DUBOIS – On March 6, thirty-six youth from the counties of Clearfield, Jefferson, & McKean gathered at the DuBois Rifle & Pistol Club to take part in the 6th Annual 4-H Shooting Sports Day. The event was an air rifle competition open to youth between the ages of 8 and 18 years of age, as of Jan. 1, who are currently enrolled in the 4-H program. All participants must currently be taking a 4-H shooting sports project and completing the appropriate project requirements. This event served as a great practice opportunity for the youth traveling to Kersey on April 2 to take part in the Regional 4-H Air Rifle Competition.
In the novice division, which was open to 4-H members ages 8 through 10, a total of 13 youth participated. Winning the novice division was Tanner Connor of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 155. Second place went to Kyle Gotwald of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 139. In third place was Victoria Barber of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 128. In fourth place was Orion Alexis of the McKean County Mountain Top Marksmen 4-H Club with a score of 114. Fifth place went to Carl Medsger of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 97. Rounding out sixth place was Zayne Knight of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 96. Participants included Isaac Wolfe of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 94, Cheyenne Gotwald of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 91, Dylan Kelly of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 82, Maleah Davie of Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 61, Caleb Thompson of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 54, and Levi Thompson of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 52.
In the junior division, which was open to 4-H members ages 11 and 12, a total of 8 youth participated. Winning the junior division was Carlee Hidinger of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 155. Second place went to Shaina Allshouse of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 116. Third place honors went to Kevin Long of the McKean County Mountain Top Marksmen 4-H Club with a score of 103. In fourth place was Garrett Davie of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 83. Fifth place went to Alix Hezlep of the McKean County Mountain Top Marksmen 4-H Club with a score of 62. Rounding out sixth place was Taylor Medsger of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 58. Participants included Alexandra Flynn of the McKean County Mountain Top Marksmen 4-H Club with a score of 56 and Ruby Gareis of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 24.
In the intermediate division, which is open to youth between the ages of 13 and 15, 11 youth participated. Winning the intermediate division was Hunter Connor of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 212. In second place with a score of 202 was Mariah Gareis of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club. In third place was Jacob Lister of the McKean County Mountain Top Marksmen 4-H Club with a score of 197. Fourth place honors went to Lance Carrier of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 195. In fifth place with a score of 190 was Kayla Oakes of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club. Rounding out sixth place was Macy Emerick of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 184. Participants included Tyler Gotwald of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 151, Samantha Hezlep of the McKean County Mountain Top Marksmen 4-H Club with a score of 141, Billy McDowell of the McKean County Mountain Top Marksmen 4-H Club with a score of 132, Autumn Reynolds of the McKean County Mountain Top Marksmen 4-H Club with a score of 126, and Zachary Wright of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 95.
Our final age category was the senior division, which is open to youth between the ages of 16 and 18, had 4 participants. Winning the senior division was Chelsea Folmar of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 240. Second place with a score of 199 was Brandon Oakes of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club. In third place was Eric Tosh of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 185. Fourth place honors went to Kelsey Chamberlin of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns Riflery Club with a score of 111.
In addition to the individual scores, the youth were placed in teams prior to the start of competition. Teams with over 4 people had the lowest individual score dropped for a combines total and in some categories, where a mix of 2 to 4 participants were on a team, the scores were averaged.
In the novice division, the Jefferson County team of Victoria Barber, Kyle Gotwald, Carl Medsger, and Levi Thompson finish in first place with an average score of 121.33. The Clearfield County team of Tanner Connor, Dylan Kelly, and Zayne Knight came in second place with an average score of 111. The McKean County team of Orion Alexis and Ronald Reynolds finish in third place with an average score of 99 and in fourth place was the Jefferson County team of Maleah Davie, Cheyenne Gotwald, Caleb Thompson, and Isaac Wolfe with an average score of 82.
In the junior division, the Jefferson County team of Garrett Davie, Ruby Gareis, and Carlee Hidinger finished in first place with an average score of 87.2. The Jefferson County team of Shaina Allshouse and Taylor Medsger finish in second place with an average score of 87. The McKean County team of Alexandra Flynn, Alix Hezlep, and Kevin Long finished in third place with an average score of 73.666.
In the intermediate division, first place went to the Jefferson County team of Lance Carrier, Macy Emerick, and Tyler Gotwald with a combined score of 530. Receiving second place was the Jefferson County team of Mariah Gareis, Kayla Oakes, and Zachary Wright with a combined score of 487. In third place was the McKean County team of Samantha Hezlep, Jacob Lister, Billy McDowell, and Autumn Reynolds with a combined score of 470.
In the senior division, the Jefferson County team of Kelsey Chamberlin, Brandon Oakes, and Eric Tosh took home first place with a combined score of 495.
For the individual competitions, first place winners received a gold medal, second place winners received a silver medal, and third place winners received a bronze medal. Ribbons were awarded through sixth place in each category, as well as participation ribbons for all placings after sixth. All 4-H members and their families shared in a meal at the conclusion of the contest. In addition to a ribbon, all team participants received a gift card along with the announcement of the overall team scores.
A special thank-you goes out to all the volunteer leaders of Clearfield, Jefferson, & McKean counties that not only helped put this program together, but continuously take the time to work with the youth on their shooting sports projects throughout the year: Scott Folmar, Crystal Folmar, Christopher Connor, Jeff Jamison, Phil Kuntz, & Michele Gotwald, Shane Lister, and Heather Ritts.
“This was by far our largest contest to date and all of the youth participants had a great time! Opportunities to bring youth together from different counties and allow them to meet new people are always valued.” Jana Davidson, 4-H Youth Development Educator
4-H is a non-formal youth development educational program of Penn State Cooperative Extension for all youth between the ages of 8 and 19, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, or veteran status. For additional information on the 4-H program or to locate a 4-H club in your area, contact Jana Lynne Davidson at the Clearfield County Cooperative Extension Office at 814-765-7878 Ext. 3, Susan Alexander at the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Office at 814-849-7361, or the McKean County Cooperative Extension Office at 814-887-5613.
