Annually in September most Elks Lodges in the Northeast hold soccer shoot competitions for kids ages 7 to 13. Springfield Elks Lodge this year held two of these soccer shoots, one in Chester and one in Springfield. The results of the two soccer shoots highest scores go on to compete at the Vermont Elks’ Soccer Shoot in St. Albans, Vt., on October 16th.
The first place winners between the Chester and Springfield soccer shoots are as follows. Under 8 boys was Finnegan Kelley of Springfield and Brielle Pelletier of Springfield. For the Under 10 boys was Max Peebles of Chester and Ava Anderson for the girls of Chester. Under 12 boys was Noah Cherubine of Chester and Luna Burkland for the girls of Chester. Under 14 boys was Tristin Parker of Chester and Kayla Quelch for the girls from Springfield.
There was close to 200 kids who competed between the two soccer shoots combining Chester and Springfield. The winners of the state soccer shoot will compete in the Area 1 Soccer Shoot also in St. Albans, the weekend of November 4th & 5th. The Area 1 consists of all of the New England states and upstate New York.
Springfield Elks Lodge member Roger Blish is shown giving instructions to some of the young lady competitors at the recent Elks Soccer Shoot in Springfield. On his right is Vermont Elks Past State President Donald Bishop helping out with the shoot.