State and District “Hoop Shoot” Contests

Coastal District:  Sunday, January 8, 2012

Place:            Fairfield Warde High School

                        755 Melville Avenue, Fairfield

Time:              Registration: 9:00 AM

Contest:       Approximately 9:30 AM

Director:        William George – (203) 227-1819

Central District:  Sunday, January 8, 2012

Place:            Dag Hammarskjold School

                        106 Pond Hill Road, Wallingford

Time:              Registration: 11:30 AM

Contest:       Approximately 12 Noon

Director:        George Gilhuly – (203) 269-2666

Northwest District:  Sunday, January 15, 2012

Place:            Northeast Middle School

                        530 Stevens St., Bristol

Time:              Registration: 9:00-9:30 AM

Contest:       Approximately 9:30 AM

Director:        Rich Goucher – (860) 269-2666

East District:  Sunday, January 29, 2012

Place:            Windham High School

                        355 High Street, Willimantic                  

Time:              Registration: 9:30 AM

Contest:       Approximately 10:00

Director:        Michael Steward – (860) 315-7125

State Contest:  Saturday, February 11, 2012

Place:            New Britain High School

                        110 Mill Street, New Britain

Time:              Registration: 9:00 AM

Contest:       Approximately 9:30 AM

Director:        John Podbielski – (860) 224-1079

Photographs courtesy of Suzanne Novaco PER

Connecticut has a Winner!

By John Podbielski PDD, Connecticut Hoop Shoot Director

Jenna E. shooting for “Team Connecticut”, out of Willimantic Lodge 1311, won the right to represent New England at the National “Hoop Shoot” Final in Springfield, Massachusetts on Saturday, April 30, 2011. She is in the 12-13 girls group.

 

By scoring 24 out of twenty five baskets she won the gold, 1^st place trophy as well as the Walter Kettel award for highest scoring female in the contest held in Portland, Maine Saturday March 26.

 

Grand Inner Guard and Special Deputy, Bob Hansen and wife Pat, Grand Lodge Americanism Chairman Jim Desmarais, State President William Chinn and Suzanne Novaco, Conn. Central District Director George Gilhuly, John and Jennifer Romano and two other Wethersfield/Rocky Hill couples and State Director John Podbielski joined Elks dignitaries and guests from throughout New England, making the trip to Portland Maine and having a very enjoyable weekend.

 

The Wethersfield/Rocky Hill group’s loyalty was rewarded by watching their entrant, 12 year old Christopher A. take home the third place bronze trophy.  Eleven year old Elizabeth W. from Winsted took home the silver.  All these contests were determined by the difference of a single basket scored.

 

Kaitlyn B. from Enfield, Steven K. from Middletown and Sam N. from Bridgeport all came in 4^th in their age group.

Click here to view some photos courtesy of the Maine Elks Association website!

Send Jenna a Hoop Shoot Greeting!

We can all applaud Connecticut winner Jenna E. by sending her a congratulatory e-mail and show our support in her efforts at the Nationals. Visit www.elks.org/hoopshoot/greetings.cfm on the internet, scroll down to New England Region, click on her name (12-13 girls) and send her your encouragement.  Let’s fill the book that will be presented to him upon her arrival in Springfield. Do it quickly as the last day for posting is Friday, April 15, 2011.

Jenna, Now Among 72 Free -Throw Shooters Vying for National Title

By Bill Hopkins, Area 1 Grand Lodge Public Relations

Gorham, ME —Having already tasted glory in local, district, and state competitions, Jenna Ethridge captured another first-place finish on Saturday, March 26, 2011, when she wowed the crowds at the Elks “Hoop Shoot” New England Regional Championship. Jenna, the 13-year-old daughter of Darlene & Bill Ethridge, demonstrated accuracy from the penalty line well beyond her years and brought honors to her hometown of Columbia, CT.

 

Representing Willimantic Lodge of Elks #1311, Jenna, sank 24 out of 25 free throws in the 12- to 13-year-old Girls division, making her a true standout in the field of more than 3 million boys and girls, ages 8-13, who have participated in the contest since last fall. Now, Jenna will travel with her parents, courtesy of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, to Springfield, Massachusetts—the birthplace of basketball—to be among the 72 top youngsters vying for the chance to claim one of six national trophies awarded at the Elks “Hoop Shoot” National Free Throw Contest, April 29-30. A great showing in the national championship will not only earn Jenna a place in Elks “Hoop Shoot” history, but also land her name on a plaque in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

 

Now in its 39^th year, the Elks “Hoop Shoot” Free Throw Contest has seen more than 107 million participants since its inception, making it the largest coeducational youth sports program in the nation. Funded entirely by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Elks “Hoop Shoot” Free Throw Contest has served as a testing ground for sports legends, Olympic medalists and numerous professional athletes.

Area 1 Hoop Shoot Results

By Bill Hopkins, Area 1 Grand Lodge Public Relations

The Regional Hoop Shoot was held in Gorham, ME this weekend and the following were the winners, and of course the first finisher in each category will represent their community and lodges at the National Hoop Shoot finals in Springfield, MA April 30, 2011

Connecticut 'Hoop Shot' Contest

By John Podbielski PDD, State Hoop Shoot Chairman

This year’s Connecticut Elks “Hoop Shoot” Program culminated with the State Contest which was held at New Britain Senior High School on Saturday morning, February 12, 2011.  All districts were represented and the contest produced the first place finishers listed below with the Lodge they played for shown in parentheses.

 

            Girls                                                                           Boys

 

8-9      Kaitlyn B. – (Enfield)                                       Stephen K.* – (Middletown)

 

10-11  Elizabeth W.* (Winsted)                                  Sam N. (Bridgeport)

            .                                  

12-13  Jenna E.  – (Willimantic)                                  Chris A. – (Wethersfield/Rocky Hill)                                     

* Winners of the Terry Owens Trophy (Most baskets made in the contest; one girl & one boy)

 

These terrific, polite and well behaved kids are all fine ambassadors of the respective lodges they represent.  Their skills and hard work will be rewarded by being sent with their families to the Regional, New England Contest in March.

 

The New England Contest, organized and run by Regional Director Richard Blinn, of Haverhill Massachusetts, will take place Saturday morning, March 26, 2011at the University of Maine on 1945 Congress Street, Portland Maine at 9:15 AM.  The headquarter hotel will be the Wyndham Portland Airport Hotel, 363 Maine Mall Road, South Portland, Maine. Swimming, parties and fun is the order of business throughout the weekend.

 

Before the contest, on Saturday, the kids and their families will enjoy breakfast at the Portland Elks Lodge #188 and an Awards Dinner will be held Saturday evening at 5:00 PM at the Wyndham Hotel. 

 

Winners will then advance to the National Contest in Springfield in April.  Hopefully, some kids from Connecticut will be there.