Elks Hoop Shoot: Fun and Friends

A release from the Red Bank Elks:

The Red Bank Elks Lodge #233 held their annual Hoop Shoot contest at . Once again, it was another great success with over 70 local boys and girls shooting it out to score the most free throws out of 25 shots.

The winners of this round advance to the district competition on January 7th at the Carl Sandberg Middle School in Old Bridge at 9:00am. District winners then have the chance to compete in the state and regional championships, and then the national competition in Springfield Massachusetts at the end of April.

The Elks would like to congratulate all competitors and announce the following 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners:

Girls 8-9 division: Coming in 1st place shooting 13 out of 25 was Abigail Cieri from Oak Hill Academy. Abigail advances to the District competition. In 2nd place was Sophia Mahedy from Deane-Porter school, shooting 10, and in 3rd place with 8, from Oak Hill Academy, was Julia Nappi.

Boys 8-9 division: Coming in 1st place and shooting 17 out of 25 was Brandon Klatsky, from Oak Hill Academy. Brandon will represent the lodge at the District competition. Shooting 15 for 2nd place was Chris Paternostro from St. Leo School and in 3rd was Robby Sypeck from Viola Sickles, shooting 13.

Girls 10-11 division: Coming in 1st place, from Indian Hill School and shooting 11 out of 25 was Sarah Karpelle, who will represent the lodge at the District Hoop Shoot. Coming in 2nd place and shooting 9 was Kristina Nappi. from Oak Hill Academy. Taking 3rd and shooting 5 out of 25 was Isabelle Losordo also from Oak Hill Academy.

Boys 10-11 division: In 1st place and representing the lodge at the District Hoop Shoot was Alex Klatsky from Oak Hill Academy who shot 19 out of 25. Second place was Stephen Braunstein also from Oak Hill Academy shooting 15 and from Knollwood School was Joseph Calabrese shooting 14, taking 3rd place.

Girls 12-13 division: Coming in 1st place from Oak Hill Academy, Ghillian Ferraiola shooting 19 out of 25 and will go onto District championships. After a tie-breaker round, Erica Soya from Shrewsbury School took 2nd, and Victoria Sullivan from took 3rd, with both girls having shot 14 out of 25.

Boys 12-13 division: In 1st place, John Poccia from St. James school shot 18 out of 25 and he will go onto the District competition. In a close 2nd was Logan Lukenda from Oak Hill Academy, shooting 17 and a close 3rd was Tommy Lang from , shooting 16.

The Elks Hoop Shoot, began as a local program by the Corvallis, Oregon Elks in 1946. This is the 40th year of the national competition. Nearly three million boys and girls are expected to participate this year.

Public Relations spokesperson Melissa Zimmerman says, “Hoop Shoot is a very popular youth program for the Elks and the local community as it provides spirited competition, develops character, and provides the opportunity for youngsters to develop new friendships. And this year, it was great to see an increase in the number of girls we had competing.”

The has been supporting its families and community for over 100 years through community service and charitable programs in the areas of youth activities, drug awareness, special needs children/young adults and veterans affairs.

For more information on the Red Bank Elks lodge and their events and programs, please visit redbankelks.org