By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
OTTAWA -- Linemen are used to laboring in anonymity.
But former Shawnee Heights offensive lineman Orrin Busenitz generated enough attention during his T-Bird career to earn a spot on the East team, which will face the West in Saturday night's Kansas Shrine Bowl at Pittsburg State University.
Former Shawnee Heights standout lineman Orrin Busenitz (56) is playing center for the East in Saturday's Kansas Shrine Bowl. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I was extremely excited because I knew it was a big opportunity to represent my team and do some good for the kids in the hospitals,'' said the 6-foot-2, 295-pound Busenitz. "All the good that the Shriners do here I wanted to be a part of that.''
Only 39 players get the opportunity to play for the East and Busenitz said he was somewhat surprised to get the call to play in Kansas' premier all-star football game.
"I was a little bit (surprised), but I knew I was definitely good enough to be considered one of these top guys out here,'' Busenitz said.
Busenitz will play offensive center for the East, a position he played as a junior for Shawnee Heights before playing guard as a senior.
Busenitz will use this week's training camp at Ottawa University and Saturday night's game to help him get ready for the next step in his career at hometown Washburn University.
"I just liked the environment and the campus,'' Busenitz said of his decision to sign with the Ichabods. "They've been one of the top programs in the country in recent years and they have great facilities and great coaches, great people and I just wanted to be part of that.''
Busenitz is one of four former Shawnee Country standouts who will play for the East in Saturday night's game, which will kick off at 7 p.m. at Carnie Smith Stadium.
Former Rossville stars Torrey Horak and Corey Catron will play quarterback and slotback for the East while Seaman grad Casen Stallbaumer is playing linebacker.
Horak will play his college football at Central Missouri while Catron will play at Bethel and Stallbaumer at Emporia State.
