LATHAM, N.Y. – For the second time in as many years the Maine Elks Association Past Exalted Rulers Ritual Team, led by coach Phil O’Brion of Farmington, won the Area I Interstate Relations Past Exalted Rulers Ritual Contest. This year the Maine team dominated the competition with a score of 97.1266 out of 100.

The Area I contest was held on April 25 at the Colonie Elks Lodge in Latham. Five teams competed, representing states from across New England and New York. The purpose is to promote excellence in the performance of the initiatory ritual of the Elks and to foster better relations between state Elks associations.

The contest is open only to past exalted rulers. Six judges evaluate each team’s performance based on impressiveness, pronunciation, word accuracy, movement (deportment) and appearance.

Earning recognition as Area I Past Exalted Ruler Champions were exalted ruler, Tom Spellman, Sanford; leading knight, John Hill Jr., Biddeford-Saco; loyal knight, David Strand, Bath; lecturing knight, Joe Marquis, Bath; esquire, Bruce Brunelle, Sanford; chaplain, Wayne Cotterly, Lewiston; inner guard, Rick Williams, Biddeford-Saco; candidate, Roger Normandeau, Sanford; and coach, Phil O’Brion, Farmington.

Also contributing to the team’s win were assistant coaches Harry Desjardins of Biddeford-Saco and Justin Ingersoll of Bath.

Several individual titles were also awarded for each position. The individual winners were John Hill Jr. performing as leading knight, Bruce Brunelle as esquire, Wayne Cotterly as chaplain, Rick Williams as inner guard, and Roger Normandeau as candidate.

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