By Anthony Gorges
JC Post
Junction City High School senior Jackson Hollie and head football coach Randall Zimmerman were recognized at halftime of Tuesday's varsity basketball games, as Hollie and Zimmerman were presented with their official invitations to play and coach in this year's Kansas Shrine Bowl. The 53rd Kansas Shrine Bowl will be played on Saturday, June 27, at Emporia State University.
"I am very honored to have been chosen for the Kansas Shrine Bowl," Junction City High School senior Jackson Hollie said. "Playing in this game and also knowing what I'm playing for means a lot to me."
Hollie, a 6'6'' senior, played defensive end for the Blue Jays in football this season and recently signed to go play for Kansas State University in the fall. Hollie signed as a Preferred Walk-on (PWO).
For coach Randall Zimmerman, this year's game will be his Kansas Shrine Bowl record ninth appearance on the sidelines. Coach Z has previously been an assistant coach five times and has also been named the West Head Coach on three occasions.
"This is more than just a football game," Coach Zimmerman said. "This is a fundraiser for the Shrine hospitals and for those kids."
Speaking on his previous experiences, Zimmerman had this to say: "It was just so touching for me the first time that I did it. It's a very neat and humbling thing to be a part of, and I'm very excited to have another Junction City kid invited this year."
"This is a tremendous honor for Jackson," Zimmerman stated. "To be selected in this game is just a tremendous thing, and he will have so much fun. I am looking forward to being a part of it and watching Jackson in that setting."
Zimmerman noted that Junction City has had at least one player selected each year but one since 2007.