Four boys and one girl from the Back Mountain area were named local winners of the 2012 Father O’Leary Knights of Columbus #8224 Free Throw Championship, earning the right to compete at the district level in February.

The Back Mountain Knights of Columbus sponsored the local competition at the Gate of Heaven School gymnasium. All area youngsters ages 10 to 14 were eligible to participate.

Donnie Faux was the 11-year-old boys’ winner. Nicole Cavanaugh, the returning champion, was the 12-year-old girls’ champion and Nick Kocher, also a returning champion, was the winner of the 12-year-old boys’ division.

In the 13-year-old boys’ bracket, Lee Eckert, a returning champion, retained his championship. The 14-year-old boys’ division was won by Jonathan Wilson.

Each contestant was allowed 15 free throw attempts in the contests. Ties were settled by successive rounds of five free throws per contestant until a winner emerged.

Each of these winners will compete in the district competition on February 19 at West Side Career & Technology Center, Pringle, with an eye toward moving on to the state and international levels.