Kids show off skills at Elks Soccer Shoot
Sep 25, 2021
Kids line up to take their shot. Photo courtesy: Jim Callan
The large goal is split into a grid. Photo courtesy: Jim Callan
Kids could win trophies. Photo courtesy: Jim Callan
A crew of Elks helped out at the event. Photo by: Chloe Shelford
12-year-old Joe Wybraniec takes a shot. Photo by: Chloe Shelford
The Wareham-New Bedford Elks Lodge has been hosting soccer shoots — competitions that allow kids to show off their precision scoring — for more than 20 years.
On Saturday, about 25 kids from ages 4 to 13 took part in the competition, which was held at the Wareham Youth Soccer fields on Charlotte Furnace Rd.
Older kids took 15 shots at a full-size goal that was divided into a grid, with each section worth a different number of points. The top corners of the goal were worth five points each, the large middle section was worth two points, etc.
Younger children were able to take three shots each at a line of goals that got progressively smaller and higher in point value. The largest net was four feet wide and the smallest just 17 inches.
The winners of the shoot will advance to the state-wide competition.
The soccer shoot is just one of a large number of community events put on by the Elks each year, including a hoop shoot, Halloweeen event, and a Christmas party. Other charitable endeavors include scholarships, Thanksgiving baskets, food donations and support for veterans.
“That’s the job of the Elks — to reach out into the community,” said Jim Callan, an Elk who took part in the soccer shoot.
The Wareham Elks have donated $3.3 million back to the community over the years.
Each participant took home a free t-shirt and winners received trophies, while participants were given medals.
The Elks hold a number of weekly events to support their charitable work, including Tuesday night Bingo, Wednesday night dinner, Thursday night Meat Raffle, and a Friday Fish Fry.
The Lodge is located at 2855 Cranberry Highway. For more information, go to www.elkslodge73.com.
The winners of the soccer shoot were:
Boys Under 8
1. Brady Brundage
2. Myself Andrade
3. Xavier Pitts
Girls Under 8
1. Lacey Garmen-Cooper
2. Josephine Floyd
3. Maya Mendes
Boys Under 10
1. Ethan Bailey
2. Gabriel Ogunlade
3. Shea Gropman
Girls Under 10
1. Amber Donohue
2. Ava Ambarils
3. Penny Reitsma
Boys Under 12
1. Andrew Evora
2. Dorian Zahara
3. Theophile Mwambu
Girls Under 12
1. Juliana Statkus
2. Natalie Kearns
3. Ingrid Beaudoin
Under 14
1. Avah Texeira
