The 44th annual Iowa Shrine Bowl will kick off this afternoon in Cedar Falls, and five athletes will represent the KCII-listening area in the yearly event. 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. The selection process for the Shrine Bowl consists of player nominations from coaches, balloting by state-wide sports media professionals, and an official invitation from a representative of the Iowa Shrine Bowl.

The athletes from the KCII-listening area set to compete in the game for the South team include Jack Giardino of Washington, Mauricio Ramirez of Columbus, Sam Jennings of Winfield-Mount Union, Jackson Gerot of WACO, and Keegan Pullis of Mount Pleasant. Washington Demon head football coach Garrison Carter has been selected as the offensive coordinator for this year’s South team.

Three of the five players in today’s game will continue playing football collegiality. Ramirez and Pullis have accepted walk-on spots on this year’s Iowa State University football team. Jennings has accepted a football scholarship from Upper Iowa University.

The 44th annual Iowa Shrine Bowl is set to kickoff at 4 p.m. today at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.