A Milestone Celebration in Westford
On a crisp Saturday in Westford, Massachusetts, the 14th edition of the A Shot for Life shooting challenge unfolded at The Mill Works, the largest indoor sports facility in New England. The event gathered 28 boys and 28 girls from high schools across the Commonwealth, each having raised at least $1,000 for brain cancer research and earned their spot through rigorous scouting and interviews.
Participants spent two hours testing their accuracy across free throws, mid‑range shots, and three‑pointers. The atmosphere was electric as young athletes chased personal bests while contributing to a cause that has already benefited countless families.
Olinto and Broderick Lead the Pack
In the boys' division, Jack Olinto of Archbishop Williams emerged victorious with a shooting accuracy of 86.9 percent, edging out Rex Satter of Ipswich and Jack Charchaflian of Nobles, who posted 81.2 and 80.9 percent respectively. Meanwhile, Abby Broderick from Medfield captured the girls' title with an 85.1 percent hit rate, finishing just ahead of Jules Stevenson of Phillips Academy and Izzy Kittredge of Nobles, who recorded 77.05 and 75.66 percent accuracies.
Their performances not only highlighted individual skill but also underscored the depth of talent emerging from Massachusetts high school basketball. Both winners credited the supportive environment and the charitable mission for fueling their focus.
A Legacy Built on Sport and Service
A Shot for Life (ASFL) was founded fifteen years ago by Mike Slonina, who famously broke a world record by shooting hoops for 24 consecutive hours. Since then, the organization has grown into a multi‑sport platform spanning eight disciplines across six states, while maintaining basketball as its flagship event.
The impact of ASFL extends beyond the court. To date, the initiative has produced 1,500 Division I athletes, contributed to 25 NCAA national championships, and launched 35 professional careers. Its fundraising efforts have consistently topped $50,000 annually, with the latest challenge surpassing that mark by a significant margin.
Looking Forward
As the organization expands into new sports, the core mission remains unchanged: to harness the competitive spirit of youth athletics for charitable good. Organizers anticipate that future challenges will not only raise greater sums but also broaden outreach, inviting more schools and communities to join the movement.