Begay wins district contest

Begay wins district contest

January 31, 2002

JENNIFER BEGAY smiles for the camera at a hamburger dinner held at the Cortez Elks Lodge. Begay was honored for winning first in her age group at the district Hoop Shoot.

PARTICIPANTS in the district Hoop Shoot are honored at the Cortez Elks Lodge. From left are Rick Presnell, Hoop Shoot director; Jaron Jacket, second; Jennifer Begay, Jess Mortensen, third; Kellie Deremo, fourth and Tori Pickens. Not pictured is Clifford Jones.

At the Southwestern District Elks Hoop Shoot Free-throw contest held on Jan. 26, at Palisade high school, Jennifer Begay, a student at Mesa Elementary, brought home the first place trophy in the Girls 8 -9 year-old age group. Begay, the daughter of Roberta and Victor Begay Jr. will continue on to the state competition at Salida, Colo., to be held Feb. 23.

And Begay is in good company locally. Jaron Jacket, a student at Cortez Middle School, took second place in the Boys 12 -13 age group. He is the son of Claire and Henry Jacket, Jr.

Jess Mortensen, also of Mesa Elementary, claimed the third-place trophy in the Boys 8 - 9 age category. He is the son of Lindy and Wade Mortensen.

In addition, Kellie Deremo, a student at Seventh St. Elementary School in Dove Creek, took fourth in the Girls 10 -11 age group. She is the daughter of Linda and Rick Deremo.

Each Hoop Shoot contestant has 25 shots at the hoop and the highest scorer in each category advances on to the next level of competition.

Families are involved with the event at every level. The Cortez Elks Lodge 1789 is "especially proud of all competitors," which in addition to those mention above, included Clifford Jones and Tori Pickens.

Also there to support the event were Gini Olson and Fred DeWitt, Cortez Elks Lodge local Hoop Shoot co-directors; Dave and MaryAnn Carter, Durango Lodge Hoop Shoot directors; Dusty Wadley, West Distinct Hoop Shoot chairman and his wife, Mary; and Ron Carpenter, Colorado state Hoop Shoot director, and his wife, ElLouise.