Pictured are the event winners (in forefront) and principal organizers (in back, from left) Joe Phillips, Dave Prugh and Greg Schweiger.
Twelve boys and girls from Tioga, Spencer Van-Etten, and surrounding areas, ages nine to 14, were named local champions of the 2015 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship and have earned the right to compete at the district level. Blessed Trinity Council #251 in Waverly/Owego sponsored the local competition at Tioga Central High School. All youngsters ages nine to 14 were eligible to participate.
The event was held in memory of longtime youth basketball coach Dan Manwaring. Organizers christened the event the 1st Annual Dan Manwaring Free Throw Championship. Forty-eight contestants participated and over $400 was raised for the Manwaring family through tee shirt sales.
Nine-year-old champions were Kendra Katchuk in the girls’ bracket and Nate Smith in the boys’. Abagail Foley was the10-year-old girls’ champion and Taylor King was the winner of the 10-year-old boys’ division. In the 11-year-olds’ bracket, Arianna Manwaring was the girls’ champion and Elliott Walter was the boys’ champion. Twelve-year-old winners in the girls’ and boys’ divisions were Madison Howey and Jacob Armstrong respectively.
The 13-year-old girls’ division was won by Emily Polo Rankin and the boys’ by Samuel Taylor. Fourteen-year-old champions were Lauren Allen in the girls’ bracket and Nick Klossner in the boys’.
Each contestant was allowed 15 free throw attempts in the contests. Ties were settled by successive rounds of five free throws per contestant until a winner emerged. Each of these winners will compete in the district competition to be held on Feb. 15 in
Elmira, with an eye toward moving on to the state and international levels.
