Wellington’s Derrick Lowe and Conway Springs’ Brayden Kunz named to the 2024 Kansas Shrine Bowl
Derrick Lowe
Brayden Kunz
Sumner Newscow report — Derrick Lowe of Wellington and Brayden Kunz of Conway Springs were named to the 51st Kansas Shrine Bowl. The announcements were made on Monday, Jan. 1. The selections result from a combination of statewide media votes and Shrine Bowl coaching staff selection from the list of 457 nominees.
The 51st Kansas Shrine Bowl, presented by Mammoth, will be played on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at Welch Stadium in Emporia.
Jeremiah Meeks, Wellington’s second-year head football coach, was selected as one of the assistants.
Wellington’s Derrick Lowe in a game vs. Clearwater in 2022.
Lowe was a multi-year starting offensive lineman for the Crusaders, starting as a tackle, leading the Crusaders to an 8-3 season and a Class 4A state quarterfinal berth. His highlights can be found here.
Lowe started both ways for Wellington in 2023 as an offensive/defensive lineman. The 6-2, 265-pound lineman, according to the HUDL website can run the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds, benchpress 275 pounds, squat 485, and clean 280. Lowe, a senior, will graduate this spring with a 3.4 GPA. He also wrestles and plays baseball. He was an honorable mention lineman in Class 4A in the Wichita Eagle.
Brayden Kunz in the state championship game in November.
Kunz, a running back, helped Conway Springs secure its eighth state championship in November by defeating Jefferson North 35-6. He broke the school’s single-season rushing record with 2,806 yards. He was recently named the offensive player of the Year as a running back for the Wichita Eagle Kansas Class 1A All-State team.
Kunz played both running back and offensive linebacker for Conway Springs. The 6-2, 205 pound senior is listed in HUDL as running the 40-yard dash in 4.75, the shuttle in 4.29, has a verticle leap of 33.5, can bench press 255 pounds, run the 100-meter dash in 11.69, squat 405 pounds and clean 285 pounds.
Kunz recently finished third nationally in calf roping at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo.
“We are excited to invite this excellent group of young men into the Kansas Shrine Bowl family,” said Brice Kesler, Executive Director of the Kansas Shrine Bowl. “They’ve all had tremendous careers on the football field and have earned this opportunity to use those talents they’ve been blessed with, and worked so hard for, to play the game they love for a much bigger cause.”
In addition to playing in the annual East vs. West all-star football game, Kansas Shrine Bowl participants get to meet and interact with the Patient Ambassadors from Shriners Children’s during the Hospital Experience Day. An event that, for many, is more impactful than any other event during the week of the Kansas Shrine Bowl. During the Hospital Experience Day, players come to understand that these children have put in the same kind of hard work, dedication and sacrifices they have; only their work has resulted in allowing them to walk, run, play, and live a full life.
To show your support for these players and the children they are impacting by accepting their invitation to participate in the Kansas Shrine Bowl, please visit www.KansasShrineBowl.com/Support. Since 1974, the Kansas Shrine Bowl along with the support from players’ local communities, has sent over $3.8 million to Shriners Hospitals for Children.
The Shrine Bowl of Kansas, Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity that produces annual events and related activities with net proceeds benefiting Shriners Children’s. Kansas Shrine All-Star Events also include the Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band Camp, the Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star Cheer Camp, the KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals and many other game week events. Shriner’s Children’s, previously Shriners Hospitals for Children, is a healthcare system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to the age of 18 are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay. To learn more about the Kansas Shrine Bowl visit www.KansasShrineBowl.com.
