Local children toe the line in Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot 2021

Josiah C. Cuellar, The Dickinson Press, N.D.
·3 min read

Mar. 4—The annual Elks Hoop Shoot district contest hosted by Dickinson Elks Lodge No. 1137 on Saturday at the DHS gymnasium.

The event featured kids ages 8-13 from around Southwest North Dakota as they competed in age and gender-based groups for what would have been in years past a chance to compete at the state competition. However, this year with COVID restrictions the winners would be crowned champions across the United States.

Last year's competition was also held virtually during the spring, in light of the ongoing pandemic — marking two times that that event has been held under unique circumstances.

"This is the one and done event ... I think there was only one other lodge in the state that held a competition, but the kids love it and a lot of the gym teachers contacted us and wanted to make sure we were still doing it," Hoop Shoot Director John Reger said. "Kids get recognition, they get to get out of the house, get to have a good time and friendly competition. It's been an annual thing. Typically we have (district contests) before the year ends but because of (COVID-19) we're doing it later."

While friendly, the competition still featured exciting moments for the shooters and their families. The boys age 10-11 went into a double overtime shootout as Kyler Krank and Michael Greff each matched the other in a competition to determine second and third places. Ultimately Krank took second and the two congratulated each other with a high-five — highlighting the friendly competition.

The gold, silver and bronze place winners of each age group are as follows:

Boys, age group 8 through 9

1. Rylie Glasser

2. Robbie Weidner

3. Tesher Roadarmel

Girl, age group 8 through 9

1.Emily Crist

2.Marty Crow

3. Ayanna De Guzman

Boy, age group 10 through 11

1. Charlie Glasser

2. Kyler Krank

3.Michael Greff

Girl, age group 10 through 11

1.Maci Wegleitner

2. Meadow Olsonawski

3.Karli Zitzah

Boy, age group 12 through 13

1. Nathan Stevenson

2. Chase Christensen

3. Braydin Hazen

Girl, age group 12 through 13

1. Jacia Thomas

2. Alexia Schaible

3. Carly Wolf

A parent with two girls participating, Jodi Olsonawski, was happy to see her girls participate in something they enjoy, get active and challenge themselves. Hoop Shoot has been somewhat of a family tradition as each of her girls, at one point or another, have toed the freethrow line.

"It's awesome to be out here. My girls really love basketball, there are four sisters and they all love it and have done this at different times. It's definitely a passion of theirs. They love to shoot around," Olsonawski said. "It's awesome that our community get to come together and let the kids compete and they make friends out of situations like this."

Meadow Olsonawski, who took second place in her grade division said she was really happy as for the first time her hard work paid off as she garnered a top-three spot.

"It's actually really fun," she said. "I see all these people do it and I thought it would be really fun to start something that I think I love, which I do. I love it."

For more information on the Elks Lodge, visit elks.org or call their front office at 701-483-1137.