Above: A Southborough residents scored 2nd place at the regional competition. (images cropped from contributed photo & past press release)
[The following post was contributed by Southborough’s chapter of The Knights of Columbus (#119).*]
DUDLEY, MA – The atmosphere inside the Nichols College Field House on Saturday, March 7, was electric as the region’s most elite young athletes gathered for the Knights of Columbus Regional Free-Throw Challenge. Representing Southborough Council #119, four local students proved they belong among the top tier of shooters in Central Massachusetts, demonstrating not only athletic precision but remarkable mental toughness.
The road to the Regional stage is a gauntlet. To earn their place on the hardwood at Nichols College, Southborough’s representatives had to outlast approximately 60 other competitors across Local and District levels. Qualifying for this event places these students in the top 1% of shooters in their age brackets.
A Masterclass in Composure
The Regional format is a grueling test of nerves. After a high-energy warm-up, competitors must endure a wait of up to an hour before being called to the key to take their shots in front of a capacity crowd.
Eva Liu (12): Displayed the focus of a seasoned pro, using the long wait to quietly visualize her performance. Her disciplined approach kept her competitive until the final whistle, finishing just shy of the podium in a world-class field.
Emily Murphy (11): Radiated a rare air of confidence for her age. Her poise paid off as she captured 2nd Place in her division, sinking an impressive 17 of 25 shots under immense pressure.
Beyond the scores, both young women stood out for their elite sportsmanship, actively wishing their opponents good luck before the first ball was even bounced.
Character Over Trophies
While Jax Lachiatto (10) and Andre Benoit (11) also earned the title of District Champions to qualify for the event, they were unable to attend due to prior commitments with their respective teams.
“In an era of individual accolades, Jax and Andre made the difficult choice to honor their commitments to their teammates,” said Tom Gittins, Grand Knight of Southboro #119. “They ‘ran away’ with their District performances to get here, but their decision to stand by their teams speaks volumes about the character we strive to foster in our community.”
A Community of Champions
The resurgence of the Free-Throw Challenge marks a significant milestone for the local Knights of Columbus as the program continues to grow post-pandemic.
“We are incredibly proud of these four athletes,” Gittins continued. “They didn’t just represent Southborough; they represented the best versions of themselves. Whether they were visualizing the next shot or supporting a teammate elsewhere, they acted like champions. Please join us in congratulating them when you see them around town.”
[Editor’s Note: Contributed pics below of the four athletes are from the District Competition.]
*The Knights of Columbus #119 has served Southborough for more than 130 years
