Unique honor for Washington football player

It?s an honor bestowed to very few players, but for one Washington football player, it?s one he?s grateful to get.

Bryce Sinn is joining only 20 others from Washington to play in a very special game this summer.

Sinn will get to take part in the 45th Annual Iowa Shrine Bowl in July.

The Iowa Shrine Bowl Game is an all-star football game between selected pre-college football athletes on each side of a north-south dividing line in the state.

They are selected by a process of nomination by coaches, balloting by state wide media professionals and an official invite from an Iowa Shrine Bowl representative.

The game brings honor and recognition to the players, their schools and communities. It is also a way of raising money for the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Sinn says being selected was a great honor when he found out. ?It will be a great experience for me to play with some great players from Iowa and helping out kids.

?That?s what the game is all about. I hope we do everything to make them happy and make their day. We want them to feel special. We want to make sure it?s all about them and they know that.?

Getting to play in the Shrine Bowl came as a surprise for Sinn. ?I received the letter asking me if I would like to take part and I immediately turned it in. It was pretty easy.?

The tight end/defensive end isn?t sure exactly what position he will play on the gridiron in the game. ?Right now, I don?t know. They go two deep by position, so I will see where they need spots filled.

?I?m guessing I will play on the defensive side of the ball as that?s where I?ve played the most this year, but I?m capable of playing anywhere.?

The game itself will be played in the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Will that be a different experience in itself?

?I think it will. We didn?t reach our goal on the football team of making it there during the playoffs, but this will give me one way of getting to play there. The atmosphere will probably be awesome. I?m looking forward to it.?

One of the things he will take away from the game is knowing how much he has helped kids. ?That?s my main goal. The football game is a big deal, but the Shrine Bowl is mostly about the kids.?

Playing the game in the summer versus the fall will be unique for him as well. ?It will be different for sure. I will have to stay in shape the entire summer. I will have to stay in the weight room and keep my body in athletic shape.?

That training will follow basketball now and then track in the spring. ?I?m going to be a thrower again this year. That?s a good way to be in the weight room. You work on throwing then you go work out in the weight room. It?s a good way to get stronger.?

While this is something new for Sinn, he had heard about the overall experience from someone familiar. Washington football coach Garrison Carter was one of six coaches to represent Class 3A on the staff last year.

Carter says he was ?extremely honored to be selected as the Offensive Coordinator. It was the biggest honor of my coaching career.

?I was selected to be part of the staff based on past successes both at Washington and at my previous coaching stops.?

Sinn says after Garrison shared his experience he took away that the entire team in the Bowl game connected even after practicing for only a week. The teammates bonded really well.

Carter says to have one of his own players chosen to play is wonderful. ?It?s a tremendous honor and recognition for our program.

?Bryce has been a tremendous representation of what we expect in a Demon football player. He has exemplified hard work, perseverance, accountability and toughness consistently throughout his career. We are extremely honored to have Bryce representing us in this game.?

Carter added that being chosen to play in this game is ?a really big accomplishment.?

Only 44 players are chosen to play on each team, he says. ?Of those 44, only 10 can come from Class 3A. Being selected as one of the 10 best players in Class 3A for Team South is a huge honor for Bryce.?

Carter is pleased for Sinn. ?I am excited for Bryce to get the opportunity to experience this event. It was hands down the best experience of my coaching career.

?The relationships formed, as well as the experiences he will be part of, will last him a lifetime.?

Sinn agrees. ?I?m looking forward to getting to meet some really great players. There is a lot of talented kids playing in the game. I?m looking forward to meeting them and playing with them.?

As for recommending someone else to play in the game, Sinn would. ?I would recommend anyone just have a chance to compete with some great players from across the state of Iowa.?

This year?s Annual Shrine Bowl is Saturday, July 29, in Cedar Falls.