Courtesy/Keene Shigehiro (Instagram)

By Jesse Gill

Smile Sundays

Medicine Hat’s Shigehiro set to play in Senior Bowl

Jan 4, 2026 | 4:00 AM

The high school football season is done in Alberta for all but 80 athletes who will compete in the 35th annual Senior Bowl on Sunday.

Keene Shigehiro is the lone representative from Medicine Hat at the event this year, which showcases the top graduating high school players in the province in an All-Star Game.

The Medicine Hat High School Hawks player will represent Team South against Team North during the game at the Encana Dome in Calgary’s Shouldice Athletic Park.

In his final game with the Hawks, the running back ran for 396 yards and had four touchdowns in a close 43-42 overtime loss to Chinook High School in Lethbridge on Nov. 4.

He will look to have another strong performance in the game as he aspires to continue his football career at the USports level.

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“It’s an exciting opportunity. My last high school event, really, until I go to university. I’m looking forward to that, looking forward to playing in some of the best competition,” Shigehiro said.

“Too bad I was the only one. We had another guy try out, too bad he couldn’t make it. But it should be fun. It’s exciting.”

Where he will play next year has yet to be finalized, but he said there are some opportunities and he’s looking forward to succeeding past high school as well.

Shigehiro said he believes he has great vision on the field, which helps him succeed as a running back.

“I’m patient and making the right decision. I’m not afraid of contacts, but then I always try to do the right move to gain those extra yards,” Shigehiro said.

“If that is going into contact or doing a move, I picture myself always making the right decision there.”

To earn his spot in the Senior Bowl game, he competed in a three-day tryout.

“First day we had practice at night. About two hours doing some compete drills and getting used to the playbook. The next day we had two two-hour practices. Still about half of each practice was compete and then installing some plays,” Shigehiro said.

“Then the third and final day, we had a little scrimmage, and I did really well there and made the team after that.”

He attended some practices in the days leading up to the Sunday game and is familiar with several of his teammates, having competed with and against them at different times.

His ultimate goal is to make it as far as he can with football.

“If that’s professional, that’d be great. But if not, looking forward to getting a good education and playing football and then maybe coming back and coaching. Coaching would be super fun,” Shigehiro said.

He hasn’t fully decided what he’ll go to school for, but said he is leaning toward the sciences.

The game is expected to be shown on the Football Alberta YouTube with the kickoff on Sunday at 11 a.m.