The Iowa Shrine Bowl has announced their 2017 rosters and Bear running back Luke Lenoch has been selected to play in the annual game. The senior announced his selection a few weeks ago on his social media accounts but the official word has finally come from the Iowa Shrine Bowl.
When the teams take the field at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls on July 29th, Lenoch will be playing on the South squad, wearing number 32. He is the only player from Class 1A District 3 selected to play in the bowl game. Check out the full 2017 rosters on the Iowa Shrine Bowl's website.
The players are selected by a process of nomination by coaches, balloting by state-wide sports media professionals, and official invitation from a representative of the Iowa Shrine Bowl. The game brings honor and recognition to the players, their schools and their communities. It has also been an effective tool in raising money for The Shriner's Hospital For Children.
Lenoch becomes the 29th player and/or coach to participate in the Shrine Bowl Game in West Branch Football history. The full list of players/coaches can be found here. In 2015, West Branch graduate and current Iowa Hawkeye Jacob Giese was selected to play in the all-star game.
For more information about the bowl game, including ticket information, visit the Iowa Shrine Bowl's website.
WestBranchFootball.com got to chat with Luke about being selected. Check out the transcript of the chat below.
What does being selected to the shrine bowl mean to you?
Being selected to the shrine bowl means a lot, a lot of people see it as the best senior players in Iowa get to go and play but it's also for a very good cause. They have this hospital that people who can't afford go to for free services and we raise money for that.
How do you feel to be amongst the past Bears selected?
Looking back on past players that have gone and knowing I'm going to play up against some of the best players in Iowa is pretty cool. Giese was the last one who went and he was saying how great of an experience it was and to just make memories.
Do you feel playing in this game is a good warm up for playing in college?
I think this will help prepare me for college a lot. There are D1 players on each team and all classes are thrown in a game to play each other. I'm super excited to see where I match up with everybody.
