Smith, Oxarart honored by Malta Shrine Club

The Malta Shrine Club had a chance to honor a pair of Mustangs this summer that had been selected for the 2020 East-West Shrine Football All-Star Game this summer.

Sadly, what would have been the 74th straight All-Star game was canceled due to the threat of COVID-19. The coaches, players, and cheerleaders were notified last April.

The Malta Shriners Club decided to honor 2019 Malta High School graduate and Eastern All-Star select Tanner Smith and Coach Oxarart, who was selected to coach, with their annual Player/Coach Appreciation Picnic. The barbeque is an annual event held for Mustangs that make the Shrine Game.

"I was very appreciative of it," Smith said. "They came out on their own time and threw a barbeque and it was really nice of them."

Though the game did not happen, Smith felt honored to be chosen.

"I was pretty jacked about that," Smith said. "It is a very high honor to be selected for the Shrine Game. I really wish I would've gotten a chance to play and represent Malta and have Coach Oxarart coach me one last time."

Jason Ulrich, member of the Malta Shrine Club expressed that the group shared in Smith's disappointment in not being able to play the game, but Ulrich said the group was more than happy to honor Smith and Coach Oxarart.

Smith received his jersey a few weeks ago. He currently attends college in Butte and is a part of Montana Tech's Lineman Program. He will be done around Thanksgiving.

According to Ulrich, the annual All-Star game consists of 40 players from the East and 40 players from the west. The game raises over $50,000 for Shriner's Hospital and some years over $100,000.