The Marshall County Air Rifle Team earned a ninth place finish at the National Air Rifle Championship in Camp Perry, OH, two weeks ago. Team members from left to right are Amelia Crawford, Clay Crawford, Baylee Bender, Austin Crawford, Grant Cutler, and Lexi Cutler.
SHOOTERS ON NATIONAL STAGE
By Anissa Crawford
Contributing Writer
Marshall County air rifle shooters were on the national stage on a couple of fronts in recent weeks.
The local team competed in the National Air Rifle Championship in Camp Perry, OH, two weeks ago, bringing home a ninth place finish. Two of the team members were also part of the South Dakota team that competed in the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championship in Grand Island, NE, and that squad placed second.
On June 18, a small caravan left for Camp Perry, OH, with six shooters and their air rifles. The Marshall County Air Rifle Team was “locked and loaded” for another tournament where 37 teams and 198 competitors stepped up ready to “pull the trigger.” Another two-day, three-position competition lay ahead. The MC team was made up of Lexi Cutler, Amelia Crawford, Austin Crawford, Clay Crawford, and alternates Baylee Bender, and Grant Cutler.
On Day 1 the local team finished 10th. Lexi had a score of 528, Amelia 525, Austin 533, Clay 547, Baylee 505, and Grant 521. On Day 2, Lexi shot a 522, Amelia 542, Austin 534, Clay 549, Baylee 467, and Grant 510. Their two-day total scores were Lexi 1050, Amelia 1067, Austin 1067, Clay 1096, Baylee 972, and Grant 1031.
Austin and Clay Crawford were members of the South Dakota 4-H team that competed in Grand Island, NE, and both were among the top individual placers. Clay took fourth place and Austin finished 10th. Teammate Zoe Dissing of Humboldt was fifth. Other team members included Coach Levi Ziverberg from Pierre, and Skylar Plucker of Humboldt. Forty states were represented at the tournament with 93 competitors in the Air Rifle discipline.
Day 1 was the traditional three-position shoot, where South Dakota took first place. Clay finished second with a 544, Austin was fifth at 540, and Zoe ninth with a 531. Skylar shot a 509.
Day 2 was a grueling 40 shots in the standing position for a possible 400 points. Clay placed fourth with a score of 345, Zoe was fifth at 344, and Skylar 14th at 329. Austin finished with a 324.
On day 3, the team shot silhouettes (metal animals sitting on shelves). There are 40 to shoot, but they sure are tough. Skylar shot 22, Clay 23, Austin 25, and Zoe 25, and the team took third place with a total of 73.