The Salem Elks Lodge No. 305 gathered on May 17 at the Salem Community Center for its annual Soccer Shoot, a community‑focused tournament that draws families and young athletes from across the region.
Competition was fierce across multiple age groups, with participants ranging from under‑8 to under‑16 battling for top spots on the field.
Rising Stars Earn Their Place
Among the standout performers were Konnor Hazel and Gio Salvino, who claimed second and third places in the U8 category, while Alessa Ayers captured first in the U10 division and Gabriella Sebastino followed in second. Troy Hendricks also secured first in the U10 bracket, and Alejandro Sebastino took second in the same age group.
The U12 category saw a sweep of first‑place finishes by Isaiah Sebastian, Ainsley Touville and Nora Shean, while Xavier Beuhler and Austin Deem earned second and third honors respectively. In the U14 division, Adam Lodge and Layla Hewitt both placed first, with Claire Shean taking second.
Greg Davis, chairman of the Salem Elks Lodge, praised the participants and highlighted the event’s role in fostering youth development and community spirit.
First‑place finishers across all age groups will advance to the district shoot scheduled for September 20, also to be held at the Salem Community Center, where they will represent the lodge against teams from neighboring locales.
The day concluded with congratulations to all competitors and a reminder that the spirit of teamwork and local pride continues to drive the lodge’s youth programs.