Shooters do well at nationals

June 23-28, Jeff Clark, Will Clark and Remington Ferree, along with Dillon Romero of Cody, took aim at the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships in Grand Island, Neb. Participants can only compete once in their career in a particular discipline, Kari Ferree said, and the boys competed in shotgun, with her husband Charlie coaching.

They were selected by the state 4-H, Ferree said, and they had to fill out applications including whether they shot at the state shoot and how they did, and essays as to why they would like to go and how they feel the experience would benefit them.

"Our shotgun kids did very well," Kari said. "They shot sporting clays the first day, and as a team they got sixth." Out of 100 points, Remington scored 85 and took ninth place after a shoot off. Jeff scored 75 for 26th place, Will scored 71 for 37th and Romero scored 66 for 58th.

The team placed sixth again during the skeet shooting. Romero scored 95 for eighth place following a four-way shoot off, Remington scored 91 for 17th place, Jeff scored 88 for 33rd and Will scored 85 for 54th.

Kari noted in trap shooting they didn't place in the top 20 or as a team, but scores were: Romero - 93; Remington - 90; Jeff - 89; and Will - 76.

Overall, Kari noted, the team placed sixth out of 30 teams. There were 117 total shotgun shooters and over 600 kids competing in all disciplines. Kari noted this is the first time in several years that Wyoming has sent a team to nationals.

The boys said they liked being able to shoot with everyone, and outside the shooting they attended social events and partook of everything there was. The division of the sporting clays competition provided them the opportunity to shoot and visit with people from all over the country.

Kari expressed appreciation to the organizations that helped provide funding for the boys to go and supplies to build the shooting program, as well as facilities for them to practice, as it provided them with the skill level to compete at nationals.