Burlington--The 2023 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships, held June 25-30 in Grand Island, Nebraska, attracted more than 700 competitors from 42 states. Vermont sent two teams, one to compete in smallbore rifle, the other in shotgun.

The annual championships provide an opportunity for 4-H teens from throughout the country to showcase their skills and sportsmanship in a number of shooting sports disciplines. In Vermont, eligibility was based on an interview, past performance at Vermont 4-H Shooting Sports Jamborees and recommendations from 4-H club leaders and shooting sports volunteers.

Members of Vermont’s smallbore rifle team were Abigail and Andrew McReynolds, both from Danville; Julian Mercy, Barre; and Isaac Osinchuk, Springfield. Abigail, Andrew and Julian are all members of the Green Mountain Shooting Sports 4-H Club in Lyndonville. Isaac belongs to the Green Mountain 4-H Club in Springfield.

The team captured eighteenth place. For individual overall scores, Isaac came in fortieth, Andrew, forty-fifth; Julian, seventieth and Abigail, eighty-eighth, out of 94 competitors.

Colby Butler, Dorset; Robert Harris, Poultney; and Gabriel St. Martin, Wells, comprised the shotgun team. All are members of the Oxbow Mountain Shooting Sports 4-H Club in Pawlet.

The team placed twenty-third overall. Individual placements were Colby, forty-first; Robert, eighty-sixth; and Gabriel, one hundred and third place. A total of 131 competitors took part in this discipline.

Accompanying the teams were coaches Shawn Tetreault, Groton (rifle team) and Christopher Pritchard, Wells, and Patrick Wilson, West Rupert (shotgun team). Kandy Petty, St. Johnsbury, traveled with the teams as the Vermont coordinator. Josh Smith, Concord, a 4-H archery Level 1 instructor, also attended to assist with the national competition as part of its archery crew.

In addition to three intense days of competitions, the Vermont delegation took part in the parade of participants on opening day and attended a teen social and dance, hosted by the National 4-H Teen Ambassadors.

Their trip was made possible thanks to donations from many community supporters from throughout the state. To learn more about the 4-H shooting sports program in Vermont, contact Holly Ferris, UVM Extension 4-H shooting sports coordinator, at holly.ferris@uvm.edu.