The West Virginia Elks Association held their annual state soccer shoot on Saturday, November 21st at Tyler Consolidated High School near Sistersville, West Virginia.

Young soccer enthusiasts representing six lodges from throughout the state competed for the title of “State Champion” in four separate age groups. The first place winners will represent West Virginia at the Elks Mid-Atlantic Regional Soccer Shoot to be held in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in March of 2010.

The winners and sponsoring lodges included:

Boys 7 years and under: First Place – Tyce Church, Parkersburg Lodge # 198; Second Place – Noah Swiger, Sistersville Lodge # 333.

Girls 7 years and under: First Place – Madison DeVaughn, Sistersville Lodge # 333; Second Place – Megan Cramer, Weirton Lodge # 1801.

Boys 8-9 years: First Place – George Tennant, Sistersville Lodge # 333; Second Place – Evan Lamp, St.Marys Lodge # 1701.

Girls 8-9 years: First Place – Sarah Ilhenfeld, Wheeling Lodge # 28; Second Place – Emma Rader, Parkersburg Lodge # 198.

Boys 10-11 years: First Place – Benjamin Beaty, Huntington Lodge # 313; Second Place – Andrew Spencer, Parkersburg Lodge # 198.

Girls 10-11 years: First Place – Paulayna Zias, Weirton Lodge # 1801.

Boys 12-13 years: First Place – Tyler Warrick, Weirton Lodge # 1801; Second Place – Stanly Czahoroski, Wheeling Lodge # 28.

Girls 12-13 years: First Place – Kaitlin Govey, Weirton Lodge # 1801; Second Place – Sophie Kinnard, Sistersville Lodge # 333.

Other local competitors sponsored by Sistersville Lodge # 333 included Christina Price, who placed third in the girl’s 8 9 division and Nathan Heintzman, who placed third in the boy’s 12 13 division. Andrew Akers qualified for the event in the boy’s 10 11 division but was unable to attend.

Sistersville Lodge # 333 hosted the event and served a lunch of pizza and soft drinks for everyone in attendance. The Sistersville Lodge and the WV State Elks Association wish to thank Tyler Consolidated and the Tyler County Board of Education for providing a location for the shoot. Special thanks are given to Krista DeVaughn, Athletic Director at Tyler Consolidated, for her help in coordinating the logistics for the event. The Elks Soccer Shoot in a national program of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Shoots are held throughout the United States.