Two 4-H shooting sports teams compete at national contest

posted on July 10, 2013 2:37pm

CONTACT: Mariah Montenegro, 517-884-7080, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Two 4-H shooting sports teams compete at national contest

EAST LANSING, Mich. ? Eight Michigan 4-H?ers represented the state at the 2013 National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational. Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island, Neb., welcomed 540 participants from 35 states for the June 23-28 competition. Michigan 4-H sent two teams, one in air rifle and the other in archery.

Members of both teams were selected by the state 4-H shooting sports national selection committee. Members were chosen on the basis of applications, age, experience, contributions to their local clubs and recommendations from coaches, teachers and 4-H leaders.?

The competition covered nine disciplines, compound archery, recurve archery, air rifle, air pistol, .22 pistol, shotgun, muzzleloading and hunting skills.

?As a coach, it?s gratifying to see the participants develop and improve from the time I started working with them until they competed,? said archery coach Mike George. ?It was a very humbling, beneficial experience for me, and hopefully I can pass on what I?ve learned to future participants and coaches and that experience will help them prepare as best they can for the competition.?

The archery team finished 23^rd in the overall compound competition. The air rifle team finished ninth in the overall competition in the 3P and silhouette competition, and seventh in the standing shoot.

?These are fine young people demonstrating not only their desire to compete but good sportsmanship, leadership and character,? said air rifle coach Jerry St. James.? ?

All youth, coaches, volunteers and families agreed that the nationals contest was a great experience to be a part of and learn from. For more information on the Michigan 4-H shooting sports program, visit http://4h.msue.msu.edu/

Photo: Standing (L to R): Air rifle coach Jerry St. James; state coordinator Marie St. James, Jesse Thoreson, Alex Otis, Jake Middelstadt, Ethan Crouch, and coach Marvin Hill. Seated: Josh Fletemier, Samantha Jeffery, Alex Nelson, Jerry St. James II and archery coach Mike George.

Source: http://anrcom.msu.edu/anrcom/news/item/two_4_h_shooting_sports_teams_compete_at_national_contest

rob gronkowski Coughing eddie murphy Stephanie Bongiovi stanford football guy fieri Jill Kelley