Ark Valley News - Linebacker ends career with a win

Jay Shank (fourth row, fourth from left) is pictured with the West squad. The Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League II was well represented by the West squad. Players included Cooper Dreifort of Andover, Kody Gonzalez of Goddard, Tanner Orand of Eisenhower and Ethan Richardson of Maize South as well as head coach Marc Marinelli of Eisenhower and assistants Scott Vang of Goddard and Brent Pfeifer of Maize South.

Linebacker ends career with a win
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: August 10, 2017

Jay Shank ended his football career in the Kansas Shrine Bowl July 29.

With a win.

Shank, who graduated from Valley Center High School in 2017 and was the Hornets' leading tackler, was a linebacker in the West Squad's 22-21 victory in a rollercoaster game.

Shank had one assisted tackle for the West.

"It was great," Shank said of his experience. With just one tackle, "it didn't turn out the way I hoped, but the defense was great."

The West defense recorded a safety late in the game to take the win. West was up 14-7 at halftime and fell behind 21-14 in the third quarter.

West scored the game's final eight points for the win. Bad field position on simultaneous penalties forced East to run out of its end zone, but the East quarterback was sacked with a minute to play in the game.

"That was crazy," Shank said of the ending to the game. "I couldn't believe it. I thought for sure we were going to go down."

Shank said the weeklong experience, including the practices and the visits with children Shriners' hospitals serve was "eye opening."

The children, Shank said, "do everything we can do, just a little bit differently."

The West squad stayed at the K-State campus in Salina until moving to El Dorado three days before the game, which was played at the BG Products stadium.

Shank said he enjoyed getting to know the West teammates, many of whom he played against as a Hornet.

Several Valley Center fans, including family and coaches, attended the game.

"That was awesome," Shank said. "It just goes to show what Valley Center is. It's just one big family. You work hard and people are going to support you, no matter what."

Shank said he will move to Stillwater, Okla., this month to attend Oklahoma State University, where he plans to major in English. He said he looks forward to the next chapter of his life, even if it won't include football.

"It's going to be completely new," said Shank, who has relatives who attended OSU, including a grandfather who played basketball for the Cowboys. "I'll always have Valley Center to come back to. It's one big family, so I know I can always count on them to be there for me."