Steady nerves, mental discipline and an eagle-eyed focus must be in their genes, or perhaps the McHale and Sederland brothers have spent countless hours shooting foul shots in their driveways.
Whatever the unique combination of skill, determination or a bit of luck, two sets of fraternal sharpshooters from the Camden Diocese were among the eight boys and girls who added their names to the annals as victors in the annual Knights of Columbus Free Throw Tournament diocesan finals, held March 12 in the Upper Township Recreational Center, Tuckahoe.
The field of competitors ages nine to 14, each hailing from Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Atlantic, Cumberland or Cape May Counties, had been successful on the council level and earned their right to compete in the diocesan final. Each hopeful was given 25 attempts to propel a 22-ounce rubber sphere through a nylon net suspended 15 feet away to take home trophies and bragging rights. This year, the Camden Diocese did not declare female winners in the nine, 10, 12 or 13-year-old divisions.
Luke McHale, a nine-year-old from Saint Joseph Parish, Sea Isle City, was successful in 17 of his 25 attempts at the basket, while his big brother, Aiden, found the basket 18 times to clinch the 10-year-old boys trophy. Fellow congregant Ivy Brown sank 12 shots to emerge victorious among other 11-year-old girls, while Carter Givner of Wildwood’s Notre Dame de la Mer Parish, bested other 11-year-old boys with 15 baskets.
The Sederland household contains two more sports trophies this year. Twelve-year-old Blake made 19 of his attempts, while his 13-year-old brother, Cole, achieved 22 of his tries. The Sederland family are members of Saint John Neumann Parish, North Cape May. Notre Dame de la Mer Parish’s Nick Antonicello shot 20 baskets in the 14-year-old boys division, and his female counterpart, Emily Logan of Saint Joseph the Worker Parish, Haddon Township, made 13 foul shots.
Knights tallied the scores and fielded rebounds as they encouraged the competitors, telling them to “take your time” or “finish it off,” while parents and friends recorded the children with cellphones for posterity.
Now in its 50th year, the Knights’ Free Throw Tournament is one of their most successful youth activities. The Catholic fraternal organization’s website explained, “Councils sponsor the tournament to provide an athletic outlet and encourage the values of sportsmanship and healthy competition.” Knights of Columbus State Free Throw chairman, John A. Gazis, called the tournament a “valuable teaching tool” for youth.
“They are competing against kids their own age, and they cheer for their friends, siblings, even strangers,” Gazis said. “It gives them the chance to learn sportsmanship.”
With their victory on March 12, the eight boys and girls qualified for entrance into the state finals April 2 in Saint Ambrose Parish, Old Bridge. Each Camden Diocese winner will compete against four others in their age/gender category, one representing each of New Jersey’s five Catholic (arch)dioceses.
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