Shotgun Team - left to right – Coach William Peterson, Brice Switzer, Brandon Goldhammer, Ethan Mathias, Darrin Hawkins. 

Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports sends first delegation to National Championship

[July 10, 2015]  LINCOLN - As one of the last states to join the National 4-H Shooting Sports program, Illinois wasn’t bashful about its first national competition presence. Nine Illinois 4-H members accepted the challenge to compete with 625 other youth in Grand Island, Neb. June 21-26.

“This was one of the highest levels of competition these kids will ever face,” said Dan Dawson, University of Illinois Extension State Shooting Sports Educator. “They exceeded our expectations, and that’s due to the exceptional training they received from our Illinois coaches.”

The members of the Illinois team were selected during state competition in October, 2014. Since then, Bill Mohn (archery) of Sangamon County, William Peterson (shotgun) of Rock Island County, and Cheryl Price (air rifle) of Ogle County have worked to raise the skill of these 4-H members.

The highest Illinois finisher in the shotgun division was Darren Hawkins (Grundy County) in 56th place. Hawkins won the State 4-H Shoot in Illinois which shows just how competitive the national contest is, Dawson said. Other members of the shotgun team included Brice Switzer (Edgar County), Brandon Goldhammer (Logan County) and Ethan Mathias (Rock Island County). The team finished in 24th place. Darren Hawkins placed 6th highest individual in the trap shooting event after completing several shoot offs. Illinois’ shotgun team took 4th place in the trap event out of 32 competing states.

The national contest ran from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. In all, 32 state 4-H programs were represented. Nine different shooting divisions were offered: compound archery, recurve archery, air rifle, smallbore rifle, air pistol, smallbore pistol, muzzleloading, and hunting/wildlife. Each state could send up to four competitors in each division for a 36-member team. Illinois does not currently offer the pistol or muzzleloading shooting sports disciplines, but will be looking to add them in the near future.

“4-H uses shooting sports to teach youth development,” Dawson said. “Our programs are valuable for helping young people develop self-confidence, personal discipline, responsibility, teamwork, self-esteem and sportsmanship. The 4-H members are coached/taught by a caring adult who has completed a three day certification course taught by accredited State 4-H Shooting Sports instructors.

“The discipline and self-control required for responsible firearms use carries over into many other aspects of life,” Dawson said. Illinois began offering the shooting sports program as part of 4-H in 2009.

Additional information for the Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports Program can be found by visiting the State website at: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/ shootingsports/  or emailing Dan Dawson at [e-mail]. 

All final standings can be found at: http://4h.unl.edu/4hshootingsportsnational championships  scroll to results.

[Amy Hyde, Logan County Extension]