3 local children advance to state in shooting contest
Courtesy photo Kaelsy Wiltbank, left, Kyre Wiltbank, center, and Ella Wiltbank pose for a photo after placing first in their respective age groups at the district level of the Hoop Shoot. The trio will compete at state next week in Lacey. Kaelsy Wiltbank made it all the way to nationals last year.
MOSES LAKE — A trio of Columbia Basin children — all from the same family — showed off their shooting stroke at the district level of the Hoop Shoot.
Kaelsy Wiltbank, 13, Kyre Wiltbank, 11, and Ella Wiltbank, 9, all placed first in their respective age groups to advance to the state level of competition in Lacey. The competition consisted of a 10-shot first round and 15 more shots in the second.
Kaelsy Wiltbank, who reached nationals last year, shot 23-of-25 at the local level and made 19 out of 25 shots at districts to win. Kyre Wiltbank made 22 shots at the local level before sinking 19 at districts. Ella Wiltbank — shooting four feet closer in the 8-9 age group — made 16 shots at the local competition before upping her total to 20 at districts.
The Wiltbanks will compete at state on February 15 for the opportunity to make the regional round in Pasco.