The MT State 4-H Air Rifle Team had a fantastic week at 4-H Nationals in Grand Island, NE. We set out with a few goals in mind and, in my opinion, far exceeded them. The team, comprised of Lyndy Powers (Gallatin Valley Sharpshooters), Margo Spaulding (Kalispell 4-H Shooting Sports), Howie Edison (Mineral County 4H Shooting Sports), and Bailey Milender (Mineral County 4H Shooting Sports), represented Montana, themselves, their families and 4-H Programs with integrity and character. They kept their composure during some more tense moments and conducted themselves with great respect for the host facilities.
I would like to say that the air rifle team, where only two were on the same team, came together like a team who had competed together for years. Having to put aside differences of training and programs to act and perform like a team. They truly were a fun group of kids to be around and interact with.
The tournament was comprised of 24 teams from across the US who competed in 9 different disciplines. The following disciplines were represented:
- Small Bore Pistol
- Small Bore Rifle
- Hunting Skills
- Muzzleloading
- Air Pistol
- Air Rifle
- Shotgun
- Compound Archery
- Recurve Archery
Day 1 was mainly to get all their equipment checked in, meeting all the requirements set forth by the rules. This proved to be an ordeal when Margo’s air rifle would not pass the weight test for trigger pull, which must be no less than 1.5 lbs. After several hours Shad Powers did some magic adjustments and got the trigger to pass inspection.
Day 2 consisted of practice for the next days 3P event, team pictures, and opening ceremonies. Imagine over 600 contestants with their families and friends gathering in one spot to get introduced. It was quite the event.
Day 3 began with shooting the 3P event, practicing for the next days Standing event, and a Teen Social, where all the shooters gathered to dance, mingle, and get to know one another. The Montana team came in first place for 3P with Lyndy, Howie, and Bailey placing in the top 10.
Day 4 again started with shooting – where the kids shot the Standing event. Followed up with practice for the Silhouette competition for the next day. Then the awards ceremony for the previous days 3P event. The team placed first again for the standing competition with Lyndy placing 4th and Howie coming in at 8th place.
Day 5 began with the Silhouette event. Again, this is the event that we weren’t as confident with, being that most of the team had only practiced this twice prior to the actual event. We still ended up in 4th place as a team. As this was the final day of competition all the shooters from all the disciplines were invited to the Oasis Water Park after the awards ceremony was completed.
Day 6 started and ended with the silhouette awards and the final overall awards where Montana placed 3rd. The algorithm for figuring out who placed where kept Shad and I up for several hours trying to figure out where we ended up at – which we both ended up figuring correctly. As somewhat of a surprise Bailey ended up in 10th overall and Howie was in 8th overall.
One of the lowest and highest points in the competition happened during the silhouette competition. The first two events had MT placing first and Kansas in a close second. During the silhouette match you had to find someone from another team to score for you. We ended up scoring for Kansas and vice versa – it just ended up working out that way but it felt like that’s the way it was meant to happen. Right at the start of the event one of our rifles got off kilter and shooter and spotter were having a difficult time. Both kept calm and were working hard to get back on track making large adjustments to the scope. After the first of four rounds, one of the Kansas shooters, who was scoring for us, took it upon himself to reach out to the chief range officer to see if it would be acceptable for him to loan his rifle to the shooter to use. He had just finished his relay prior to that where Shad and I had scored for them. Now – think about that. Here’s a team that we were neck and neck with in the other events who was going to give his rifle to an opposing competitor to use who could possibly take their position away from them. You would never see that happen in any other competitive sport, at least that I’ve competed in.
I found the Kansas coach after the final awards and thanked him profusely for having such a great team and giving us great competition. I also talked to their shooter who was going to loan his rifle and told him what a great thing he had done considering all the circumstances. Kansas ended up placing first overall.
I was asked to be the “coach” for this team – for that I was honored. In reality, I was a figurehead who was really only there to give words of encouragement on the line. Lyndy and Margo had their own coaches who had more to do with their success than I did in the few days that I was considered their coach. With that I would like to give my thanks to their respective coaches and families on what fine people and competitors they are.
I would like to give Lee Nelson, of Gallatin Valley Sharpshooters, a huge thanks for educating all of us on the finer points of shooting silhouettes and allowing us access to their range to practice together. I think we were all a little in the dark on how this event worked. Lee gave pointers to both spotters and shooters on the best way to communicate and how the event was run.
The other person who was instrumental in helping this team perform as well as they did was Shad Powers. Margo would not have even had her rifle to shoot had not Shad stepped in and spent several hours adjusting her trigger. Shad was excellent with all the shooters, encouraging and praising all to do their best while keeping everything in perspective. I offered to cut my coaches badge in half “CO-ACH”, but he declined to accept.
I would also like to thank the competitors and their families for making this trip what it was. You all came together to act as a single team representing all of Montana and 4-H. I would give a big thanks to each of the respective 4-H programs across the state as well.
