Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – With four returning starters the continuity of an experienced offensive is expected to be a major strength for Regina this season.

Three of those four returning starters are seniors meaning the Regal offensive linemen know each other very well.

For a pair of the Regal linemen the bond goes beyond just being teammates.

Twin brothers Porter and Simon Shetler are three-year starters and anchors on a deep and talented offensive line that hopes to lead defending 1A runner-up Regina back to the UNI-Dome for a second consecutive season.

“Our offensive line is a brotherhood but to you have your real brother right next to you it’s something else,” Porter Shetler said. “I know that I can really trust him and that’s a great thing.”

Regina’s steady climb back toward the top of Class 1A over the past several seasons has coincided with the development of the Shetler brothers upfront.

The Shetler brothers started as sophomores in 2024 on a Regina team that went 9-2 and advanced to the 1A quarterfinals.

Last fall both brothers enjoyed breakthroughs while helping Regina to a 12-1 record and a spot in the 1A title game.

“My sophomore year when I started it was a little scary for me because everyone was double my size, I was pretty undersized,” Porter Shetler said. “Being able to grow and realize what it’s like being on varsity, it’s a big jump so when you get that experience you start to get used to it and that really helps.”

Lining up along side one another at guard and center last season the Shetlers paved the way for a Regina offense that was among the most productive in Class 1A.

The Regals averaged 45.7 points and 381 total yards per game including 185 rushing yards per game on 7.2 yards per carry.

Porter Shetler earned first team all-state honors last season as an offensive lineman while Simon was a first team all-district pick as a defensive lineman after making 15.5 tackles including two for loss.

While the season was a success the ending, a 34-27 loss to West Lyon in the 1A title game was a disappointment.

A disappointed that fueled the Shetler brothers all offseason.

“The way the season ended was very motivating, we fell short last year and I think everyone has their eyes on a state championship this year,” Simon Shetler said. “We just want to finish the job.”

Simon and Porter both played around 200 pounds as sophomores.

Two seasons later both brothers weight 235 pounds and have emerged as leaders on a Regina offensive line that ranks as one of the best in 1A.

“I would say maturity and confidence is the big thing for both of them,” Regina coach Dustin Elsbury said. “Obviously they’ve gotten bigger and stronger, they have filled out a little bit for this fall but in practice you can see them starting to be more vocal with the younger guys, they really understand our playbook, our steps, our aiming points and they are not afraid to speak up now and take ownership of the offensive line group.”

As the brothers worked over the past several seasons having a partner to push you at all times proved to be a nice benefit for the twins.

Porter and Simon both said that commraderie helped both improve.

“I like the competitiveness of it,” Simon Shetler said. “Who’s a better lineman? Who can lift more? The competitiveness of having your brother there is always fun.”

For Porter taking a day off or even a rep off wasn’t really an option when you twin is right there for encouragement.

“He definitely pushes me,” Porter Shetler said. “There are times where they may be an optional practice and he’s always making sure I go to everything. That’s always a good thing that he’s always pushing me to do everything I can.”

This season the Shetler brothers will anchor the guard spots on a Regina offensive line that also includes senior Devin Szanajda (6-3, 240) and junior Nathan Parizek (6-5, 260) who started last season.

Senior Will Evans (6-4, 300) joins the program after starting at Cedar Rapids Prairie last season.

“Our offensive line it will definitely be a big factor for us this year,” Simon Shetler said. “We have a lot of people returning and we have mostly seniors and we have a transfer in Will Evans that will be a big help for us.”

Regina will be breaking in a new quarterback this season with the graduation of two-year starter and all stater Kyle Tracy.

With a first-year starter under center the Shetlers and the rest of the Regina offensive line want to do as much as possible to make things easy for the new quarterback.

“Obviously we have a new quarterback and if you have a good offensive line the quarterback is going to feel a lot more comfortable back there,” Porter Shetler said. “If we can make him comfortable he’s probably going to have a better game.”

The goal for the Shetler brothers is to make the most of their final football season together.

That means a return to the UNI-Dome for a chance at state title game redemption.

“It’s been very motivating, not just for me but for my brother and everyone, we’ve all been motivated, we’ve all been grinding,” Simon Shetler said. “I know the whole team wants it so if we can get back in that spot we will be a better team in that game.”

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