Knights of Columbus award State Free Throw trophies

Six young sharpshooters from the Diocese of Metuchen – two of them repeat winners – earned accolades, trophies and their places on the list of this year’s 12 winners of the 2025 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Tournament state finals, held April 5 in the Msgr. Dalton gym of Our Lady of Victories Parish, Sayreville. 

Nine-year-old Nidhan Phadnis of Monroe sank an admirable 23 of his 25 attempts at the basket to win the boys’ trophy for his age category. A pair of 10-year-olds from the Metuchen Diocese locked up the boys’ and girls’ trophies respectively; Eddy Wei of Hillsborough tied an opponent with 21 baskets then won in a shootout with five more swishes for a victory. Reagan Donley of Basking Ridge sank 22 of 25 attempts at the basket; Donley is no stranger to pressure on the court: she had won the nine-year-old girls’ title last year.

Cristian Ferrer of Milltown was successful in 23 of his 25 attempts to win the 11-year-old boys’ trophy; he had topped all opponents two years ago to win the nine-year-old boys’ trophy with a perfect 25 out of 25 attempts. Rounding out the victorious Metuchen Diocese sports dynasty were two boys’ runs: 12-year-old Lucas Monzon of Flemington with 19 out of 25 and 14-year-old Crosby DeCoster of Califon with sheer perfection: 25 attempts, 25 swishes.

Beginning this winter, scores of young competitors ages nine to 14 had competed at numerous contests hosted by their local Knights of Columbus councils where each made 25 attempts to sink a basketball from the foul line. The field of successful hoopsters was winnowed further during the diocesan-level finals in March, as one boy and one girl from each age group were chosen to represent the Diocese of Metuchen and compete against four others in their age/gender category, one from each of New Jersey’s five Catholic (arch)dioceses. 

Now in its 53rd year, the Knights’ Free Throw Tournament is one of their most successful international youth activities. The Catholic fraternal organization’s website explained, “Councils sponsor the tournament to provide an athletic outlet and encourage the values of sportsmanship and healthy competition.”

To see photos of all the winners, check out the Catholic Spirit NJ Facebook page.