Ohio Elks Host State Hoop Shoot Championship
The competition was amazing at the Ohio State Elks Hoop Shoots Free Throw Contest, held at Liberty Middle School in Newark. A total of 36 youngsters competed for a chance to advance to the U.S. Great Lakes Regional in March. Results were:
The six State Hoop Shoot champs along with First Lady and Elks President Kerry and Brad Goodballet.
8-9 girls
Kamryn Smith, Cuyahoga Falls, 23/25 (Advances)
Remi Garrison, Wooster, 21/25
Maci Brownfield, Barnesville, 14/25, 4/5
Caeleigh Duncan, Wilmington, 14/25, 3/5
Lucy Kuhn, Findlay, 13/25
Maddie Thompson, Chillicothe, 12/25
8-9 boys
J.J. Green, Cuyahoga Falls, 21/25, 4/5 (Advances)
Corey Doster, Bellevue, 21/25, 2/5
Brody Howe, Lima, 20/25
Weston Roeth, Troy, 18/25
Oliver Skarratt, Jackson, 17/25
Madden Willis, Barnesville, 16/25
10-11 girls
Ainsley Weaver, Chillicothe, 24/25 (Advances)
Cadence Watson, Cochocton, 20/25
Allie Garrison, Mercer County, 16/25
Cambrian Zapolnik, Alliance, 15/25
Morghan Wenger, Wooster, 13/25
Emery McGraw, Wilmington, 7/25
The six District Hoop Shoot chairs: Jean Zink, Northwest; Dennis Sabo, North-Central; Lisa Wadlow, Northeast. Back row: Ron Buxton, Southwest; Craig Byler, South-Central; Jim Humphrey, Southeast.
10-11 boys
Jack Clark, Van Wert, 22/25 (Advances)
Caden Larrick, Elyria, 21/25
Max Gillum, Jackson, 20/25
Aiden Romano, Lebanon, 19/25
Leonides Regel, Ohio River Valley, 17/25
Caleb Iafeigliola, Berea, 16/25.
12-13 girls
Lily Leach, Barnesville, 21/25 (Advances)
Lily Perkins, Alliance, 20/25
Makayla Barga, Greenville, 18/25
Ava Hawkins, Bellevue, 16/25
Kiya Weaver, Chillicothe, 14/25
Harper Unrast, Mercer County, 12/25
12-13 boys
River Lee Ruckel, Chillicothe, 21/25, 5/5 (Advances)
Gavin Voiles, Mercer County, 21/25, 4/5
Jaxon Ramos, Lorain, 20/25
Eric Thompson, Lebanon, 19/25
Madden Longaberger, Necomerstown, 18/25
Crosby Ogle, Berea, 17/25
All contestants and families were given Friday night lodging at the Newark DoubleTree Hotel, dinner on Friday and breakfast on Saturday, and all contestants received Elks basketballs, Drug Awareness backpacks/goodies, water bottles, goodie bags and t-shirts, compliments of the Ohio Elks Association.
The six age group winners now advance to the United States Great Lakes Region 4 Hoop Shoot the weekend of March 14-16, 2025, in South Bend, IN, and will take on competitors from Indiana and Michigan. Winners at that event will advance to the National Competition in Chicago, IL the weekend of April 24-27, 2025.
The 2026 Ohio Elks Hoop Shoot Finals has been set for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Liberty Middle School in Newark.