By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
OTTAWA -- Former Seaman standout Casen Stallbaumer is all set to join what is quickly becoming a Viking pipeline to Emporia State.
Rossville football coach Derick Hammes, an East assistant, works with former Seaman standout Casen Stallbaumer (left) during a Shrine Bowl practice at Ottawa University. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
A first-team All-Shawnee County pick last fall, Stallbaumer will compete for the East in Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Pittsburg State before he reports to the Hornet football team early next month along with his former Viking teammate and cousin, Camden Barta, also an All-County pick in 2021.
"It's a great program and it just felt like home down there,'' the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Stallbaumer said during an East practice session at Ottawa University. "It's not too far away and then I've got my cousin going there, too, so that just makes it a lot better.''
Stallbaumer and Barta will join two other former Seaman standouts, Dalton and Reid Cowan, on the ESU football team while another Viking product, Riley Cowan, is a member of the Hornet women's soccer team.
"There's three Cowans down there -- Dalton, Reid and Riley -- and I know them all real well,'' Stallbaumer said.
Stallbaumer is counting on that familiarity to help ease his transition to Emporia State.
"It helps a lot,'' he said.
Stallbaumer is also counting on this week's Shrine Bowl experience to help get him ready for college football.
"I'm in real good shape,'' said Stallbaumer, who caught 58 passes for 759 yards and five touchdowns and had 35 tackles with seven tackles for loss and two sacks as a senior. "I've been working out pretty much every day and I went down to Emporia for a week and worked out with the team there.
"These practices, they aren't easy out here especially with the heat, so that will just help to get me in better shape than I already am in.''
Stallbaumer said he jumped at the opportunity to end his high school career in the Shrine Bowl.
"I was sitting with my dad (Todd) and we were watching the (selection show) live and when they announced my name I was real excited,'' Stallbaumer said.
Stallbaumer is playing outside linebacker for the East but is expected to play receiver at ESU.
"That's why I thought I'd play receiver here but I'm just happy to be on the field,'' he said.
Also playing for the East are Rossville's Torrey Horak and Corey Catron and former Shawnee Heights standout Orrin Busenitz.
Saturday's game is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Carnie Smith Stadium.
