Frank Hise came up with the idea in 1946.

The National Elks President at that time noticed smaller kids had a hard time keeping up with the others in a game of pickup basketball in his hometown of Corvalis, Oregon.

Hise wanted to something that gave everyone an equal opportunity, so he came up with a contest - the Elks Hoop Shoot - that he thought would achieve that.

The contest eventually spread across the country, and this year marks the 75th anniversary of the inaugural competition.

It also is the 50th anniversary of the Tamaqua Elks Hoop Shoot, a local competition that gives boys and girls between the ages of 8-13 a chance to become the best in the nation at what they do.

“To me, the Hoop Shoot is an event that it’s an even playing field,” said Tamaqua Elks Lodge 592 Hoop Shoot Director Scott Winterburn, who has run the local event for the last five years. “You don’t have to be the fastest, the strongest, or the smartest.

“You get up there and you take 25 free throws, and if you make the most you advance. That’s what it comes down to.”

The History

Hise’s idea gained popularity and spread to Elks Lodges around the country.

In 1972, the first national finals were held in Kansas City, Missouri for boys. Two years later, girls were allowed to participate in the event.

It was right around that time that Tamaqua came on board, as in 1971, the Tamaqua Elks Lodge held its first Hoop Shoot event under the guidance of past Exalted Ruler Tom Weston.

In 1980, Vaal Kester took over for Weston as the Hoop Shoot Director and guided the program for close to four decades. Kester was involved for a total of 36 years.

In 2016, Kester handed the Director title over to Winterburn, who has ran the event each time until present day.

Tamaqua’s version of the Hoop Shoot was originally held at the Tamaqua High School before being moved to the Tamaqua Elementary School, where it is still held to this day.

Behind the Scenes

Winterburn said conducting the event on the local level typically takes 12-14 volunteers the day of the event.

“The success of the Tamaqua Hoop Shoot is a joint effort between the members of the Tamaqua Lodge, who assist in the planning and staging the event, as well as the support of the Tamaqua School District and Tamaqua Athletic Director Mike Hromyak, who gives us a home to hold the event” Winterburn said. “Another big supporter is Delrose Awards in Lansford, who supply the trophies we present to the winners and runners-up.”

The volunteers over the years have been numerous. During Kester’s time in charge, he received help from his wife, Janet; past Exalted Rulers John Bachert; Billy Fritzinger and Rusty Nelson; Elk members Joe Bonner, Pete Shlanta, Jimmy Gormley, Randy Gormley and Steve Dobrosky; friends Mike and Sharon Chromiak; and former Tamaqua basketball coach Joe Berezwick, among others.

For the last five years, Winterburn’s help has included Elks members Amy Bieniek, Pete Bieniek, John Bieren, Gary Wetterau, Tom Wertman, Anthony McGeehan, Mary Grace McGeehan, Ronnie Kehl Jr, Howard Boyer, Alex Hutta, Zach Lakitsky, Suzanne Lakitsky and Jean Tyson.

“You always try and recruit new helpers to make the event a success, and in the case some “regulars” can’t make certain shoots,” Winterburn said.

The Elks Hoop Shoot has three different age groups for boys and girls - 8/9-year-old, 10/11-year-old, and 12/13-year-old.

Winners advance from the local level to competitions at the District level, State level, and Regional level, before finally to advancing to Nationals, which are now held in Chicago.

“Over the years, the Tamaqua Lodge has been blessed with many fine shooters, and in 2018 we had a shooter, Cole Dietz, advance to the National Finals in Chicago, where he eventually placed fourth in his age group.”

Open Invitation

“I would encourage every boy and girl between the ages of 8 and 13 to participate,” Winterburn said. “It’s all about practice, repetition, and rhythm. Once these kids get up there, it’s just amazing to see the way they produce. I believe it helps build character.

“To see them go on to Districts, and occasionally to Regionals and States and even Nationals like Cole (Dietz) did. Just to see the joy in their faces. It makes all the work we go through to make it successful worthwhile.”

That joy wouldn’t be possible without a lot of help, according to Winterburn.

“I would like to thank all the parents, the friends, and the members that help to make it a success,” Winterburn said. “Without those people behind the scenes, you wouldn’t have the kids going out there and do what they do. It’s an amazing event.”