Soccer fans claim honors during Elks Lodge event

Carter Pedroza tests his soccer skills during Saturday's shootout at Legacy Park.

Local children and teens took to the field on Saturday in hopes of earning top honors during this year's soccer shootout.

Hosted by the Mountain Home Elks Lodge, the event at Legacy Park brought together 52 participants ages 4 to 13.

The shootout included four age categories -- under-eight, under-10, under-12 and under-14 -- for both boys and girls.

During the day, the younger competitors had five chances to put a soccer ball in a goal that ranged in size from 17 to 48 inches across. The older participants were tested on their ability to kick grid goals.

The top performers in each age division were Carter Pedroza and Michelle Trueba in the under-eight categories, Alejandro Vasquez and Mia Pomerlee in the under-10 class, Anthony Moyett and Jenalee Martinez in the under-12 contest and Jacob Herrboldt and Abby Smith in the under-14 competition. The top three boys and girls in each division will go on to represent Mountain Home during this year's state competition, which begins Oct. 3 in Mountain Home.

The soccer shootout is one of many activities hosted each year by the Mountain Home Elks Lodge, according to organizers for this year's contest. The goal of these events is to encourage healthy mental and physical well being of these participants.