CHICAGO Dierks Kegler was unfazed heading into a shoot-off to decide third place at the Elks Hoop Shoot National Final.
Last year, the 10-year-old from Moran took 11th in the 8-9 year-old division and now, even with the added provisos of using a regulation size basketball and shooting from the actual free throw line, Kegler was just five successful free throws away from a top-three finish and a trophy thats about half his height.
His competitor was nervous. Who wouldnt be? Months upon months of preparation had led to this point in a Chicago high school gymnasium. Both Kegler and his competitor had made 24 of the previous 25 shots. Kegler, though, was as chill as a Chicago winter.
I was feeling pretty good, Kegler said. I was less nervous and more confident. I knew that I was going to do good.
His calm kept us calm, his father Jason said.
After the first 10 free throws, four kids had perfect scores and five had one miss. Dierks nailed his next 15 and was one of the last two with just one miss. Momentum was on his side and his confidence had fully taken over.
His walk was a little different, his mother Terra said. You could tell he knew that he had this. We had a good feeling.
Kegler went up and hit all five of his shots and his competitor missed one, giving Dierks third place all to himself.
EVEN SO, the sharp-shooting 10-year-old is not content. His eye is on the gold trophy next year. Once back home, Dierks was ready to hit the gym. His parents, however, thought he could use a break.
We purposely held him out, Jason said. It was tough, he wanted to shoot.
Needless to say, next years field better be ready, because Dierks is coming for the gold.
