The 2015-16 Hoop Shoot season is nearing its end. The 72 National Finalists have spent months on the road to Chicago, and now they are so close you could say that “It’s 106 miles to Chicago. We got a full tank of gas. It’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses.”
Although the Blues Brothers won’t be making their legendary trip to Chicago this year, we have something even better. The Midyett siblings. Justice is a 2016 Hoop Shoot National Finalist in the 8-9 Girls division and her older brother Jackson is a 2016 Hoop Shoot National Finalist in the 12-13 Boys division. Thankfully, they don’t have to compete against each other, starting some kind of basketball Civil War in their house. In fact, they are each other’s biggest fans. Although the Midyetts may know each other better than any other National Finalists, there are going to be some familiar faces around. This year, we have eight returning National Finalists—12 if you count the Hoop Shoot Alumni Advisory Board—and three National Finalists who had older siblings compete at the National Finals.
Speaking of family and past Hoop Shoot contestants, don’t count out Bella Spinks! Her dad and his brothers all competed in the Hoop Shoot. Collectively, they made it to state and regional contests, but Bella is the first member of the family to become a National Finalist!
Also, coming to Chicago for the 2016 Hoop Shoot National Finals are members of the #ElksFamily! This year, one Lodge in particular had great success with their Hoop Shoot contest, and are sending two contestants to the National Finals. Aniston Chapman and Alexis Wolgemuth both started their journey on the road to Chicago in the same place—Hickory, N.C. Something good must be in the water in Hickory Lodge No. 1654 contest this year! Aniston and Alexis will be joined by other members of the #ElksFamily including past Elks scholar and Hoop Shoot superstar volunteer Macy Warburton, Elks Scholar Service Trip Member Rohini Manickam and Elks Scholar Advisory Board President Devin Noonan. The #ElksFamily spans from sea to shining sea!
Aniston and Alexis aren’t the only National Finalists from the same area. Returning National Finalist Bailey Finn and first-time finalist Kameryn Ketcham competed in different Lodge contests, but are both from the same town in Montana. Even though there are some National Finalists who live pretty close to each other, some of our other National Finalists cannot be found just down the road. From Blake Dinkel’s hometown in Alaska to Naomi Parker’s in Flordia, there are more than 4,700 miles between these two National Finalists. They will be meeting in Chicago (although Blake might have a little bit longer of a flight) along with 70 other National Finalists from all corners of the United States.
From sea to shining sea, the Hoop Shoot casts a wide net. Because the Hoop Shoot can reach so many contestants, across so many miles, it is an honor to be mentioned as one of the 72 Hoop Shoot National Finalists. All of the National Finalists deserve to be in Chicago, because they are the best, competing against the best.
For a full list of the 2016 Hoop Shoot National Finalists click here.