Grand Knight Christopher Heery and Youth Director Michael Heery of Damien Council # 598 of the Knights of Columbus have announced the champions of the local 2011 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship. The competition was recently held at Saint John Neumann Regional School in Palmerton. All boys and girls ages 10 to 14 were eligible to participate.

Local champions include Jasmine Mooney, Lehighton; Jada Whiteman, Lehighton; Stephen Heery, Lehighton; Sean Heery, Lehighton; Ryan Heery, Lehighton; Matthew Miller, Palmerton; and Shane Snisky, Jim Thorpe. These local champions then competed at the District # 41 competition which was also held at Saint John Neumann Regional School in Palmerton.Assisted by the Heerys and Saint Peter the Fisherman Council Youth Director Mark Saxon, District Deputy David Michael presented medals to the following district winners from throughout the Carbon County area: Jasmine Mooney, Jada Whiteman, and Stephen Heery all of Lehighton; Jesse Perri and Shane Snisky of Jim Thorpe; Ben Saxon of Lake Harmony; and Matthew Miller of Palmerton. These district champions have earned the right to compete at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Regional competition on Sunday, Feb. 27 at Monsignor McHugh Elementary School in Cresco, PA.