She’s Done It! Ainsley Weaver Elks Hoop Shoot National Champion

Article presented by Adena Health …

Ainsley Weaver holds her National Champion medallion after finishing atop the 8-9 year old division of the Elks Hoop Shoot National Finals. The runner up, Pressley Page and third place finisher, Jaelyn Heins, are to her left. Photo by Gayle Mahaffey

With nerves of steel, Ainsley Weaver won the Elks Hoops Shoot in Chicago Saturday. The Paint Valley 4^th Grader made 29-of-30 shots on the day.

Needing only four shots to win the title in a shoot-off, Weaver sank all five attempts to take the 8-9 year old division.

“I knew I had to make at least four” Ainsley said in a text message to Litter Media “and I knew I could because I have been practicing.”

To reach the shoot-off, Weaver needed to match Oklahoma’s Pressley Page who had only one miss through the first two rounds. Ainsley finished the first round with a perfect 10-for-10 and calmly went back to her seat among the eleven other finalists.

In the second round, Weaver missed on her 13^th shot, but then dropped in the next 12 straight to record 24 of the 25 shots in regulation, tying Page.

“I felt confident after making my first ten. I felt fine after missing that shot, ‘cause I forgot about that shot and went on.”

So, how does it feel to be the National Champion? “It feels cool and exciting” said Weaver.

As expected, the rest of Weaver’s team, mom, dad and big sister were beaming. “We’re just so proud of her for setting goals and achieving them!” Tara Weaver told Litter Media.

In only her second year of participating in the Elks Hoop Shoot, Weaver became the seventh Ohioan to win a championship since the finals moved to Chicago in 2016.

Pictured: Ainsley with Championship trophy; the ball she shot with today, plaque for finalist. One medal for winning. One for Region 4 which had the best representation and shots made. Photo by Tara Weaver

“She acts like she does this everyday” Chillicothe Elks #52 Hoop Shoot Director Gayle Mahaffey told Litter Media. “Totally unfazed.” With her win, Weaver becomes the first National Champion from the Chillicothe Elks competition.

Ainsley said outside of winning the competition, her favorite part of the trip to Chicago has been the plane ride.

She can expect another flight later this year. Part of winning the championship is a trip to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Later in the day, Weaver’s winning continued as she received the Getty Powell Award, given to the girl who made the most shots during the competition across all the divisions.

“The Getty Powell award will be given when she is enshrined in the Hall of Fame at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony in Springfield, Massachusetts.” Mahaffey told Litter Media. “Her name will be in the official books. The Getty Powell Award is very prestigious and also affords her a trip to Austin, Texas during the Elks National Convention.”

Not a bad day for a kid who hadn’t shot a basketball until just over a year ago. Congratulations, Ainsley!