HEBRON — The record books show that Dawna Daigle is the third of three siblings to participate in the Lobster Bowl, and the first cheerleader of the three. But that’s not how Daigle sees it.

“I just remember my brother (Scott) screaming with excitement the whole game, on the sideline cheering on his team,” she said.  “He was basically the cheerleader of that team.”

Daigle, an Edward Little graduate, is a member of the East cheering squad for the 22nd Maine Lobster Bowl Classic (4 p.m. Saturday, Waterhouse Field in Biddeford). Older brothers Scott (2007) and Sean (2010) are Lobster Bowl alums. Scott was a running back at EL and a special teams captain for the East squad. Sean played tight end for the Red Eddies and the East and caught the game-winning touchdown from teammate Cody Goddard in perhaps the most exciting Lobster Bowl ever.

Listening to her older brothers talk about their Lobster Bowl experiences, Daigle, who has cheered since she was four, couldn’t help but dream of having one of her own.

“They basically told me it was the best week of their life,” she said. “They really enjoyed it, especially my oldest brother, Scott.”

Daigle and 63 other cheerleaders reported to training camp Sunday at Central Maine Community College. Like the players, the cheerleaders raised money to help the cause, which benefits the Shriners Hospitals.

And like the players, who have six days to learn their playbook for Saturday, the cheerleaders are under the gun to get in sync for Saturday’s game, which includes their halftime performance.

“We have to learn a whole routine in one week. I’ve never done that before. It usually takes a couple of months,” Daigle said with a laugh. “But I’m really excited to cheer for the game.”

She’ll have EL classmates Taylor Morgan and Alyssa Raubeson to practice with, but she’s also looking forward to teaming up with girls from all over the state.

“It’s a great week. Everyone is getting to know each other and they’re all working towards the same goal. That’s inspiring,” said Daigle, who was also a member of EL’s basketball and track teams.

If nothing else, Daigle, who is headed to Florida Southern to study exercise science and plans to continue cheering there, will get a chance to practice Florida-like weather. Forecasts call for temperatures to climb into the 90s later in the week.

Wigant no longer a blue Devil

Ben Wigant’s chance to play in the Lobster Bowl disappeared when he was injured during the Eastern Class A baseball final last June.

Wigant, a standout linebacker and guard at Lewiston, is scheduled for surgery on his left knee on Friday. But he was named to the East squad before the injury and isn’t letting it stop him from spending the week at training camp at Hebron Academy.

“It wasn’t easy at first,” Wigant said. “Just coming out on the field and being able to hang out with the guys, it’s a lot better. It’s helping me physically and it’s helping me mentally.”

Wigant, a first baseman on the Blue Devils’ Eastern A title team, was injured in a rundown against Bangor and couldn’t play in the state title game against Cheverus.

The disappointment of missing that game and the Lobster Bowl left him feeling down for a while, he said. But looking forward to the future and his long-term health has helped keep the injury in perspective.

“It’s tough. There are a lot of things that I really want to do, especially it being summer, that I’m not able to, but I’ve got to go through it,” he said. “I just keep telling myself if I want to get better and I want to do things that I want to be able to do, like maybe play some sports later on, then I’ve got to fight through it. I’m learning from it. I’m building character from it, that’s for sure.”

Wigant will undergo reconstruction of his ACL and PCL and possible repair of his MCL, depending upon how much it has healed on its own by the time of the operation. He is enrolling at the University of Maine and will continue rehabbing for six to eight months before he can resume running.

“I’ll see if I can try some stuff up there, maybe some intramurals, and see if I can get back into really good shape,” said Wigant, who was walking with a brace but without crutches on Tuesday. “As far as football goes, or any really competitive sports, the surgeon told me it’s going to be about a year.”

Fun and games

The Lobster Bowl is becoming a day-long event this year. The Shriners have joined up with the Maine Games to present the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick competition. The event is free and open to all Maine children age 6-15. Parents of participants are urged to pre-register at www.nflppk.com (use the zip code 04005). Gates open at 10 a.m.

Another new event is the Lobster Bowl Legends Flag Football Classic, which brings back former Lobster Bowl players and cheerleaders to take part in an alumni game. Kickoff is at noon.

A pre-game concert starts at 2 p.m, with pregame introductions slated for 3 p.m. and the 22nd Annual Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic kicking off at 4 p.m.

Tickets are $10 reserved and $8 general admission and will be available at the gate or before the game at the Kora Shrine Center at 11 Sabattus St. in Lewiston or from any Shriner.