After missing a year due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wyoming Shrine Bowl is back, with practices for the North and South teams scheduled to begin Tuesday, June 8; the 48th annual game will kickoff Saturday, June 12, at Cheney Alumni Field at Natrona County High School in Casper.

Mountain View head football coach Brent Walk – who was tapped to lead the South team in 2020 before the game was canceled – will return as the head coach of the South for 2021. Cody head coach Matt McFadden will lead the North squad.

Preparation for this year’s annual senior All-Star game will look a little different this year, most notably with the cancellation of the trip to the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, a staple of the event since its inception in 1974. Players will begin to trickle in to Casper next Monday, with practices to begin in earnest Tuesday morning.

“The schedule for this year’s game is different than in years’ past,” Walk explained. “The trip to the Shriner’s Hospital in Salt Lake got cancelled, which is unfortunate. Walk – who coached the South team back in 2015 – is hoping his team will break the North’s seven-game win streak. 

Uinta County – especially the Bridger Valley – is well-represented on the South roster, with six players suiting up for Walk and his staff. The Lyman Eagles – last season’s 2A State Champions – will be represented by Preston Brewer, Hansen Bradshaw and Joseph Turner. All three were All-State selections following the 2020 season.

“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to coach those guys, rather than game plan against them,” Walk said of the Lyman contingent. “They’re great kids, and great football players. Joseph Turner is one of the best defensive linemen that I’ve ever coached against. Preston is a hard-nosed kid – he’s big, athletic and physical. Hansen Bradshaw has had an incredible year over in Lyman, in terms of offense and defense. I’m really looking forward to coaching that group.”

Mountain View has two players on the roster – Hunter Meeks and Ashton Schofield. Like their Lyman counterparts, both Meeks and Schofield were All-State selections, as well as multi-sport athletes. 

Finally, Red Devil standout Jagger Mitchell rounds out the Uinta County contingent, the lone Evanston player chosen for the South roster. An All-State selection at linebacker for the Red Devils, Mitchell brings an unparalleled work ethic and versatility to the South squad, according to Walk.