(Photo by Tim Ashley)

Garrett Elder, Wawasee Middle School eighth-grader, placed second at the national level of the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick competition for 12 and 13 year-olds.

The competition was held Saturday in Atlanta, Ga., a day prior to the Atlanta Falcons-Seattle Seahawks playoff game each competitor was able to attend. Elder, a wide receiver for the eighth grade Wawasee football team in the fall of 2012, qualified for the national competition by placing first in the local competition at Wawasee High School, the sectional at Mishawaka High School and the state at Lucas Oil Field, home of the Indianapolis Colts.

Only the top four in the nation qualified for the national event. The competitions involve punting, passing and kicking a football and having the totals of all three added together. Garrett, wearing a Colts T-shirt he was given for winning the state competition, is the son of Michael and Vicki Elder.