Mars resident Alex Gruber, left, and Cranberry Township's Abby Valentine display trophies they won during the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Shooting Competition over the last few months. Each won a state title March 20 at Trinity High School near Harrisburg.

CRANBERRY TWP — When it comes to winning championships, St. Killian discovered that two are better than one.

Mars' Alex Gruber, 12, and Cranberry Township's Abby Valentine, 11, each won a title at the Knights of Columbus State Free-Throw Championship at Trinity High School near Harrisburg March 20.

It was the fourth and final level needed to win a state championship, a journey that began when they each won the local competition at St. Kilian in January.

Gruber and Valentine then topped their age groups in events at the district (at Deer Lakes High) and regional (Bishop Canevin) levels.

"The kids were under a ton of pressure, even from the initial stages," said John Haggerty, director of the St. Kilian Youth Program. "They had nerves of steel and were very focused."

Gruber drained 24-of-25 free throws to win his state title, making 87 percent (78-of-90) at the four competitions combined.

Valentine made 23-of-25 at states and hit on 86 percent (86-of-100) combined, which included two tie-breakers.

"I never thought I'd end up winning the state title," said Gruber. "I just wanted to go out and do my best, and it paid off."

Shooting 50 free throws each day after school and some advice from Gruber's older brother, Luke, certainly helped.

Luke started for Mars High's boys basketball team last season.

"I have the same exact motion and follow-through with each free throw," Alex said. "Luke started doing that and I learned from him."

Gruber, a sixth grader at St. Alphonsus in Wexford, is a power forward for both his school's team and an AAU team.

Valentine attends Haine Middle School and is a point guard on one of Seneca Valley's traveling teams.

"Every night, I'd practice shooting at school or at home," she said. "I was nervous at each event, but once I made a few free throws, that feeling left."

This was the first year that St. Kilian sponsored the free throw competition.

"Being that it was our first year and we end up with two state champions, that was pretty wild," said Haggerty.

Gruber and Valentine's totals at the state competition now will be compared with the champions from 70 other jurisdictions to determine the international champions.

"We should know the results from that in a couple of weeks," said Haggerty.