By Randy Whitehouse,Staff Writer

The 16th Annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic kicks off in less than two weeks, and the participants will notice a couple of changes.

Nothing has changed with the game itself, which pits all-star squads of last year’s seniors from the East and West, will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 22 at Biddeford’s Waterhouse Field. As in the past, 100 percent of the net proceeds of this year’s game go to benefit the Shriners Children Hospital and the Shriners Burns Institutes.

Another thing that hasn’t changed is the ticket prices. They are $10 for reserved seats, $7 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, at Kora Temple in Lewiston or from any Shriner.

Training camp for the players has been moved, however, from Colby College to Hebron Academy. This will be the first time both squads will be able to use both indoor and outdoor training facilities. Players will report to the campus on Sunday, July 17.

Cheerleaders will once again be housed at Central Maine Community College in Auburn to prepare for the halftime show.

Another change from tradition is that the players and cheerleaders will not be traveling to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield, MA this year. General chairman Jason Fuller said regulations permitted last year’s group to visit only three patients, limiting the impact the visit usually had.

“The last couple of trips haven’t been too successful,” Fuller said. “It’s a real expensive trip for us and when you only go down for three kids, it really isn’t worth it.”

Instead, participants met one weekend in April to listen to various speakers and learn about the Shriners hospital system, which currently helps over 163,000 patients, including 2,500 that live here in Maine.

In all, 86 players and 58 cheerleaders have been invited to participate this year. Perhaps the most distinguished player will be former Edward Little standout Robie Leighton, who became a Shriner in June.

“He’s going to be the first Shriner to ever play in the game. It’s a pretty big deal for the whole Kora Temple,” Fuller said. “I think it’s something special for the game.”

Joining Leighton on the East squad are George Foisy of Lewiston, Troy Janelle of Oak Hill, Jon Pirruccello and Ryane Staples of Leavitt, Jordan Stevens of Mt. Blue and Jeff Tifft of Oxford Hills. The head coach is Butch Richards of Belfast. His staff includes Mike Hathaway and Mike Haley of Leavitt.

Highlighting the West squad are Nate Broyer of Fryeburg Academy, Brad Bryant of Livermore Falls, Chip Burnham of Winthrop, Chris Kates of Lisbon, Chris Lever and Korey Staires of Mountain Valley, Joel Ouellette and Justin Wells of Jay, and Stevie Ray of Poland. James “Fuzzy” Thurston of Fryeburg Academy is the head coach, and he’ll be joined on his staff by Dave Jones of Fryeburg, Mountain Valley’s Jim Aylward, Mark Bonnevie of Jay and Lisbon’s Stacen Doucette.

Cheerleaders representing the East include Melissa Brown and Dylan Smith, Oxford Hills, Stephanie DeFilipp, Callie Hird and Caidra Harris, Edward Little, Roxanne Healey and Sommer Locke, Lewiston, Jaci Peterson and Ashly Tanguay, Oak Hill, Kayla Raymond, Leavitt, and Christina West, Mt. Blue.

Cheerleaders from the West include Kristen Bearsto, Livermore Falls, Samantha Colton, Mountain Valley, and Michelle Perry, Winthrop.