The Elks National Free Throw Contest, the Elks
“Hoop Shoot”®, is the largest and
most visible of the many youth activities sponsored by Elks lodges throughout the
country. Over 3,000,000 boys and girls between the ages of 8 through 13 will
participate this year. The Elks “Hoop Shoot”®, originally started as a local Elks activity in Corvallis,
Oregon in 1946, has served to highlight the Elks national commitment to
youth.
Out of that local program grew the national program, now in its 38th year. Each of
the over 2,100 lodges were encouraged to establish its own local contest involving
boys from ages
8 – 13. From the local area contestants would advance through
district, state, regional and national competitions.
In the first year, 1971, boys from 19 states participated. Two years later in 1973,
over 750,000 boys from 42 states took part in the contest. In the following year girls
were added to the competition and the program has continued to expand ever since.
All fifty states and the District of Columbia are represented.
From the millions of youngsters who participate, six champions are named – one
boy and one girl – in each of three categories: ages 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13. The
winners each receive a trophy and their names are inscribed at the Naismith
Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The competition to become a champion is tough. At each level contestants take a
total of 25 free throws. National finalists average around 90 per cent.
Families participate with contestants throughout the competition. The parents of
finalists on the state, regional and national levels attend the competitions as guests of
the Elks.
The Elks “Hoop Shoot”® has been effective, not only in developing champions, but
character as well. Educators and parents have endorsed the program. One parent
wrote, “It teaches a person how to win in good grace and how to accept the moment
of defeat without bitterness…”
2009 HOOP SHOOT WINNERS
1st row left to right: Anthony Ross, Demilyn Michelle Guild, Savannah Proske, Zach Baugher and Marguel Fletcher
2nd row left to right: Exalter Ruler Russ Muma, Sterling Swift, Danica Roady, Nathan Mumford, Michael Koza, Rayana Brown and David Ott, Gateway Elks Hoop Shoot Chairman
Not Shown: Caitlin Nguyen and Phillip Tropets
The members of Gateway Elks Lodge #2411 gathered to honor the Lodge level competition winners of the Elks National Free Throw Contest, the Elks
“Hoop Shoot”® that was held on January 17th.
The evening’s honorees were:
Boys’ age group 8-9: 2nd Place,
Marguel Fletcher and 1st Place,
Zachary Baugher
Girls’ age group 8-9: 2nd Place,
Savannah Proske and 1st Place,
Demilyn Guild
Boys’ age group 10-11: 2nd Place,
Phillip Tropets and 1st Place,
Anthony Ross
Girls’ age group 10-11: 2nd Place,
Caitlin Nguyen and 1st Place,
Rayana Brown
Boys’ age group 12-13: 2nd Place,
Michael Koza and 1st Place,
Nathan Mumford
Girls’ age group 12-13: 2nd Place,
Danica Roady and 1st Place,
Sterling Swift
These very gifted boys and girls then went on to compete in the Metro District competition on January 31st where
Demilyn Guild placed 1st in the Girls’ age group 8-9 division and
Nathan Mumford placed 1st in the Boys’ age group 12-13 division.
In the State competition held on February 14th,
Demilyn Guild ran away with 1st Place in the Girls' age group 8-9 division. She will be competing in the Regional Competition at Concordia University in Portland on March 14th.
Gateway Lodge
congratulates all of our champions and wish them the very best.
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2008 Local Competition Winners
1st row left to right: Brock Nelson, Hunter Davis, Zach Baugher, Taylor Morris and Elyjai Viaiva
2nd row left to right: Steven Mumford, Kourtland Thompson, Samara Lapierre and Isaac Bonton
3rd row left to right: Danica Roady, Abigail Kandel, Austin Swift, Sterling Swift, Sydni Dalton and David Ott, Gateway Elks Hoop Shoot Chairman
Back row: Exalted Ruler Jim Schuermyer
In a very special Valentine’s Day ceremony the members of Gateway Elks Lodge #2411 gathered to honor the Lodge level competition winners of the Elks National Free Throw Contest, the Elks
“Hoop Shoot”® that was held on January 19th.
The evening’s honorees were:
Boys’ age group 8-9: 2nd Place,
Zach Baugher (Portland Christian Elementary) and 1st Place,
Isaac Bonton (Shaver Elementary)
Girls’ age group 8-9: 2nd Place,
Elyjai Viaiva (Lincoln Park Elementary) and 1st Place,
Taylor Morris (Portland Christian Elementary)
Boys’ age group 10-11: 2nd Place,
Brock Nelson (Ventura Park Elementary) and 1st Place,
Hunter Davis (Lincoln Park Elementary)
Girls’ age group 10-11: 2nd Place,
Sydni Dalton (Ventura Park Elementary) and 2nd Place,
Samara Lapierre (Gilbert Park Elementary). 1st Place,
Kourtland Thompson (City Christian) and 1st Place,
Danica Roady (Arthur Academy)
Boys’ age group 12-13: 2nd Place,
Steven Mumford (Portland Christian Jr/ Sr High School) and 1st Place,
Austin Swift (Portland Christian Jr/ Sr High School)
Girls’ age group 12-13: 2nd Place,
Abigail Kandel (Ron Russell Middle School) and 1st Place,
Sterling Swift (Portland Christian Jr/ Sr High School)
These very gifted boys and girls then went on to compete in the Metro District competition on February 2nd where
Isaac Bonton and
Sterling Swift both captured 2nd Place and
Taylor Morris ran away with 1st Place in the Girls 8-9 category. Taylor will now go on to compete at the state level at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon on Saturday, February 16th.
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