On January 24, 2015 the Vermont Elks State Hoop shoot was held at Spaulding High School.  18 contestants from all over Vermont competed to see who would go on to the Regional Shoot in South Portland, Maine.  It was a great contest with some very close scores.  These 6 winners will now go on to compete in March in Maine to see who will go to the National shoot in April.

 

left to right: Steve Edgerley, State Hoop Shoot Chairman, Elroy the Elk,  Jacobi Lafferty, Burlington, 8-9 year old boy,  Amer Verem, Barre, 10-11 year old boy,  Jamison Evans, Rutland, 12-13 year old boy, Olivia Rockwood, Windsor, 12-13 year old girl, Tia Marie Martinez, Newport, 10-11 year old girl, Cassidy Kittredge, St. Johnsbury, 8-9 year old girl, Carl Colburn, Windsor, Vt. State Elks Association President.

Jacobi Lafferty and Olivia Rockwood both shot scores of 24/25

On Saturday, January 10th, Springfield Elks Lodge hosted the 43rd annual Vt. Elks Hoop Shoot at Springfield High School. under the direction of Victor Baskevich, chairman of the Springfield Elks Lodge hoop shoot.

 Young hoop shooters from the five southern Lodges competed for the chance to compete at the Vt. Elks Association Hoop Shoot in Barre, Vt., on January 24th.

 Respectfully in the 8 & 9 year old group winners came from Natalie Norcia from Brattleboro Lodge and Jordy Allembert also from Brattleboro.  Second place winners went to Jasmine Evans of Rutland Lodge and Owen Riendeau of Bellows Falls Lodge.   In the 10 & 11 age group, Keely Greene of Bennington Lodge was the girls winner and Jack Cravinho of Bellows Falls Lodge.  In second place they were Kathryn Moore of Rutland Lodge and Evan Pockette also of Rutland Lodge.  For the 12 & 13 year old group, Nicole Norcia of Brattleboro Lodge and Jamison Evans were first place winners.   In second place there was Julianna Albero-Levings of Springfield Lodge and Jack Lane of Bennington Lodge.

The first place winners will now compete in Barre, Vt., at the Vt. Elks State Hoop Shoot on January 24th.

 This had to be one of the best and emotional Elks Hoop Shoots in history coming from this writers many years of observing and helping to put on an Elks Hoop Shoot.   One competitor from Bennington Lodge, Killian Kervan in the 10 & 11 age group.  Young, Killian entered his age group at the Bennington Hoop Shoot and was the only participant in that group.    He made one shot and won a trophy and qualified to enter and participate in the Southern District Hoop Shoot.   The thing is Killian has down syndrome, but that didn’t hold him back.   On Saturday at Springfield, he made one of his first ten shots.   Then during the fifteen shot sequence he made one more and then on his final shot, his shot went through the net and the place went wild with exuberance, cheering and hugs, by Killian.   It was very emotional for everyone in the gym.    That’s special and this writer was so proud to be part of it, as were all the Springfield members hosting the shoot.

 

First and 2nd place winners at the Southern Vt. Elks Hoop Shoot held at Springfield High School on January 10.  Frt l to r; Keely green, Natalie Norcia, Jasmine Evans and Jordy Allembert.   Back l to r; Kathryn Moore, Nicole Norcia, Julianna Albero-Levings, Jamison Evans and Jack Lane.

 Here are the winners again with Killian Kervan of Bennington sharing a picture with his fellow competitors.

 On December 6, 2014 the St. Albans Elks held their annual Hoop Shoot Contest at the BFA St. Albans High School.  The following 1st place winners will now go on to the District contest January 10th at Newport where they will be  competing against winners from Burlington, Newport  and St. Johnsbury.  The 6 winners from that contest then go on to the State contest in Barre, Vt on the January 24, 2015.

8/9 Girls – Rylan Staley from St. Albans City, 10/11 Girls – Alexandra Brouillette from Highgate, 11/13 Girls – Leah Larrivee from St. Albans Town.

8/9 Boys – Devyn Gleason from Enosburg, 10/11 Boys – Collin Jolley from St. Albans City, 12/13 Boys – Logan Piazza from Fairfield.

Pictured with all the players are Marry Brouillette, St. Albans Hoop Shoot Chairwoman and Mark W. Hojaboom, St. Elbans Elks Lodge ER

 
Missing is picture of 8/9 Girls 

8/9 Girls:  1st  Rylea Staley – St. Albans City, 2nd Molly Medor  – Highgate, 3rd Lindsey Labelle  – Fairfield

10/11 girls: l-r  1st Alexandra Brouillette – Highgate, 2nd Katie Cushing – Fairfield, 3rd Laci Cain St. Albans City

12/13 girls: l-r   3rd Miya Hatch – Berkshire, 2nd Leah Branon – Fairfield, 1st Leah Larivee – St. Albans Town

 8/9 boys: l-r  1st Devyn Gleason – Enosburg, 2nd Ethan White – City of St. Albans, 3rd Anthony Matas – St. Albans Town

10/11 boys: l-r  1st Colin Jolley – City of St, Albans, 2nd Ethan Legault – Berkshire, 3rd Nathaniel Robtoy – Enosburg

 12/13 boys: l-r  1st Logan Piazza – Fairfield, 2nd Logan Tobin – City of St. Albans, 3rd Patrick Walker

Newport Elks Lodge # 2155 held a Local Hoop Shoot contest Dec. 6, 2014 at NCUHS.  The 6 first place winners from each age group will now go on to the District contest January 10th at the NCUHS and they will be  competing against winners from Burlington, St. Albans  and St. Johnsbury.  The 6 winners from that contest then go on to the State contest in Barre, Vt on the January 24, 2015

8-9 year old winners.. Left to right:  Boys – Logan Poirier  third place,  Carlos Martinez  second place, Graydon McCormick first place; Girls –  Madison Bowman  first place, Hailey Delabruere, second place and Julie Tanguay third place. Back row: Tom Maloney  ER Newport # 2155 and Steve Edgerley Local Hoop Shoot chair

10-11 year old winners.. Left to right: Boys – Robert Bowman  third place, Jorden Driver, second place, Caleb Syayg, first place: Girls –  Tia Marie Martinez, first place, Destiny Sorrell, second place and Kaylee Emerson, third place, Back row: Tom Maloney  ER Newport Lodge # 2155 and Steve Edgerley , local lodge chairman

12-13 year old winners  Left to Right: Girls – Erika Tuller, third place, Ebony Cota, second place, Robin Nelson, first place: Boys –  David Gratton, first place, Logan Richardson, second place, Ryan Young, third place.  Back row:  Tom Maloney , ER Newport Lodge # 2155 and Steve Edgerley  Local lodge chairman

All photos by Steve Edgerley

David Gratton  a 10-11 year old from Derby Vermont was presented a proclamation from the State of Vermont for his achievement in the Elks Hoop Shoot.  David won his local, district, State, and Regional contest and then he went on to compete in the National Contest in April in Springfield, Mass.  State Representative Mike Marcotte was instrumental in getting a proclamation for David and Jacob Cady from St. Johnsbury area who also went on to compete at the National Level.  Jacob was presented his at the State House but David was unable to attend so his was presented to him at Elks Lodge # 2155 by Representative Marcotte and Senator Robert Starr.  It was presented at a lodge meeting with Mr. Marcotte reading the proclamation before presenting it to David.      See the Proclamation here:  Proclamation for David and Jacob_0001

In picture from left to right:  Steve Edgerley, State Hoop Shoot Director, Richard Gratton, David’s father, David Gratton, Representative Mike Marcotte and Senator Robert Starr.

Picture provided by Steve Edgerley

The New England Elks Regional Hoop Shoot was held in South Portland Maine March 21, 22 and 23 with hoop shooters from all of New England competing. Vermont had 2 Regional winners who will go on to the National contest April 11, 12 and 13th in Springfield, Mass. There will be 72 shooters at the contest from all over the US.

 Kaia Anderson from St. Johnsbury Lodge,  Sawyer Ramey, Rutland Lodge, Katie Cushing, St. Albans Lodge, David Gratton, Newport Lodge, Emily Willis, Newport Lodge, Jacob Cady, St. Johnsbury Lodge and Steve Edgerly Vt. Elks State Hoop Shoot Chairperson.

Emily Willis was in a shoot off for third place. David Gratton 10-11 year old from Newport Lodge won his contest with a score of 19/25 and a shoot off with 5/5  and Jacob Cady from St. Johnsbury Lodge won his contest with 23/25 and 5/5.  Jacob also won the Walter Kettelle trophy which is given to the high scoring boy and girl of the shoot. Jacob and David will go on to the National Shoot in April.

                                                 David Gratton with Keith Palmer, Vermont State Elks Association President

                                         Jacob Cady with Keith Palmer,  Vermont State Elks Association President

                                              Jacob Cady recieving the Walter Kettelle trophy from Mr. Walter Kettelle

The Hoop shoot contest starts at the Lodge level and is open to all girls and boys ages 8 – 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.

Third place:  Natalie Norcia representing Brattleboro Lodge #1499

Boys 10 & 11 years old:

First place:  David Gratton representing Newport Lodge #2155

Second place: Gregory Fitzgerald representing Brattleboro Lodge #1499

Third place:  Eamon Cassels representing Montpelier Lodge #924

Girls 10 & 11 years old:

First place: Katie Cushing representing St. Albans Lodge #1566

Second place:  Shea Pickering representing Bellows Falls Lodge #1619

Third place:  Alyssa Slocum representing Windsor Lodge #1665

Boys 12 & 13 years old:

First place: Jacob Cady representing St. Johnsbury Lodge #1343

Second place: Jackson Lane representing Bennington Lodge #567

Third place:  Ronald Johnson representing Barre Lodge #1535

Girls 12 & 13 years old:

First place: Emily Willis representing Newport Lodge #2155

Second place:  Olivia Rockwood representing Windsor Lodge #1665

Third place: Nicole Norcia representing Brattleboro Lodge #1499