Participants competed in six age categories, 9-14, on Jan. 26 in Tonganoxie.

Girls winners were Blakely Kooser (9), Taryn Smith (10), Kambree Rowland (11), Jayden Anderson (12) and Adlen Johnson (13).

Boys winners were Nathan Beach (9), Max Sturgeon (10), Carter Welsh (11), Jayden Anderson (12) and Sebastian Perry (14).

There weren’t any participants in the 14-year-old girls division or 13-year-old boys division.

Winners advanced to districts Feb. 12 in at Baldwin Junior High School in Baldwin City and then district winners moved on to regionals Feb. 19 at Basehor-Linwood Middle School in Basehor. State was March 5 and again took place at Sacred Heart Junior Senior High School in Salina.

There were 32 participants at this year’s local contest. Russ Kimberlin with the local Knights of Columbus council said there were 10 the previous year.

Here are some additional statistics of note for youths who advanced beyond the local level: Carter took first at districts after going 18-for-25. He won regionals after finishing 22-for-25 and then placed fourth at state after going 18-for-25. Max went 19-for-25 at districts and then went 5-for-5 in a shootout to determine the winner. At regionals he went 20-for-25, but lost to a participant who went 23-for-25. Kambree took first at districts (18-for-25) and then placed second at regionals (18-for-25).

Max and Carter advanced to state in 2022. Max placed first in the 9-year-old division and Carter second in the 10-year-old division.

Kansas also had an international champion last year. Hoisington’s Kennedy Mason won the 10-year-old girls division.