K.C. Free Throw Champions Named

The Knights of Colmbus free throw champions.

Knights of Columbus Crown Free Throw Champions from (Teutopolis, Effingham, Sigel, Stewardsen and Dieterich), ages 9 to 14, were named local champions of the 2017 Teutopolis Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship and have earned the right to compete at the district level Sunday, February 26 at Teutopolis High School. Teutopolis Council 2874 sponsored the local competition.

All youngsters, ages 9 to 14, were eligible to participate.  The first 25 participants got a free Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship T-shirt in pre-registered/attendance.  All contestants were recognized for their effort with a certificate and free ice cream from Dairy Queen and Culver’s, with special awards going to the following champions of each division:

Nine-year-old champions were Jessica Larsen (Effingham) girls’ bracket and Landyn Thoele (Teutopolis) in the boys’. Molly Palls (Teutopolis) was the 10-year-old girls’ champion and Dylan Hartman (Effingham) was the winner of the 10-year-old boys’ division. In the 11-year-olds’ bracket, Emily Konkel (Teutopolis) was the girls’ champion and Matthew Becker (Altamont) was the boys’ champion. Twelve-year old winners in the girls’ and boys’ divisions were Danielle Sarchet (Teutopolis) and Samuel Vonderheide (Stewardson). The 13-year-old girls’ division was won by Sarah Deters (Sigel) and the boys’ by Derek Konkel (Teutopolis). Fourteen-year-old champions were Ashley Bressendorf (Teutopolis) in the girls’ bracket and Ethan Weidner (Teutopolis) in the boys.

Each contestant was allowed 15 free throw attempts in the contests.  Overall boy and overall girl for the day also received special recognition in addition to their individual bracket trophies going to the brother/sister duo Derek and Emily Konkel of Teutopolis.  

Ties were settled by successive rounds of five free throws per contestant until a winner emerged. Each of these winners will compete in the district competition to be held Sunday, February 26 at Teutopolis High School with an eye toward moving on to the regional (Mater Dei High School - Breeze in March) state (Chatham High School in April) and international levels.  

Raffle prizes also went to the following Colin Habing, Molly Pals, Danielle Sarchet, Sara Swingler, Ashley Bressendorf, Krista Roedl (Culver’s ice-cream), Joleen Deters and Kobey Newlin (Teutopolis basketballs), Josh Burrell and Matthew Becker (Teutopolis basketball socks) and Oliver Lee (basketball hoop).  

Thanks goes out to the volunteers, parents, Pepsi Mid-America, Weber’s Jewelry, Designs Unlimited, Jansen Computers, Wrights Furniture, Teutopolis State Bank, Dieterich Bank, Dairy Queen and Culver’s (for donating ice cream for all of the participants) that helped with the success of the championship. This event was chaired by Matthew and Jennifer Weidner of Bishop Creek (Teutopolis).