Shooters Finish Strong

Team competition in Humbolt County proved favorable for the Marshall County Sharpshooters. The tournament held Saturday at Tri-Valley High School was the last of the regular season competitions. Twenty-three kids made the trek south to shoot in a contest of 180 total shooters.

Writing the final chapter in their winning season, the Marshall County 8-9-yearolds (the Raptors) took home gold medals again. Scoring 2091 with 26 center shots were Faustina Rapkoch, Harry Cutler, Ariana Crawford, Rhyker Bender, and Lukas Knudson, taking first place honors just two points ahead of the Humbolt “Hammy” team. Additional 8-9-year-olds competing were Elise Biel, Rylee Carlson, Charlie Cutler, and Delilah Maxwell.

The Humbolt tournament saw a repeat from the Lake County tournament in the 89-year-old division. Rapkoch and Cutler went one and two again to take the top places in aggregate scoring. Rapkoch scored 446 and five centers for the day and also earned a test ribbon for her test score of 90. Individually, Rapkoch placed sixth in prone (94-2), fourth in standing (85), and a first place finish in kneeling for her score of 89 and two centers.

Cutler’s second place aggregate score was 445 and five center shots. He placed fifth in prone with his score of 943, sixth in standing with an 83, fifth in sitting at 92-2, and third in kneeling with an 88.

Crawford placed fifth overall in aggregate scoring with 425 and seven centers. Individually, Crawford won the 8-9-year-old standing with a score of 86 and one center and she placed sixth in sitting with a score of 921. Additional top 10 placers were Charlie Cutler earning a 10th place finish in prone with a score of 91 and three center shots, Rhyker Bender placed fifth in standing with an 83-1, and Delilah Maxwell placed ninth in kneeling with a score of 84 and four center shots.

In the 10-11-year-old competition the Marshall County “Stegosaurs” took second place with a team score of 2169 and 37 center shots. Rosalyn Rapkoch, Alivia Crawford, Jacey Melroe, Skylar Bender and Jasmine Biel made up the all-girl team that has competed well together for the last two tournaments.

Rapkoch was the lone top 10 finisher for Marshall County in the 1011-year-old aggregate. She placed seventh with a score of 451 and 11 center shots. Individually, Rapkoch placed fifth in kneeling with a score of 94 and three centers. Melroe took home the silver medal in 10-11-yearold prone with her score of 98 and five center shots. Other Sharpshooters competing in this age division were Tony Culter and Rylan Carlson.

The Marshall County 12up team T-Rex medaled twice at the Humbolt tournament. Overall, the team of Chris Cutler, Baylee Bender, Amelia Crawford, Kaylee and Rylan Carlson shot 2329 and 78 centers, earning them bronze medals. They also took home gold as the top test score team. Cutler (100), Bender (98) and Crawford (96) earned test ribbons for their scores. It was the second tournament in a row where Cutler was the only perfect test score out of 180 kids. Additional 12-up shooters were Nick Cutler, Joanna Cutler and Kaylee Biel.

Cutler finished second overall individually with a score of 478 and 19 centers. He placed 10th in kneeling with his score of 95 and five centers. Bender finished fourth overall, scoring 475 and 19 centers. She placed individually in prone (98-6) and kneeling (96-5). Crawford placed 10th in aggregate with her score of 472 and 14 centers. She placed fourth in standing with a 95 and four center shots.

The final event in the Sharpshooter’s calendar is the 4-H State Shoot in Pierre in two weeks.