DOVER-FOXCROFT– Lobster Bowl week is a time to prepare, bond, work hard, make new friends, and most important raise money for the Shriners hospitals. MCI played in four state championship games in Adam Bertrand’s four years, including winning back to back state titles in 2016 and 2017. The 2016 title was in class D, while they will come into this season as the defending class C champs. So obviously when you have that much success, many rivalries will develop along the way.
Adam Bertrand (6) talks with Marc Calnan at Lobster Bowl media day. Photo courtesy of Toby Nelson/Foxcroft Academy
“We got past the rivalries real quick. We learned that on the field playing against each other you have to do what you have to do and try to win the football game. Now we are teammates and playing together so we really bonded. We need to bond as much as we need to prepare. We have triple sessions, double sessions. We have to work hard when we are on the field. When we have down time, we have to learn to know each other so we can play well together. “Bertrand said. “This game is for the Shriners hospital, raising money so the children in the hospital can have what they need and what they should have.”
RJ Nelson was busy at work when he received an unexpected call on Sunday. A last-minute roster spot became open on the east roster. Nelson was happy to get a chance to play one more football game. The week-long training is at Foxcroft Academy, where Nelson graduated from just last month.
RJ Nelson (4) talks with Marc Calnan during Lobster Bowl media day. Photo courtesy of Toby Nelson/Foxcroft Academy
“I found out Sunday, I was at work. They called me and said they needed to fill the roster. One last chance to play another football game, I was down any day of the week.I missed the first two practices on Sunday. I have been here ever since, “Nelson said. “It has been a blast. A lot of the guys I have played against all four years, everyone gets along. The coaches are great, we are learning a lot of new stuff. I think we are going to have a good showing on Saturday.”
Tyler Beem raised more than $12,000 for the Shriners hospital. Beem started raising money last fall after he visited his friend Matt Simpson in the hospital. Beem has continued to raise money throughout this week.
“My motivation was, I have a friend he has cancer. His name is Matt Simpson. He was in Portland. Me and a couple of friends went down and visited him. There were these kids that were struggling every day of their life. it was October or November, there was this one little girl, They were doing Christmas for her because she wasn’t going to make it,”Beem said. “I am walking around like this, why can’t I raise $12,000 dollars for these kids. I started pretty much as soon as I got home. I set my goal at $10,000. Once I got $10,000, I heard there was a kid who got $11,600, so I said my as well keep going. I went with my dad to a lot of businesses. Some gave 500, some gave 250.”
All these talented athletes realize why they are playing at the Lobster Bowl. For Beem it hits very close to home as his thoughts are with his close friend. Click here to donate to a gofund me account set up for the family of Matt Simpson.
“Some people take it for granted, they walk around like they are big shots. But everybody is human. I have seen what one of my friends has gone through,”Beem said. “He is not doing very well right now. He probably won’t even make the weekend. People are walking around like life is great, there is somebody out there that has it a lot tougher than you.”
The all-stars have not only had their busy practice schedule. They have enjoyed having dinner together, spent time bowling, and at the beach. On Saturday, they will make their way down to Thornton Academy in Saco where the game will be played at 4 PM.
“It is a huge honor to be selected, I was water boy for this when my dad (Tom Bertrand) was coaching when I was little. I always wanted to come here, being selected was a dream for me,” Bertrand said. “Being considered one of the best in high school along with everyone else that is here is great.”
Beem added, “some of these kids I have played against my whole life and we have been rivals all through high school and now we get to be on the same team for once in our life. It is a pretty nice feeling, separating those rivalries. It has been a pretty cool experience.”
The Lobster Bowl can be heard live at this link starting at 3:30 PM on Saturday, July 21st. Live Video can be found here.
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