ORANGE PARK - Students from Lakeside, Grove Park and S. Bryan Jennings competed in the Knights of Columbus Annual Free Throw Championship. Since 1972, the Knights of Columbus have sponsored a Free-Throw Championship for boys and girls aged 9 to 14 to provide an athletic outlet and encourage the values of sportsmanship and healthy competition. Boys and girls from around the area are invited to compete.

Knights of Columbus Council 7399 of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Orange Park conducted preliminary competitions at S. Bryan Jennings and Lakeside Elementary. However, the preliminary competition for Grove Park Elementary was canceled due to inclement weather. However, interested competitors from Grove Park were invited to compete against the winners from the other two schools at Council 7399’s finals on Saturday, July 13, held at the First Baptist Church gymnasium.

Volunteers from the Knights of Columbus conducted the contests. At the finals, parents and teachers from some of the competing schools were on hand to encourage their favorites. Each participant was given three warm-up tosses followed by 15 consecutive free throw attempts. In the case of a tie, there was a 5-shot playoff. At the conclusion, the Knights of Columbus presented Free Throw Participation Certificates to all participants and Free Throw Champion Certificates, wall plaques, and commemorative patches to the winners.

The winners of the Knights of Columbus Council 7399’s Free Throw Championship were:

Jordan Abosini (Lakeside) – 9 year-old boys

Jaxson Mauldin (Lakeside) – 10 Year-old boys

Miles Collier (Grove Park) – 11-year-old boys

Andrew Jester (Grove Park) – 12-year-old boys

Paris Chamber (S. Bryan Jennings) – 12 year-old girls

The highlight of the competition was Jaxson Mauldin making 12 of his 15 free throws. These winners will now compete at the Knights of Columbus District Free Throw Championship will be held at Annunciation Catholic School at 9:00 am on January 27.