Youth Compete at State 4-H Shooting Sports Competition

Thirty-nine youth from Grant County participated in the South Dakota State 4-H Shooting Sports competition April 28-30, in Fort Pierre. “Over 2,000 youth across the state posted qualifying scores to attend the state shoot,” stated Grant County 4-H Youth Program Advisor Sara Koepke. “Seven different ranges operate in the Expo building space. There are also four ranges off-site to accommodate 22 rifle and pistol events and 3-D archery.”

Mariah Madsen led the locals with a second place finish in the junior division for the air pistol slow event. She posted a score of 168.

Results for Milbank area participants:
Air Pistol Slow – Gregory Grabow, beginner, red; Elijah Madsen, beginner, red; Hailey Madsen, senior, blue; Logan Meyer, senior, white; Noah Mursu, senior, white; Shaylee Pekelder, junior, blue; William Pekelder, beginner, blue; Tanner Schwagel, senior, white; Casside Seezs, junior, red; and Noah Steinlicht, senior, purple.
Air Rifle – Hailey Madsen, senior, red; Mariah Madsen, junior, blue; Logan Meyer, senior, white; Cassidy Schwagel, junior, white; Tanner Schwagel, senior, red; and Casside Seezs, junior, red.
BB Gun – Drew Biel, beginner, blue; Jacob Erickson, beginner, white; Gregory Grabow, beginner, red; Addison Heinje, beginner, blue; Mya Heinje, beginner, blue; Carson Jurgens, beginner, blue; Elijah Madsen, beginner, blue; Mariah Madsen, junior, blue; Owen Neely, junior, white; Bergen Nolting, beginner, white; Shaylee Pekelder, junior, blue; William Pekelder, beginner, blue; Jordan Reimche, junior, red; Cassidy Schwagel, junior, red; Tanner Schwagel, senior, blue; Casside Seezs, junior, blue; Cody Wiik, beginner, red; and Connor Wiik, beginner, blue.
CWS – Ethan Adolph, beginner, white; Mack Koplin, beginner, blue; and Madi Loeschke, junior, red.
CWS-R – Gabe Beckman, junior, white; Dylan Bohn, junior, blue; Hope Karels, beginner, blue; William Karels, junior, purple; Danielle Kasuske, senior, purple; Kathryn Mogen, senior, blue; Kylee Mogen, senior, red; Alaina Rausch, senior, blue; Cailey Sime, junior, red; and Darby Waniorek, senior, blue.
Compound Open – William Karels, junior, purple; Danielle Kasuske, senior, red; Kathryn Mogen, senior, blue;and Kylee Mogen, senior, white.
The Shooting Sports group begins in January and runs through the state shoot competition. Over 60 youth participated in the program this year. Certified volunteers who instruct the program include: Jason Karels, archery; David Cizadlo, archery; Bill Wheeler, archery; Mike McKernan, archery; John Schwagel, trigger point; Chris Mursu, trigger point; and Twila Mursu, trigger point.

Photo courtesy of VPD Studio.