Player excels at time management
Special to the Gazette
Friday, July 18, 2008
Football coaches often refer to the skillful use of time, especially towards the end of close games, as “clock management.” Meet a 2008 Kansas Shrine Bowl player who is already skilled in making the most of his time.
Jamie Wollenberg of Hesston, who will play for the West in the 2008 Kansas Shrine Bowl, is a 6-foot, 250-pound offensive guard who helped anchor the Swathers to a glistening 10-1 record in 2007. Hesston’s only loss came at the hands of eventual 3A champ Garden Plain.
The Shrine Bowl will be played at 7 p.m. July 26 at Welch Stadium in Emporia.
As successful as he has been on the gridiron, football is only one of his several time-consuming activities.
Wollenberg is an accomplished musician who plays both the piano and trumpet and sings in two vocal groups. He has been part of a quiz team called the “Scholar Bowl” which competes against other schools, and made a successful run to statewide competition. He is a flag football coach for second- and third-graders in a program sponsored by the local recreation commission. He’s been a state qualifier in forensics, and is active in his church youth group, all while maintaining grades that qualify him for the National Honor Society.
How does he get it all done?
“Lots and lots of scheduling, a lot of time management,” Wollenberg said. “And some sleepless nights every now and then.”
He is proud of his music accomplishments, which he said came about naturally.
“My mom was a music teacher,” he said.
He has been involved in the Kansas State High School Activities Association piano competition, where he has won on both the regional and state levels. He also played the trumpet in Hesston’s concert, pep and jazz band, and sang with Hesston’s Choral and Select Singers, the latter for which he had to pass a vocal audition.
Wollenberg relates his success in music to football.
“It all depends on what you want to work on and how you practice. If you go on the football field and go through your drills, do everything right, you’re going to get better. The same is true for music. You work on your scales and practice and you’ll get better at that, too.”
He’s also made a major time commitment to the youth in Hesston through a flag football program. He was an assistant coach for a year, and has been a head coach for two years in a program that involves two practices a week and games on Saturdays during the season. He said it helps his overall appreciation of the game.
“It’s a lot of fun, being a lineman and still teaching kids how to pass and catch. You get to work on your overall football knowledge, rather than on just your position.”
The Shrine Bowl just be his last organized game. He plans to attend Bethany College in Lindsborg, but he is not sure whether he’ll play football.
“I’ll be involved in my music, and I may have up to three minors in addition to my major,” he said. “In high school I was able to do a little of everything because I made the commitment, but in college the level of commitment is much greater, so I’ll have to pick and choose. I’m still trying to figure out what I’ll choose to do.”
Like all of the players chosen to participate in the Kansas Shrine Bowl, Wollenberg said he is looking forward to the game. But he said he’s looking forward to the trip to the Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis even more.
“That’s the No. 1 thing about the Shrine Bowl,” he said. “It’s about the kids and raising money. Hopefully we can bring some hope with us, show that we care and want to help out.”
About the Bowl
Proceeds from all Shrine Bowl events support the Shriners Hospitals for Children, a network of 22 hospitals that provide expert, no-cost orthopedic, burn and spinal care to children under 18. Children are admitted free to Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Advance reserved chairback tickets for the game cost $20. Adult general admission tickets are $9 in advance. Student tickets (K-12) are $5 in advance.
Other Shrine Bowl events scheduled in Emporia on July 26 include: an open 5K Road Race that includes 60 cross country all-star runners; a one-mile Fun Run/Walk; a giant Shrine parade; an arts and crafts fair; a kids’ fair; a high school combine; a poker run for bikes, autos and trucks; and a free fashion show.
For information or tickets, call the Shrine Bowl office at (800) 530-5524.