Penquis’ Chai selected for Lobster Bowl cheer team

Penquis Valley High School senior Layla Chai has made school history by being the first member of the Patriot cheer program to be selected for the Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic.

Chai is one of 22 players chosen for the West cheer team, representing various classes across the state.

The Lobster Bowl features the best recently graduated high school senior football players and cheer team members from each of the state’s six different divisions between the 11- and 8-player games. Participants are nominated by their coaches and then selected by the coaches from each side.

This year’s game kicks off at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 20 at Lewiston High School’s Don Roux Field with gates opening at 1 p.m. 

In 2023 the East team won 28-23 as the West leads 21-11 all-time in the series.

The East team roster includes Foxcroft Academy’s Gage Beaudry and Hunter McSorley and Beau Talbot of Dexter (a student at Piscataquis Community High School who played on the gridiron for the Tigers).

The East cheer squad includes Mckenzie Trafton of Dexter and Foxcroft Academy’s Amara Perfect.

The Lobster Bowl is sponsored by the Maine Shriners, with 100 percent of the net proceeds from the game benefiting the 22 Shrine Hospitals for Children across the US, Canada and Mexico. The Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Game, which operates under the motto, “Strong legs run … so that weak legs may walk,” was created over three decades ago to raise money and to help raise awareness for the expert orthopedic and burn care facilities available to children who desperately need this specialized care — regardless of their family’s ability to pay.