One of the area’s top basketball shooters is heading into middle school.
Ireland Wright, 11, brought home “the big trophy” from the annual Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot state contest in April.
Wright was a fifthgrader at Michigan Avenue Elementary last month when she won district, area and regional competitions to qualify for the state’s free throw shooting tournament in Umatilla.
After this summer, which will include attending the local Top Gun Shooting Camp at St. Cloud High School and the Ron Riley camp and league, all while also p laying softball for the St. Cloud All-Stars, she’ll be playing basketball for St. Cloud Middle School.
The Elks Hoop Shoot is an annual free throw shooting tournament for youth ages 8-13 that celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. It has competitions at the local, regional, state, sectional and national level, where kids try to make the most of 25 free throws at a time.
Wright reached as far as the sectionals in Valdosta, Ga. this year. It’s exceptional, since she didn’t start shooting at a competitive level — or even take it seriously — until a couple years ago.
“I started when I was 8 or 9, I went to the Top Gun camp, and Coach (Chad) Ansbaugh taught me the proper way to shoot,” she said.
She said she didn’t even know about the Elks Club event until a flyer appeared at school … and she told her mom Monica she wanted to take part.
“I was a little anxious,” Monica said. “I wasn’t sure she even knew the proper way to shoot a free throw.”
The cure for that? Practice.
“I shot a bunch at my grandmother’s house,” Ireland said. “First there was a local competition, and I was scared, I was the only kid from Michigan Avenue.”
It didn’t bother her — she won that, as well as a district event in Hudson to qualify for the regionals in Sanford, which was the first time she had to compete against “a lot of girls.”
“I was very nervous,” she said. “I didn’t think I would win, there were so many older, taller girls. But I didn’t worry about what other people did, and once I got to the free throw line, I wasn’t worried. I was super excited and couldn’t wait to shoot.”
Her total of 14-for- 25 was enough to get into the state shootout in Umatilla on April 2, where again the scene was intimidating, at first.
“I remember we were practicing and everybody was good,” Ireland said. “I got to go last in my group, which was exciting because I knew what I had to beat. Once I went out to shoot I got relieved.”
But, she had what she needed — her parents and her lucky green shirt to shoot in.
“I missed a few at first, but then got into a groove,” Ireland said. “I was super excited to win.”
Monica said her initial reaction was disbelief.
“We cannot believe this little girl from St. Cloud, Florida is our State Champ. It still seems surreal,” she said.
The last stop for the Wrights on the Elks shooting trail was the Southeastern Region event in Valdosta, Ga., where about 6,000 shooters came together.
“There were a lot of kids there, from Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama,” Ireland said. “I didn’t shoot well, but I didn’t get upset.”
The benefits went past winning trophies.
“Ireland made friends with so many of the other girls, and showed great sportsmanship. That might be the best part of it,” Monica said. “Most kids aren’t ever in that pressure situation, and she excelled. I’m in awe, she just showed a natural ability.”
