Hoop Shoot winners clear first level of competition

Photo submitted Hoop Shoot winners (from left) Erika Kuta, Kyle Mock, Conner Lugard, Reagan Clay and Kourtney Carmichael will advance to the West District Elks Hoop Shoot Jan. 20 in Hotchkiss.On Jan. 6, the Delta Elks Lodge hosted its annual Hoop Shoot. The competition is open to boys and girls ages 8 through 13.

Each contestant has 25 shots at the hoop. The boy and girl in each age group with the best scores can advance through four tiers of competition to qualify for the national finals in Springfield, Mass.

At Delta Middle School, the top two finishers were:
Ages 8-9 — girls, Erika Kuta, first; Kayla Mock, second. No boys participated.

Ages 10-11 — girls, Reagan Clay, first; Shoshana Vigil, second; boys, Conner Lugard, first; Skyler Kraai, second.
Ages 12-13 — girls, Kourtney Carmichael, first; boys — Kyle Mock, first; KC Carlson, second.

The first place winners advance to the West District Elks Hoop Shoot Saturday, Jan. 20, in Hotchkiss. This contest includes the winners from the eight Elks lodges in the West District of Colorado. This includes lodges from Cortez, Delta, Durango, Grand Junction, Hotchkiss, Montrose, Ouray and Telluride. The winners of the West District contest will advance to the Colorado State Elks Hoop Shoot Feb. 23 in Salida. The winners of the state contest will then compete in the regional Hoop Shoot in Denver on March 9. This contest includes winners from the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and Kansas. The winners of the regional shoot will then advance to the National Elks Hoop Shoot in Springfield, Mass., the end of April.

The Elks National "Hoop Shoot"® Free Throw Contest is one of the largest and most visible Elks youth programs and highlights the Elks' commitment to our nation's youth. The Elks "Hoop Shoot"® has been effective not only in developing champions, but character as well. Educators and parents have endorsed the program. As one parent wrote, "It teaches a person how to win in good grace and how to accept the moment of defeat without bitterness."

• < Prev
• Next >