Two Rochelle Township High School football players will represent the Hubs at the 51st Annual Illinois High School Shrine Game this summer. Seniors Colton Czekala and Grant Gensler were each selected to compete in the annual all-star event, which will be held at Tucci Stadium on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday, June 21, 2025.
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ROCHELLE — Two Rochelle Township High School football players will represent the Hubs at the 51st Annual Illinois High School Shrine Game this summer. Seniors Colton Czekala and Grant Gensler were each selected to compete in the annual all-star event, which will be held at Tucci Stadium on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday, June 21, 2025.
Gensler and Czekala will reunite with RTHS head coach Kyle Kissack, who was selected to attend the event as a coach, for one final high school football game. The game caps off a full week of activities that include the Shriners of Illinois cook-out and the Central Illinois Miracle League softball game. Rochelle went 10-2 and reached the IHSA state quarterfinals this year.
“It’s a good feeling that we can put Rochelle out there a bit more and show how hard we work and how good our coaching staff is,” Gensler said. “Our success stands out and what I enjoyed most was the group of guys we had… I’ve learned a lot from coach Kissack. I’ve learned how to be humble and stay focused on what I need to be focused on and limiting distractions.”
“It’s a very big game with a lot of great players,” Czekala added. “I’m happy that I can be picked for this game and I’m excited for the whole experience, not just the football… Coach Kissack coaches up techniques in practice, but it’s more about learning life lessons and that’s why I love him so much. The morals he preaches in practice and meetings are things that translate into life outside of sports. He’s one of my favorite coaches. He teaches us how to take things head on.”
Both Czekala and Gensler were All-Conference honorees in the Interstate 8 this season. Czekala started at center while contributing on the defensive line over each of the last two seasons, leading an offense that rushed for over 4,200 yards and 60 touchdowns in 2024. Czekala, who won the RTHS Ellis Sportsmanship Award this season, is a multi-sport athlete who was a two-time All-Interstate 8 honoree during his varsity football career with the Hubs.
“The main things I’ll take away from this season are the small things and the little moments,” Czekala said. “We practiced for two-and-a-half or three hours every day during the summer and it gets tiring, but when I’m with the guys I’ve been playing with since the fifth grade, it makes that a lot easier. Being able to bond with them for one more year was my biggest takeaway from this year… The wins we picked up throughout the season are something I really enjoyed.”
Gensler finished his career at RTHS as a three-time All-Interstate 8 honoree and a two-time IHSFCA All-State honoree. Gensler, who started at tailback for two seasons and free safety for three seasons, rushed for 1,485 yards and 25 touchdowns while adding 26 tackles and two interceptions on defense. Rochelle’s Hackett MVP Award winner this season, Gensler totaled 2,759 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns as well as 76 tackles and seven interceptions at RTHS.
“We were all dedicated and all-in for this season and I think that’s why we were able to have so much success,” Gensler said. “I’ll always remember playing with the guys and I’ll never forget the time I spent with them on the field during practice, after school and over the summer.”
Rochelle’s history of sending football players to the Shrine Game dates back several years. Recent RTHS graduates who’ve competed in the annual all-star event include Brock Metzger, Braden Alfano, Ben Harvey, Greg Ricketts, Will Jandak, Alex Harvey and Matt Albers.
