Wallowa County football players honored

The 2019 Oregon East-West All-Star Football Game was held in Baker City in August, with three Wallowa County high school players participating, Tyler Homan, Joseph Eagles, Coy Aschenbrenner, Enterprise Outlaws, and Gus Ramsden, Wallowa Cougars.

Trey Wandschneider was also recognized but was not tapped to participate in the game. Also participating as an assistant coach was Duncan Chrisman from the Joseph football program.

The game is known as “The Greatest Little Shrine Game in the World.” It is recognized nationally as the No. 1 fundraiser of its kind, on the North American continent, for Shrine Hospitals for Children.

The rosters are made up of graduated players from Class 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A. The players spend a week practicing for the game and enjoying various activities, including a trip to the Shrine Hospital in Portland, where they spent time with the young patients.

Homan, Aschenbrenner and Ramsden, along with their parents, were honored by the Wallowa County Shrine Club with a dinner at Vali’s Alpine Restaurant.

Wandschneider was not able to attend due to work commitments. The three players and Chrisman agreed it was a great experience, and Coy called the trip to the hospital “humbling.”