One of the most prestigious prep football games of the year is the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic, a senior-only game to benefit Shriners Hospitals. This year’s game was hosted by Lewiston High School on Saturday, July 19 and Windham was well represented this year by East players Brayden Penney and Byron Rubito, and for the first time since 2017, Windham was represented on the East cheerleading squad by Ella Roberts.
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| Windham High seniors Byron Rubito, left, cheerleader Ella Roberts, and Brayden Penney gather following the 35th Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic football game at Lewiston High School on Saturday, July 19. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA |
“It’s way more than a game,” said Penney. “Most of those kids wish they were in my spot, playing football ... and it’s a blessing to raise the money to help them out – just an awesome feeling. It means a lot to me.”
Penney began playing football in second grade and says he loved it right away; football has always been a part of his life. Next year, Penney will attend Husson University in Bangor to major in business and play football.
"I want to thank my coaches, especially Coach Perkins for nominating me, and my boys back in Windham, I couldn’t be here without you guys,” said Rubito. “To be in a game like this, regardless of the outcome, to be able to raise money for people who are less fortunate than you and to have the ability to give back to them ... that’s one of the biggest things that I’ll cherish in my life is being able to say I raised a lot of money for them.”
Rubito started playing football because he was a little too aggressive at soccer. It was the coaches and the friendships that made him stick with it. He doesn’t remember the scores, but time spent with his teammates. He will attend the University of Maine to major in criminal justice.
East football coach Kyle Gallant from Hermon said both Brayden and Byron are really good football players and super positive on the field. They did a good job of keeping their nose to the grindstone, he said. Byron played on the offensive line and Brayden on the defensive line; Gallant said they were glue guys; and when the team struggled, they got them back on track. Both are good leaders on and off the field, the coach said.
“I was really excited and really happy (I was picked for the Lobster Bowl); and I’m really happy to be part of the team,” said Roberts. “It really wasn’t about the game, although it was fun; it’s more about the children. It’s more than a game because it gives (less fortunate) children more opportunities in life.”
Roberts moved to Windham during her freshman year and saw a girl in a cheerleading uniform and then commented that she liked that uniform. That cheerleader signed her up for tryouts and before Roberts knew it, she was on the team. She’s continued to cheer because she said it’s fun.
She will attend Eckerd College in Florida to major in animal studies and is committed to be a cheerleader in college.
“Ella was fantastic,” said East cheering coach Annie Dobos from Waterville/Messalonskee. “She conquered a lot of challenges this week and took it with grace and applied every correction that we were able to give her. She continued to push her team to be better and held herself accountable to make the team a complete success. Without her, when we were in some tough times, I don’t know how we would have had such a positive result as we did. Ella understood that at the end of this game, win or lose, regardless of what you did, the real winners are the Shriners patients and that’s why we’re here.” <
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