By Tiffany L. Rehbein
Nate Baltrusch, a senior at Havre High School, has been chosen to play in the Montana Shrine Bowl.
Baltrusch, a first team all-conference selection, will play at wide receiver for the East team.
The Shrine Bowl, the 54th of its kind, selects all-star players from 43 schools throughout Montana.
The game will be played on Saturday, July 22, at Memorial Stadium in Great Falls. Money raised goes to support the Shriners Hospital for Children in Spokane, Wash.
State Class A champion Laurel and state Class AA runner-up Billings West lead the way on the 39-man East roster. Players from 23 schools are included.
Class AA champion Helena Capital and Butte High highlight the West roster, who boasts 39 players from 20 schools.
Bob Connors, the head coach at Laurel, will coach the East team. Ron Lebsock of Billings Skyview, Tom DiGiallanardo of Red Lodge, Ted Richards of Centerville, Gregg Dart of Great Falls High and Jim O'Neill of Laurel will be assisting.
Mark Samson, the head coach at Helena Capital, will lead the West squad. Tony Arnston of Helena High, Ed Newell of Charlo, Troy Purcell of Eureka, and Chance Ferlicka and Dick McMahon, both of Capital, will assist.
In his career, Baltrusch tallied 516 yards with 32 receptions in 1999, including four touchdowns.
In 1998, Baltrusch had 26 receptions for 410 yards and seven TDs.
Both are in the record books at Havre High. In '98, Baltrusch tied a school record with the most touchdown catches.
Also in 1998, Baltrusch had 11 kickoff returns for 251 yards, and stands second only to Richard Jarvis in the record books. Jarvis now plays for the MSU-Northern Lights football team.
Baltrusch also notched 15 punt returns for 238 yards his junior year, averaging 15.8 yards per return.
He is third at Havre High in most total yards in a season, accumulating 489 in 1998.
At the Shrine Game, Baltrusch will be joined by running back Vince Henman of Laurel, who set a state record with 4,669 rushing yards and 48 TDs.
Most valuable offensive player of the Class AA game, Bo Bartik of Billings West, will get the start at quarterback.
Shrine Game selections -- East: Bo Bartik, quarterback, Billings West, Vince Henman, running back, Laurel, Matt Kimmet, quarterback, Laurel, Shane Waddell, wide receiver, Laurel, Matt Nelson, defensive line, Laurel, John Perrigo, linebacker, Laurel, Justin Bickham, offensive guard, Billings West, Kevin Cicero, offensive tackle, Billings West, Kevin Willis, defensive end, Billings West, Tyler Pitz, linebacker, Billings West, Brad Johnson, tight end, CMR, Mike Schmidt, defensive tackle, CMR, Nick Prinzing, defensive tackle, CMR, Chris Lins, defensive tackle, CMR, Drew Blewett, wide receiver, Great Falls, Seth Birch, defensive end, Cascade, Ryan Dunn, center, Lewistown, Nate Baltrusch, wide receiver, Havre, Nate Mostad, wide receiver, Glasgow, Jeff Freeman, tight end, Malta, Mike Maddox, safety, Chinook.
West: Greg Carothers, safety, Helena Capital, Brandon Milone, lineman, Capital, Kyle Scarr, cornerback, Capital, Jesse Atherarn, offensive tackle, Capital, Kevin McCutcheon, wide receiver, Capital, Keith Vinecke, center, Butte, Brad Fuchs, running back, Butte, Tucker Downey, Butte, Beau Anderson, defensive tackle, Butte.
Alternates -- East: Matt Geering, Billings Skyview, Jared Grina, C.M. Russell; Jimmy Kohles, Billings Senior; Eric Stoverud, C.M. Russell; Brian Krivitz, Billings West; Jim Hubley, Billings Skyview; Allen Linder, C.M. Russell; Lee Dresch, C.M. Russell; AB Birdratler, Browning; Chad Mitchell, Lewistown; Justin Blake, Colstrip; Steve Daugherty, Laurel; Jesse Schwatzer, Livingston; Paul Steinbeisser, Sidney; Casey Peterson, Sidney; Eric Kenitzec, Miles City; Shad Waddell, Laurel; Robert Shotgunn, Colstrip; Chris Olson, Sidney; Klint Siemensen, Huntley Project; Jason Green, Glasgow; Jason Brosk, Wolf Point; Doug Oltrogge, Huntley Project; Travis Welgle, Columbus; Josh Laasch, Cut Bank; Seth Hubert, Columbus; Scott Frydenlund, Shelby; Craig Lorang, Centerville; Hugo Anderson, Medicine Lake; Rob Mayernick, Centerville; Dustin Mathiason, Terry. West -- Jake Eldridge, Helena Capital; Mick Morris, Butte High; Nathan Walters, Helena High; Beau McCleod, Kalispell; Steve Rice, Helena Capital; Lucas McGill, Missoula Big Sky; Nick Kuntz, Helena Capital; Bill Straily, Butte High; Craig Jones, Missoula Hellgate; Toby Beck, Helena High; Lowell Hahn, Helena High; Eric Wright, Missoula Big Sky; Quinn Erwin, Helena Capital; Scott Standinger, Butte Central; Pat Leary, Anaconda; Mike Miller, Anaconda; Rusty Bowers, Belgrade; Robert McRea, Ronan; Beau Clark, Belgrade; Mark Galik, Stevensville; Joe Lucon, Butte Central; Nate Stillwagon, Butte Central; Chad Worthington, Belgrade; Bill Battiola, Whitehall; Dalton Christopherson, Darby; Jay Deal, Thompson Falls; Willy Elmose, Deer Lodge; Chris Jones, Missoula Loyola; Tim Ware, Deer Lodge; Jess Dawson, Ennis; Willy Elmose, Deer Lodge; Jon Samson, Three Forks; Skyler Perry, Charlo
