Some of Marion County’s best football players will have one last chance to don a uniform before college begins.

Pella’s State Champion Quarterback and Corner Nick Finney, Pella Christian’s Record-Book Torching Quarterback and Linebacker David Kacmarynski, the Mustangs stellar Wideout Luke Greiner, and Twin Cedar’s big man Jake Crozier have all been invited to participate in the 45th Iowa Shrine Bowl in July.

Three of the four attended the annual media day in Altoona at the Za Ga Zig Shriners’ Temple Monday.

For Finney, it represents what is likely his final time in a football uniform, as he has no plans to continue his career at college.

“It’s obviously a very big honor to be selected for the Shrine Bowl, first Coach McKinstrey nominated me and then being selected by the South head coach, and it’s just an honor to get one last chance to play football in high school and then to be able to raise some money for the Shriners’ organization,” Finney says.

Kacmarynski is following in the footsteps of his father Rich, who played in the Shrine Bowl as a senior at Mallard and is also an assistant coach this year.

“It’s something that he talked about, playing in the Shrine Bowl when he was in high school,” Kacmarynski says. “Ever since I was a little kid I heard the stories and it was something that I wanted to emulate, and it looks like I’m about to be able to do that.”

The Sabers’ Crozier is honored to share the field with many elite athletes he didn’t get a chance to compete against in eight-man action.

“It’s all about the kids [we help], and you get to play some football, so I mean, it’s an honor. They only send 92 kids in the entire state,” he says.

All Shrine Bowl participants are playing for more than just an all-star showcase — each player is tasked with raising funds for Shriners Hospitals located in the Midwest. The Shriners provide care to hundreds of Iowa’s physically handicapped children and thousands in the Midwest. Finney, Kac, Crozier, and Greiner are all seeking sponsorship and selling tickets locally, with all proceeds benefiting the Shriners organization.

The four local athletes on this year’s squad will all compete for the South Team on July 29th at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.