WHEELING — Eighteen girls and boys were recently awarded trophies in the Elks Hoop Shoot Contest sponsored by Wheeling Elks Lodge No. 28. The contest was held on January 3, 2026 at Wheeling University. The contest included participants from public and private schools in both Marshall County and Ohio County.

In the front row pictured above/below, third place winners include, from left to right, Kinley Conaway, girls 8-9 division; Lily Murphy, girls 10-11 division; Nevaeh Ransom, girls 12-13 division; Anthony Bryan, boys 12-13 division; and Ryker Mueller, boys 10-11 division. Not pictured is Kohen Cottrill, boys 8-9 division.

In the middle row, second place winners include, from left to right, Ella Schrebe, girls 8-9 division; Giana Cook, girls 10-11 division; Roman Shinsky, boys 12-13 division; Pace Pettit, boys 10-11 division; and Luke Cronin, boys 8-9 division. Not pictured is Shay McCardle, girls 12-13 division.

In the back row, the first-place champions include, from left to right, Kyla Dalton, girls 8-9 division; Keara Creighton, girls 10-11 division; Claire Phillips, girls 12-13 division; Makabe Lehman, boys 12-13 division; Bryce Kempkens, boys 10-11 division; and Creed Fazio, boys 8-9 division.

Each of the six overall champions will advance to the Elks Northern District Hoop Shoot Contest to be held Saturday, Jan. 17 at St. Mary’s High School in St. Mary’s, West Virginia. The Elks Hoop Shoot is a national free-throw shooting contest for girls and boys ages 8-13. This year alone, nearly four million youths are expected to compete nationwide.