KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS

Four boys and five girls ages 9 to 14, were named local champions of the 2020 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship and have earned the right to compete at the district level.

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. Sacred Heart Council #3137 in Los Alamos sponsored the local competition at Los Alamos High School Griffith Gymnasium on Sunday, Feb. 2. All youngsters ages 9 to 14 were eligible to participate.

Damian Scammell was crowned 9-year-old boys’ champion and Edna Gartz took the girl’s title. In the 10-year-old division, Michael Velasquez-Saiz and Akesa Gartz were crowned champions, Sam Prada and Gerianna Romero won the 11-year-old division, and Olivia Martinez and Z Garts won the 12-year-old division. Rounding up the list of champions was Abigail Martinez who won the 14-year-old girls’ title.

The Knights of Columbus would also like to recognize all runner-ups which include: Lucas Montoya (9-year-old), Cade Rich (10), Maya Graves (10), Maddox Martinez (12), and Kimberly Prada (14).

Each of these winners will now advance to compete in the district free throw championships which will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29 at Los Alamos High School Griffith Gymnasium with an eye towards moving on to the state championships which will be held in March in Albuquerque.

The Knights of Columbus would like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s local competition. They also would like to thank Los Alamos Public Schools for the use of Griffith Gymnasium.