Friendly rivalry heats up free-throw contest

With his knees bent, elbows tucked and toes just behind the line, 13-year-old Patrick Runger squares up for what would be his tenth of 11 free throws.

Under the basket, in the corner of the key Jacob Sojka, also 13, stands silently. Hand on his left hip, his intense glare dares Runger to sink the shot.

Though both play ball for and attend Lisle's St. Joan of Arc, this was no ordinary basketball game. This was the annual Knights of Columbus free throw contest, held Saturday morning in St. Joan's gymnasium, and both boys had been here before.

Sojka, an eighth-grader at St. Joan, won the 12-year-old competition last year and went on to lose in the divisional round. Saturday morning, he had already hit 9 of 15 but his rival put up 11.

"He (Jacob) beat me by one point last year in the 12-year-old competition and that wasn't happening again," Runger said pointing to Sojka. "I made sure I had more focus this year and I never took my eyes off the back of the rim."

Sojka, a point guard on the school team, fancies himself a stone cold shooter from the free throw line or three-point arc. But he admits he was off a little on Saturday.

"My form was good and I was seeing the rim so I hoped to hit 12 or 13 of the 15," he said. "Next year's our last year so I'll be a little taller and a little better to reclaim the championship."

While the event, sponsored by the Robert P. Connelly Council 5918, is more about having fun and being active, event chairman Mark Henderson said he's happy that a little healthy competition will likely bring both boys back next year.

In all, about 25 boys and girls ages 10-14 competed within their age groups for trophies and bragging rights. The first-place winners in each category will now move on to the district level in February, then regional, state and national competitions.

"We would have liked to seen more competitors but it can be a difficult time of year with family plans and things like that," Henderson said after distributing the morning's trophies. "But today was a good, fun day. Hopefully everyone walks away feeling good about having some fun and competition."

Pat Runger did. Not only did he manage to beat the boy who knocked him out of last year's competition; he also won the raffle that gave him a new basketball.

"He'll need it to practice for next year," Sojka joked.

Free throw contest winners

Boys age 10

First Place: Vincent Rybowiak of Woodridge

Second: John Claussen of Woodridge

Girls age 10

Stephanie Henderson, Woodridge

Boys age 11

First Place: Jared DeLeon of Bolingbrook

Second: Jacob Sinn of Lisle

Girls age 11

First Place: Meghan McShea of Lisle

Second: Nina DeAngelis of Woodridge

Boys age 12

First Place: Ethan Gasbarro of Glen Ellyn

Second: Kevin McShea of Lisle

Girls age 12

First Place: Kate Slattery of Romeoville

Second Place: Kelly Urban of Lisle

Boys age 13

First Place: Pat Runger of Lisle

Second: Jacob Sojka of Lisle

Boys age 14

First place: Dylan Sinn of Lisle

Second: Mitch Gasbarro of Glen Ellyn