BATH, Maine — Two Aroostook County youths garnered top honors at the Maine Elks Association Hoop Shoot free throw competition held Jan. 25 at Bath Middle School.
Nick Hopkins of Easton and Sawyer St. Peter of Caribou each captured their divisions while representing Presque Isle Elks Lodge 1954, and advanced to the New England Championships to be held March 6-8 in Portland.
Hopkins sunk 23 of 25 shots to take first place in the 8-9 year-old boys’ division.
St. Peter made 22 of 25 of his attempts to claim the victory in the 10-11 boys’ category.
Both had won at the local, lodge and district levels prior to prevailing Sunday at the state level. Hopkins had also advanced to the state championships a year ago, while St. Peter made it to New Englands in 2024 while competing in the 8-9 division.
Three other young shooters from the region also competed. Adalynn Hews of Washburn was third in the 8-9 girls’ division, Natalie Porter of Mapleton third in the 12-13 girls’ category and Jackson Holdsworth of Caribou third in the 12-13 boys’ classification.
Hews and Porter also represented the Presque Isle lodge, while Holdsworth, who reached the nationals last year in the 10-11 division, represented Houlton Lodge 835.
