Three boys and three girls won the first round of competition in the 43rd Annual Elks National Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest at the Tamaqua Elementary School gym and have been named Tamaqua Elks champions.

The champions now advance to the next round of competition at Danville on Sat. Feb. 7, 2015 where they will compete with the other Elks Lodge winners from the Northeast District. In March, the district winners will advance to the state competition at State College, PA, and then to Wilkes-Barre for the regional contest. The national finals will be help in Springfield, MA in April.Volunteers who helped with the Tamaqua contest were John Bachert PER, Gary Wetterau, Steve Bayer, Mike Chromiak, Steve Dobrosky, Art Connely, Joe Berezwick, Mike and Aimee Caputo, and Vaal and Janet Kester.Following are the winners and runner-ups in each age group:8-9 YEARS OLDGIRLS1 - Christina Modesto, Tamaqua Elementary (14-for-25)2 - Emily Lang, Tamaqua Elementary (7-for-25)BOYS1. Blaise Gigli, West Penn Elementary (16-for-25)2. Chase Andrews, Tamaqua Elementary (15-for-25)10-11 YEARS OLDGIRLS1. Carley Krizansky, Holy Family (13-for-25)2. Alexa Stianche, Tamaqua Elementary (3-for-25)BOYS1. Brady Sherry, Tamaqua Elementary (18-for-25, 4-for-5, 3-for-5)2. Stephen Modesto, Tamaqua Elementary (18-for-25, 4-for-5, 1-for-5)12-13 YEARS OLDGIRLS1. Ashley Jones, Tamaqua Elementary (17-for-25)2. Olivia Jones, Tamaqua Elementary (14-for-25)BOYS1. Derian Stianche, Tamaqua Middle School (19-for-25)2. Brayden Knoblauch, Tamaqua Middle School (18-for-25)