Nick Martin made 20-out-of-25 shots, including sailing in his last seven, to capture the 8-9-year-old state championship in the Elks National Hoop Shoot held Sunday Feb. 23 at the Katie and Irwin Kahn Jewish Community Center in Columbia. Martin faced competition from three districts across South Carolina. He now advances to a five-state regional which includes Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Missouri and South Carolina, set to be held Saturday March 21 in Valdosta, Ga.
Wylan Sheffield finished in second place in the 12-13-year-old division.
In mid-February, both Martin and Sheffield competed in the South Carolina Elks Association Southeast District Hoop Shoot Competition and earned the right to compete at the state level. Martin competed in the 8-9-year-old division and went on to earn the district title. Sheffield competed in the 12-13-year-old division and shot his way to the district title.
Colleton County was well-represented at the district level: Kara Fargnoli finished second in the 12-13-year-old classification and Michael Witkin finished third in the 10-11-year-old division.
“Nicholas and Wylan did a great job representing Walterboro Elks Lodge and Colleton County in the Elks National Hoop Shoot State Championships,” said Angus Patterson, leading knight for the Walterboro Elks Lodge.
