OLDS — Students from three schools placed in the top three of the council and regional levels of the annual Knights of Columbus free throw competition.
Now their scores will analyzed in Calgary with those of other entrants from across the province to determine the winners in each category.
Coordinator Richard Bodnar of the Knights of Columbus in Olds is not sure of the precise date when those tabulations will be completed and announced.
The council level free throw event was held March 2 at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Olds. The regionals were held March 8 in Red Deer.
In total, 35 students participating in the competition in Holy Trinity qualified for the regionals in Red Deer. However, not all made that trip.
Olds Koinonia Christian School (OKCS) students received eight medals. École Deer Meadow School (ÉDMS) students received seven and Holy Trinity students were awarded three.
During an interview with the Albertan, Bodnar said there was some concern among the Knights as to whether it would be worthwhile to hold the council level competition this year, as only close to 20 kids entered at that level last year.
Bodnar noted it’s expensive for the Knights to offer the competition, due to the cost of food and medals.
He said the competition in Olds normally attracts between 50 and 60 kids.
In the end, the Knights did go ahead with the competition in Olds and Bodnar was buoyed when 75 to 100 kids enrolled in it this year.
“I think that's probably one of the best turnouts we've had,” he said.
Bodnar figures the reason the turnout rebounded – pun intended – is that the Knights made a strong push with local schools to encourage students to enrol.
“We said, ‘well, OK, we're going to push this one more time, sort of see with that,’” he said.
Bodnar said this year’s turnout has encouraged the Knights a free throw event again next year.
Following are results from the council level and the regional level for each age group.
First are results from the competition in Holy Trinity Catholic School, followed by those for local hoopsters in Red Deer.
14-year-old boys
Sawyer Winfield ÉDMS, finished first in both Olds and Red Deer.
13-year-old girls
First: Molly Weigum, ÉDMS; second: Eden King, OKCS, Carstairs; third: Abigail Schooler, OKCS, Olds;
Weigum went on to place first in the Red Deer competition.
13-year-old boys
First: Aiden Turnbull ÉDMS, Olds; second: Samuel Rozenhart, ÉDMS, Olds; third Garrett Black, Didsbury.
Rozenhart and Turnbull finished second and third respectively in Red Deer.
12-year-old girls
Molly McPhea, OKCS, Sundre.
McPhea did not place in the top three in Red Deer.
12-year-old boys
First: Alex Sampson, ÉDMS, Olds; second: Mason Delacruz, Holy Trinity, Olds; third: Jude Duncalfe, OKCS, Carstairs.
Sampson, Duncalfe and Olds resident Jacob Kerr of ÉDMS all placed in the top three in Red Deer.
11 year-old girls
First: Janae Miller, OKCS, Didsbury; second: Naomi Dueck, OKCS, Didsbury.
Neither Miller nor Dueck placed in the top three in Red Deer.
11 year-old boys
First: Brayden Esguerra, ÉDMS, Olds; second: Oliver Longstaff, OKCS, Bowden; third: Ethan Ellis, Holy Trinity, Olds.
In Red Deer, Esguerra placed first, Longstaff second and Ellis third.
10 year-old girls
First: Sara Bessy, OKCS, Carstairs; second: Adisson Taks, OKCS, Bowden; third: Jaden McQuaid, ÉDMS.
In Red Deer, Bessy finished first and Taks came second.
10 year-old boys
First: Tobyn Michel, OKCS, Carstairs; second: Blake Paquis, OKCS, Olds; third: Liam Hildebrandt, OKCS, Carstairs.
Among 10-year-old girls in Red Deer, Bessy finished first, followed by Taks.
Hildebrandt finished second in Red Deer. Paquis placed third.
Nine-year-old girls
First: Mykah Dolinski, OKCS; second: Amelia Hammer, Holy Trinity, Olds; third: Anneliese Minnes, OKCS, Didsbury.
In Red Deer, Dolinski finished first and Minnes placed third.
Nine-year-old boys
First: Jackson Schekk, Holy Trinity, Olds; second: Kooper Vekved, Holy Trinity, Didsbury; third, Mason Gordon, Holy Trinity, Olds.
In Red Deer, Schekk came second and Olds resident Elliot Ellis of Holy Trinity placed third.
Bodnar is hoping the fact that 18 students from three area schools received medals will encourage more students to attend the free throw in Olds next year.
Bodnar is grateful for the help the Knights received from school staff Tanya Clattenburg, Ryan Miller, Kyle Young and Dana Overwater.
