Knights Of Columbus Free Throw State Championship Winners Announced

Trophies were awarded to this year’s Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship competitors Tuesday at the Knights of Columbus Hall at Trinity Drive and DP Road. From left, Grand Knight Steve Ciddio, 12-year-old 1st place champion Alicia Gonzales, Fr. Glennon F. Jones, Pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 11-year-old 3rd place champion Eli Iramk-Bent and Knights of Columbus Youth Coordinator Roger Anaya. First place 14-year-old champion Michaela Vigil-Lujan was competing in Portales so unable to attend Tuesday’s award ceremony. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Participants gather at this year’s Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship state event. At left, Michaela Vigil-Lujan who was not at Tuesday’s awards presentation in Los Alamos, won first place in the 14-year-old division. Courtesy photo

Staff Report

Alicia Gonzales is this year’s 12-year-old 1st place winner and Eli Iramk-Bent, the 11-year-old 3rd place winner and Michaela Vigil-Lujan the girls 14-year-old 1st place champion at this year’s Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship state event. Gonzales has two years left to compete and has won state every year that she was eligible to compete, including as a 10-year-old and 11-year-old.

A special awards presentation was held Tuesday evening at the Los Alamos Knights of Columbus Hall at Trinity Drive and DP Road. Fr. Glennon F. Jones, Pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Grand Knight Steve Ciddio and Knights of Columbus Youth Coordinator Roger Anaya participated in the ceremony.

The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship is sponsored annually, with winners progressing through local, district, and state competitions. International champions are announced by the K of C headquarters based on scores from the state-level competitions. All boys and girls compete in their respective age and gender divisions.

Since its beginning in 1972, more than 2.5 million youth have participated in the contest. Bishop John Barres of Allentown, Penn., a former collegiate basketball player at Princeton University, is a strong supporter of the Free Throw Championship. He sees the focus and discipline required to achieve athletic excellence as being valuable in the faith formation and character development of young people. In addition, healthy competition helps young people to handle both good fortune and adversity with grace and dignity.

For additional information, contact K of C Youth Coordinator Roger Anaya at 505.670.6717.

Grand Knight Steve Ciddio, left, and Knights of Columbus Youth Coordinator Roger Anaya congratulate Eli Iramk-Bent, the 11-year-old 3rd place state winner. He won the state championship last year. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com 

Family members gathered at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Los Alamos Tuesday evening for the awards ceremony honoring their children who won at the Knights of Columbus Free Throw state championship competition. From left, Eli Iramk-Bent’s parents John Bent and Charlene Iramk and Alicia Gonzales’ parents Yvonne and Joseph Gonzales. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Search
LOS ALAMOS

ladailypost.com website support locally by OviNuppi Systems