Nine local athletes participate in 2nd Annual Idaho Bowl
Bonner County Daily Bee | UPDATED 1 year, 2 months AGO
From left, Cael Schneider and CJ Runnfeldt, both sixth graders this past academic year at Priest River High, are all smiles after a successful experience at the Idaho Bowl held June 14 at BYU-Idaho in Rexburg.
(Courtesy Photo)
From left, Royce Redinger, Branson Stokes, and Elijah Camp of Priest River all competed in the Idaho Bowl held June 14 at BYU-Idaho in Rexburg.
REXBURG — Nine local junior high football players — five from Priest River and four from Sandpoint — recently competed in the 2nd annual Idaho Bowl held Saturday, June 14, on the campus of BYU-Idaho.
Representing Priest River were Elijah Camp (eighth grade), Branson Stokes (eighth grade), Royce Redinger (seventh grade), C.J. Runnfeldt (sixth grade) and Cael Schneider (sixth grade). Representing Sandpoint were Luke Brewer (eighth grade), Alex Gomez (eighth grade), Ryker Bankson (seventh grade) and Jaxson McClelland (seventh grade).
The Idaho Bowl is an invite-only, All-Star game for some of the best sixth through eighth graders across the entire state. The event spanned three days in total, and in addition to the All-Star games themselves, had five practices and hosted guest speakers, some of which were former NFL athletes. The Idaho Bowl, which had 245 athletes from 71 different schools compete this year, also acts as a fundraiser that benefits the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho. In 2024, organizers donated seven pick-up truck loads and two car loads of supplies along with over $2,000 in gift cards and thousands of dollars in cash, making the Idaho Bowl one of RMHC-Idaho’s largest fundraisers for material goods.
"Guys from small schools like Hagerman are rooming with guys from Boise High,” Laif Morrison, Director of the Idaho Bowl, said in an interview with KREM 2 News. “The relationships that this event has been able to create across the state are really cool. Guys are sharing phone numbers and Instagram's after the game, boosting each other up, which is really what we want to do, build that environment of camaraderie and support all throughout the state."
More than just a bowl game, the Idaho Bowl was founded in memory of Hank Anderson, son of Director Morrison's close friends. Hank was born in June of 2021 with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome, a rare heart defect, and passed away in December of that year while awaiting a heart transplant. Hank’s parents, who are originally from Boise, experienced the support of Ronald McDonald House Charities during their 7-month stay in Salt Lake City, Utah, while their son was being treated.
From left, Royce Redinger, Branson Stokes, and Elijah Camp of Priest River all competed in the Idaho Bowl held June 14 at BYU-Idaho in Rexburg.