Every day when Thomas Anderle gets home from school, he goes downstairs and dribbles his basketball, causing the house to echo in the process. Because for this 9 year old Massapequa Park youth, basketball is more than a hobby, its a goal in life.

Thomas says he wants to be a basketball player when he gets older, and if his recent performances in the Elks Lodges' Hoop Shoot contests are any indicator of his future success, then Thomas is a sure winner.

It all began when Thomas, a fourth grader at East Lake Elementary School, won the Elks Lodge contest at Berner Junior High School in January. When he went to the contest that afternoon, he only knew a couple of kids out of the 40 in his division. And, only a handful out of the 308 kids participating in all the categories. And although he was nervous, he came in first place. "There were a lot of kids," Thomas remembered. "I was pretty nervous."

"He doesnt look nervous though," said Tom Anderle Thomas father. "He just goes up to the basket and shoots."

He then went to compete in the E. Nassau and Suffolk County competition, where he also came in first place. And the most recent competition, the down state division, fielding competitors from Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn and Queens, was also a sure victory.

The last contest was the most nerve wracking, Thomas said. Playing against the winners of the two other regional contests, Thomas was the third person to shoot. But the part that made the pressure the greatest, the kid just before him shot 4 out of 5 baskets. Thomas needed 5 out of 5 to win. And win he did.

But although Thomas has a great deal he can tell his friends his parents say he tends to keep his victories to himself. He doesnt like to brag" said his father. And when he won he didnt want to tell his coach.

Thomas is also involved with a number of other community sport groups. Playing with St. Martins Church, the CYO basketball team, the CYO basketball superteam and the Massapequa Soccer Club. "Its a whole bunch of good kids," said Thomas of the CYO team.

Thomas said he enjoys playing, "because theyre all nice kids, I have nice coaches that are fair."

One of the most important things, according to his parents, is that he enjoys what he does. "If he wins, he wins," said Kathy, Thomas mother. "Theres no pressure."

For the past two years, Thomas has earned the Respect and Responsibility Award at East Lake School. The award, given to one boy and one girl in each class, is awarded to the student that is most respectful and polite. Thomas fit that category to a T. And in comparison to his basketball victories, Kathy said, "its a lot more important to me than that."

Both the Anderle children, Thomas and his older sister Jacklyn, are honor students. Jacklyns a strait A student, and Thomas always gets A and B+s. Something parents Kathy and Tom, who moved to Massapequa Park in 1990, said they are very proud of.

Thomas says he wants to be a basketball player when he gets older, its his goal. He enjoys watching the game on television and has a number of favorite players. A few months ago, he sent a number of basketball cards to his favorite players, with a letter asking them for an autograph. So far he hasnt gotten one response.

But, Tom says, Thomas has made a promise to himself. "When the kids send him stuff in the mail, hes gonna sign them and send them back."

The next contest Thomas has to compete in is the state competition in Horseheads, New York. If he wins there, the tri-state and the national contests follow. His parents are hopeful that he wins, but like his mother said, "theres no pressure."