuing education for the time being, as his focus is on serving an LDS mission.

“I’m proud to be serving an LDS mission to Edmonton, Canada, for the next two years, and after that I’m just not sure.” 

Overy said he would welcome continuing his athletic career if the opportunity were to arise, but added,”that’s not really in my plans.”

Jonathan Anderson,

Mountain View

Jonathan Anderson was one of three members of the 2017 Class 2A state champion Mountain View Buffalos selected for the south team. Anderson told the Herald,

​“​It was a fun experience and I don’t think there’s anything that could’ve made it become a bad experience.​“ 

When asked about the visit with the children at the Shriners​ ​hospital​, the six-foot, two-inch, 295-pound offensive and defensive lineman had this to say:

​“​Seeing all those kids and what they have to go through​ on a day-to-day basis​​ makes me feel very blessed​, but also seeing how tough​ and positive​ they are is inspiring.​“​

​Anderson, ​arguably the best defensive lineman on the state championship Buffalo team and in the entire 2A division was asked for his take on practicing and competing with and against the best football players in Wyoming​.

​“​It was crazy, honestly.​“​ Anderson​ said.​

“​To​ go from leading your high school team​ ​to then go up against three other dudes who were either just as good or maybe even better​​ was definitely an adjustment.”

Anderson believes he will likely stay in touch with some of the new friends he made while taking part in the Shrine Bowl experience.

“​I’m sure I probably will, he said. “These are special relationships that can​‘t​ be made any other way​,​​​“​ ​the 2017 all-state selection said.​

​The 2018 graduate of Mountain View High School plans on attending either​ Western Wyoming Community College or Bridgerland Applied Technology College in Logan, Utah, to further his education.

Jason Stoddard,

Mountain View

Buff running-back and defensive-back Jason Stoddard was far and away the most loquacious​ of the five Uinta County Shrine Bowl participants. When asked to compare winning the state championship last fall with his recent Shrine Bowl experience, Stoddard responded, 

“Winning the state championship is definitely the biggest​ highlight of my football career​, but the ​S​hrine ​B​owl was a close second. It was a wonderful experience and I enjoyed every second of it.​“

Stoddard was also quizzed on what it was like to play alongside and against the best of the best Wyoming has to offer on the gridiron.​ 

​“​I thought it was amazing,” he said​. ​

“​There w​ere​ a ton of great players. It was a great experience to play with some of the players that ​we ​played against and others that I had heard about from the other classifications around Wyoming.  Being out there on the field with all that talent was awesome.​“​

​Stoddard said how his new friendships formed through the experience​. 

“​We became closer than I thought we were going to be.  It was an amazing atmosphere and we all became good friends pretty quickly  I’m sure a lot of us will definitely stay in touch.​“​ 

​The six-foot, 180-pound​ all-state selection relayed his thoughts regarding the hospital visit. 

“Definitely one of my favorite parts. Seeing what those kids have to go through, it taught me a lot.” 

Stoddard explained that the players were asked to perform ​mundane​ tasks​ to get a feel for what it’s like to be physically challenged,​ such as tying your shoe with only your left hand​.​

 ​“​That was hard, and I was ​not​ able to do it. It made me feel blessed about what I have and it made me feel even better to be a part of the ​S​hrine ​B​owl.  It ​also ​made me feel proud about being able to help the ​S​hriners ​h​ospital make money to help others have a better life​.”​

​Stoddard shared his view on playing with the best from around Wyoming and the tightness of the game itself.​

“It was definitely competitive, and there was a lot of tension, especially at the end of the game and I really liked that,” Stoddard shared. 

“Despite losing, it’s still one of my favorite games to ever play in.” 

​S​​toddard​​ has earned a football scholarship at Black Hills State University and will major in exercise science​.

BeauDee Bluemel, Lyman

BeauDee Bluemel was the lone representative from Lyman High School, as far as players go. One of his high school coaches, Cody Peacock, was on the sidelines as a south team assistant coach.

Bluemel deemed the Shrine Bowl experience one of the biggest highlights of his athletic career. The six-foot, three-inch tight end and defensive lineman was a bit taken aback by the skill level and speed of the athletes who surrounded him.

“There was quite a bit of difference from my high school team and competition,” Bluemel said.

“I wasn’t used to playing with such a high caliber of talent and it was quite a bit faster, too.”

Bluemel said he believes the close score was indicative of the parity between the two teams.

“It was really competitive and I thought we were pretty evenly matched. They were just able to convert on their last drive.”

As far as the hospital visit, Bluemel, like his teammates, was moved.

“It was really nice to interact with the kids and have them show us what they go through,” Bluemel avowed.

“It truly makes you feel fortunate.”

Bluemel will head to the Phoenix, Arizona, area to attend Universal Technical Institute in hopes of becoming a master mechanic.

Trevon Peterson,

Mountain View

Trevon Peterson was literally a huge factor for helping the Mountain View Buffalos to win the 2017 state football title. Standing six-feet, two-inches tall and tipping the scales at 300 pounds, he was the second-largest athlete in this year’s Shrine Bowl.

Was the Shrine Bowl the second greatest thrill of your football career, right after the state championship? 

“Yes, sir. It was pretty incredible,” Peterson told the Herald.

Peterson was also queried about his thoughts on playing with and against the best in Wyoming prep football.

“It was definitely an adjustment, but it was nice,” Peterson said. 

“Everyone knew their roles and did their part.”

Peterson shared his impressions from the hospital visit. 

“It was definitely an eye-opener,” Peterson said. 

“It really surprised me how happy and positive all the kids were. That was fun to see.”

When asked about the south being unable to get off the schneid, narrowly losing their sixth-straight game to the north, Peterson said,

“It was close. and we should have clinched it. I really thought we had it.”

Peterson forged some friendships right away which he believes will be lasting. 

“We met these kids from Glenrock, who we played in the state title, and just clicked instantly,” Peterson said. One of those Glenrock athletes was the only player to outweigh Peterson, in six-foot, five-inch, 320-pound Richard Harris. The Mountain View and Glenrock combination of players even came up with a moniker for themselves.

“We called ourselves the ‘three-quarter ton of fun,’” Peterson revealed.

Peterson will attend Western Wyoming Community College this fall to pursue a degree in fabrication.