KEARNEY, NE - Meadowlark Elementary 3rd grader, Ayla Seeba, will be competing in the National Finals of the Elks Hoop Shoot Contest.  Ayla has won five contests including the Preliminary School Contest, Lodge Contest, District Contest, State Contest in York, Nebraska, and the Regional Contest in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  She will now compete in the National Finals on April 30, 2022, in Chicago, Illinois. The 2022 Hoop Shoot National Finals will take place at Wintrust Arena, home of the DePaul Blue Demons and the WNBA Champion Chicago Sky. 

Ayla said she has really enjoyed practicing her shooting and competing with others. “I have been setting goals and trying to reach them daily, shooting over 100 shots every day,” said Ayla. “Basketball is one of my favorite sports, but I also really like to play volleyball, tennis, golf, and soccer.”

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Elks Hoop Shoot, a free throw program for youth ages 8-13.  If you would like to send Ayla good luck wishes, please visit the website https://www.elks.org/hoopshoot/greetings.cfm  and scroll down to West Central Region 8.  Messages posted before April 18 will be printed and presented to Ayla when she arrives in Chicago.