Washington graduate Jack Giardino returns a kickoff during his senior season with the Demons. Photo by Susan Harshman/Washington Demon Football Team.

The 44th annual Iowa Shrine Bowl will kick off this weekend and a former member of the Washington Demon football team will be representing the community. Recent graduate Jack Giardino will join his former head coach Garrison Carter on this year’s Iowa Shrine Bowl South Team. The game, held each year at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, features Iowa’s most talented pre-college football players lining up against one another in a fundraiser for the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Giardino was a guest on this week’s PM Sports Page, and discussed his recently concluded football career and his involvement in this year’s Shrine Bowl. Giardino played multiple positions during his four years with the Demons, spending time as a wide receiver, running back, safety, defensive back, long snapper, and a punt and kick returner. He said there was no better feeling than being on the field Friday nights for the Demon football team, and says its an honor to represent Washington in the Shrine Bowl.

Giardino, who won’t be continuing his football career in college, says his goals for the game are to not drop a pass. The 44th annual Iowa Shrine Bowl is set to kickoff at 4 p.m. Saturday at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.