First place Hoop Shoot winners with Vermont Hoop Shoot Director Steve Edgerley and Vermont State President Keith Palmer.

On Saturday January 25, the Vermont State Elks Association held its annual Vermont State Hoop Shoot contest at Spaulding High School. Ten of the state’s thirteen Elks Lodges were represented at the state competition.

The Hoop Shoot contest starts at the Lodge level and is open to all girls and boys ages 8 to 13. First place winners at the Lodge level moved on to the regional level and first place winners at the regional level competed at the state level on Saturday.

Each competitor took 10 practice shots and 15 competition shots; the competitor with the most successful free throw shots was the Vermont State winner and will compete at the New England Regional Hoop Shoot in Maine in March.

Boys 8 & 9 years old

First place: Sawyer Ramey (representing Rutland Lodge #345)

Second place: Braedan Adams (Montpelier Lodge #924)

Third place: Luke Dudas (St. Johnsbury Lodge #1343)

Girls 8 & 9 years old

First place: Kaia Anderson (St. Johnsbury Lodge #1343)

Second place: Peyton Reynolds (Windsor Lodge #1665)

Third place: Natalie Norcia (Brattleboro Lodge #1499)

Boys 10 & 11 years old

First place: David Gratton (Newport Lodge #2155)

Second place: Gregory Fitzgerald (Brattleboro Lodge #1499)

Third place: Eamon Cassels (Montpelier Lodge #924)

Girls 10 & 11 years old

First place: Katie Cushing (St. Albans Lodge #1566)

Second place: Shea Pickering (Bellows Falls Lodge #1619)

Third place: Alyssa Slocum (Windsor Lodge #1665)

Boys 12 & 13 years old

First place: Jacob Cady (St. Johnsbury Lodge #1343)

Second place: Jackson Lane (Bennington Lodge #567)

Third place: Ronald Johnson (Barre Lodge #1535)

Girls 12 & 13 years old

First place: Emily Willis (Newport Lodge #2155)

Second place: Olivia Rockwood (Windsor Lodge #1665)

Third place: Nicole Norcia (Brattleboro Lodge #1499)