4-H Shooting Sports
Maryland State 4-H Shotgun Team has Best Finish Yet at Nationals
Maryland sent two 4-H teams to compete at the 4-H National Shooting Sports Invitational that was held in Grand Island, Nebraska on June 22 - 26. One team competed in Compound Archery and one team in Shotgun. Each team consisted of four 4-H'ers each. 336 youth & 800 family members, coaches & 4-H volunteers from 28 states participated in the National 4-H Invitational shoot.
The Maryland compound archery team came home with a respectable 16th place finish. Archery team members included: Trenton Rock, Carroll County; Tyler Dorsey, Carroll County; Wilson Davis, Cecil County and Philip McIntee, Dorchester County. Team Coach was Stan Trice, State Instructor and Dorchester County 4-H Volunteer. Archery events included FITA, Field and 3D.
The shotgun competition was comprised of 100 targets each in Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays. There were 86 shooters entered in this event.
The shotgun team brought home 3rd place in Skeet and 6th place overall! This was the best that a Maryland shotgun team has ever done in this national competition. Team members included: Tanner Nickerson, Kent County; Brandon Mitzel, Kent County; Stephen Welch, Charles County and Daniel Roberts, Carroll County. Team Coaches were Frank Fruh and Ray Pierce, State Instructors and Charles County 4-H Volunteers. This is also the first time that Maryland has ever placed shooters in the "Top 10". Congratulations to all the team members on their awesome performances at the Nationals!!
Two members of the Maryland shotgun team were from the Kent Co.4-H Shotgun Club, the Clay Crushers. Tanner Nickerson and Brandon Mitzel both shot personal best scores in some of the events. Tanner placed 9th in the skeet competition while Brandon placed 8th in the overall category. The Clay Crushers 4-H Shotgun Club is now the largest 4-H club in the Kent County. The members actively practice all 3 shotgun disciplines - trap, skeet and sporting clays. They also do community service projects and plan to have the Maryland Shooting Sports Trailer at the Kent County Fair on Saturday July 19th.
On Friday after all the competition was over, the Maryland delegation toured Hornady Manufacturing where they observed the process of how this company manufactures 1 million rifle bullets a day. The group also had the opportunity to meet and talk with the Mayor of Grand Island, Margaret Hornady. The next stop for the group was the Stuhr Museum of Pioneer Life where all gained an awareness of what it was like to be one of the early settlers of the West. After a short rest and dinner, the group was treated to an evening at the city water park. Our Maryland 4-H delegation included 8 team members, 3 coaches, 11 parents & family members and Conrad Arnold, Extension 4-H Educator, Dorchester County & Maryland State 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator.
This trip would not have been possible without donations from the following : Maryland Legislative Sportsmen Association, Maryland 4-H Foundation, Maryland 4-H Shooting Sports Committee, Greater Waldorf Jaycees, Chesapeake Chapter Safari Club International Sables, Chesapeake Chapter Safari Club International, Dorchester County 4-H, Kent County 4-H, Carroll County 4-H, Cecil County 4-H, Charles County 4-H, Mr. Jack Kemp, Mrs. Margaret Hornady, Maryland Wild Turkey Federation, Vonnie's Sporting Goods, Charlie's Butcher Shop, Cypress Creek Archery, Mr. Charlie Murphy, Mr. Bill Walmsley, Kent County Gun Club and Sudlersville Skeet Club, Lancaster Archery Supply, Shorty's Art & Sign. Maryland 4-H Archery & Shotgun Teams in Nebraska Archery Team
Shotgun Team
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| L-R: Tyler Dorsey, Trent Rock, Phillip McIntee, Wilson Davis | L-R: Daniel Roberts, Brandon Mitzel, Stephen Welch, Tanner Nickerson |
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