DUBOIS – On March 9, 29 youth from Clearfield and Jefferson counties gathered at the DuBois Rifle & Pistol Club to take part in the eighth annual Bi-County 4-H Shooting Sports Day.
The event is 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 practice opportunity for the youth taking part in the Regional 4-H Air Rifle Competition, open to youth in Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter counties.
In the novice division, which was open to 4-H members between the ages of 8 through 10, a total of seven youth participated. Winning the novice division was Brok Kelly of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 96. In second place was Skylar Allshouse of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns with a score of 94.
Erica Fox of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns finished in third place with a score of 93. Rounding out fourth place was Bailey Miller of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns with a score of 84.
Kaden Miller of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns with a score 71 finished in fifth place. The Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club’s Luke Gerg finished in sixth place with a score of 64 and Mitchell Hemminger of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 55 finished in seventh place.
In the junior division, which was open to 4-H members ages 11 and 12, a total of sevem youth participated.
Isaac Wolfe of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns with a score of 210 was the overall winner of the junior division. Second place honors went to Dylan Kelly of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 162.
Cheyenne Gotwald of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns finished in third place with a score of 153. Fourth place went to Caleb Thompson of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club with a score of 147.
Scoring 143 and finishing in fifth place was Zayne Knight of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club. Sixth place with a score of 100 went to Kylee Fink of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns. Rounding out seventh place with a score of 62 was Karter Bell of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club.
In the intermediate division, which is open to youth between the ages of 13 and 15, 12 youth participated. Winning the intermediate division was Carlee Hidinger of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns with a score of 220 and six perfect shots. In second place was Makayla Whaling of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club also with a score of 220 and three perfect shots.
Kyle Gotwald of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns received third place with a score of 207. With a score of 206, Kayleen Schuckers of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns received fourth place.
John Lelless of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns finished in fifth place with a score of 202. Sixth place went to Shaina Allshouse with a score of 196 and seventh place went to Zach Burdge with a 191. Both Allshouse and Burdge are from the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns.
Cassandra Folmar of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club came in eighth place with a score of 191. With a score of 188, Tanner Connor of the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club finished in ninth. The remaining 10-12th places went to Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns shooters Tylyn Fink with a score of 154, Kiersten Burdge with a score of 149, and Jared Weber with a score of 123.
The final age category was the senior division, which is open to youth between the ages of 16 and 18, and it had three participants. Winning the senior division with the highest score of the day was Lance Carrier of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns with a score of 228.
Second place went to Mariah Gareis of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns with a score of 211 and in third place with a score of 207, Macy Emerick of the Jefferson County 4-H Top Guns.
In addition to the individual scores, the youth were placed in teams prior to the start of competition. Teams consisted of three shooters and were broken down by division. Teams with four shooters had their lowest individual score dropped.
In the novice division, the team of Jefferson County received first place with a combined score of 271. Team members were Skylar Allshouse, Erica Fox, Bailey Miller and Kaden Miller, all of Brookville. With a combined score of 215, Clearfield County’s Luke Gerg of DuBois, Mitchell Hemminger of Hollidaysburg and Brok Kelly of Rockton finished in second place.
In the junior division, the Jefferson County team of Kylee Fink, Cheyenne Gotwald and Isaac Wolfe, all of Brookville received first place with a combined score of 463. With a combined score of 452, the Clearfield County Team of Karter Bell of Curwensville, Dylan Kelly of Rockton, Zayne Knight of DuBois and Caleb Thompson of Reynoldsville finished in second place.
In the intermediate division, first place went to the Jefferson County team of Zach Burdge, Carlee Hidinger and Kayleen Schuckers , all of Brookville, with a score of 617. Scoring a combined total of 599 was Clearfield County’s second place team of Tanner Connor, Cassandra Folmar and Makayla Whaling, all of Luthersburg.
In third place was Jefferson County’s team of Shaina Allshouse and Kiersten Burdge, both of Brookville, and John Lelless if Sigel with a score of 547. With a score of 484, Jefferson County’s team of Tylyn Fink and Kyle Gotwald, both of Brookville, and Jared Weber of Punxsutawney finished in fourth place.
In the senior division, the Jefferson County team of Lance Carrier and Macy Emerick, both of Brookville, and Mariah Gareis of Sigel received first place honors with a combined score of 646.
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 additional placewinners 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 prize along with the announcement of the overall team scores.
Volunteer leaders of Clearfield and Jefferson counties are thanked for not only helping to put the program together, but also continuously taking the time to work with the youth on their shooting sports projects throughout the year. These included Scott Folmar, Crystal Folmar, Christopher Connor, Phil Kuntz and Michele Gotwald.
4-H is a non-formal youth development educational program of Penn State Extension for all youth between the ages of 8 and 19, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, genetic information, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity 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 Penn State Extension in Clearfield County at 814-765-7878, Ext. 3 or Susan Alexander at Penn State Extension in Jefferson County at 814-849-7361.
Pictured in front Kneeling from left to right are Luke Gerg, Brok Kelly, Kaden Miller, Bailey Miller, Erica Fox, Skylar Allshouse and Kylee Fink.
In the second row Kneeling from left to right are Dylan Kelly, Kyle Gotwald, Mariah Gareis, Carlee Hidinger, Shaina Allshouse and Cheyenne Gotwald. In the last row standing from left to right are Caleb Thompson, Cassandra Folmar, Mitchell Hemminger, Makayla Whaling, Tanner Connor, Jared Weber, Kayleen Schuckers, Tylyn Fink, Tyler Gotwald, Lance Carrier and Macy Emerick.
Missing from photo is Zayne Knight.
