CARMEL – Toddlers to senior citizens were congratulated over the weekend at the annual Carmel Rotary picnic for shooting the most baskets in their age category during the Rotary’s 16th annual Community Basketball Challenge. It surpassed expectations and raised $67,000 for dozens and dozens of organizations.

Children as young as three joined seasoned citizens in their mid- to late-70s by shooting baskets during a two-minute span that raised money for the participant’s favorite charity.

Since 2008 more than $650,000 has been raised for dozens of local, regional and national organizations.

Putnam County’s most tenured Rotarian Al Lotrecchiano recalled how in the late 1970s, each Rotary Club in Putnam took part in a basketball shootout and through 1991 when the program ceased, more than $250,000 had been collected for a variety of charities.

Lotrecchiano called this year’s tally “one of the best ever. More than 100 people shot baskets during the fund raiser for dozens of organizations raising in excess of $67,000. People were extremely generous, and we can’t thank them enough. It was a great feeling to the businesses and individuals who sponsored the trophies awarded to Rotary Challenge winners.”

Carmel Rotary Past-President Sal Gambino added, “As the challenge ended, plans got underway for next year’s edition.”

Winners included: Under 3– Brady Huestis; Age 4 and 5—Logan McCormick and Lucy Huestis; Age 6-7— Jaxon Carter and Sadie Zupan; Age 8-9—Theia Huestis; Age 10- 11—Declan Kilgallen and Evelyn Zupan; Age 12-13—Madeline Zupan and Davian Carter; Age 14-15—Colin Wendel, Riley Blum and Lia Dowling; Age 16- 17—Taylor Blum and Lucas Cabiati; Age 18-35—Devon McCormack and Chris Ryder; Ryder by the way scored 101 baskets which was the highest amount in the tournament; Age 36-54—Christine Demme and John Carter; Age 55-64— Sue Wilson and Robert McNerney; Age 65-74—Loretta Sosa and Bob Kilgallen; Age over 75—Wayne Ryder

Article and Picture  credit goes to Eric Gross