Las Vegas, Nev.----Wingate University All-American punter Ethan Evans has earned an invitation to the prestigious East-West Shrine Bowl. An invitation to take part in the annual East-West Shrine Bowl is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the best senior collegiate football all-stars in the country to showcase their talents in front of top representatives of NFL teams.

"My time playing at Wingate was the best four years of my life," Evans says. "I'm blessed to be able to wear the Wingate helmet one last time and to show the world what it truly means to be a Wingate Bulldog."

The 98th annual East-West Shrine Bowl will take place Thursday, Feb. 2 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Evans is one of only four players from NCAA Division II to earn an invitation to this year's Shrine Bowl.

"We are very excited for Ethan to have this unbelievable opportunity," head coach Joe Reich says. "It's totally the result of his hard work and dedication to his craft."

The East-West Shrine Bowl is the longest-running college all-star football game in the nation. An important part of America's football tradition, the event gives top college players a chance to showcase their talents to NFL scouts and a national television audience. This year, the East-West Shrine Bowl is part of the NFL's Pro Bowl Week events in Las Vegas.

Evans earns this opportunity after a huge senior season. He earned first team All-American honors from the Associated Press and the D2CAA, while also picking up first team All-SAC and All-Region accolades. Evans was named the D2Football.com National Special Teams Player of the Week twice during the 2022 season. Evans helped lead the Bulldogs to a historic season, winning a program-record 11 games while also advancing to the NCAA D2 national quarterfinals for the first time in program history.  

Evans finished second in the nation with a 45.7 average on 77 punts. Evans put 39 of those 77 punts inside the 20, with 30 of them going for at least 50 yards. He added 44 touchbacks on 67 kickoffs, converted 43-of-44 PATs and connected on 10 field goals including two of over 40 yards. Evans and the Bulldogs ranked fourth nationally in net punting in 2022.

ABOUT THE SHRINE BOWL

Since 1925, the East-West Shrine Bowl has benefited Shriners Children's and its mission to provide excellent specialty care for children. This unique health care system provides excellent care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, regardless of the families' ability to pay for services. This special game helps raise the profile of Shriners Children, so that we can continue to offer hope and healing and reach more kids in more places. Through the experience, everyone connected with the East-West Shrine Bowl gains a deeper understanding of the amazing patients who receive care at Shriners Children's and the ways that they can support the health care system.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 38 undergraduate majors as well as seven master's and four doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. 

Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 25 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 14 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.