Shrine Bowl South Team unites around shared competitive drive

Shrine Bowl Beyond the Field day

The 2024 Nebraska Shrine Bowl game will be televised on News Channel Nebraska TV. Kickoff is at 4:00 p.m. CT on Saturday.

KEARNEY, Neb. — All of the all-star seniors at the Nebraska Shrine Bowl are good football players and good students. But what really unites the South Team, is they’re all intense competitors.

That’s what’s fueling Mav Binder of Auburn to hit the gridiron again, despite having a future on the college basketball court.

“Oh it’s really fun to come out here and compete one last time in pads," Binder said. "A million people in the world would want that, so it’s really special to me and I’m thankful for it.”

Gage Wolter of Beatrice and Dawson Kissinger of Hastings St. Cecilia have picked up on their teammates’ passion.

“One guy goes a little harder than everybody else," Wolter said. "Then, all of a sudden, you’re going 100 percent on the inside guys because we’re just big-type guys that like to hit.”

“It’s the best dudes in the state," Kissinger said. "Everyone’s the dude from their school and they’re all on one team now, so it’s great.”

Tanner Bolte of Bruning-Davenport/Shickley wanted to be around the competition despite breaking his foot during track and field.

“If you’re going to play or not, I think it’s a good experience," Bolte said. "They say it’s more than a game and that’s true.”

Bolte has the added opportunity to compete under his high school head coach one more time. Chris Ardissono of BDS is an assistant coaches.

“It’s fun. I love him," Bolte said. "Four years I’ve been with him, it’s been awesome. It’s really fun that he’s got enough respect that he was able to be respected as a coach. Seeing him out here, it’s fun to be together still.”

Kissinger’s head coach at St. Cecilia, Clint Head is also with the south team.

“More goofy because he doesn’t have to be so locked in," Kissinger said. "So he’s just messing around with all the guys. He’s just a little more laid back.”