Local teens representing NW Ohio in 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (WTVG) – Teens in our area are getting ready to shoot their shot at winning a national title in the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships.

According to team leaders, 35 kids will represent Ohio at nationals, including six from Northwest Ohio. There are nine different disciplines including archery, rifle, pistol, shotgun, muzzleloading and hunting skills.

“My brother Tyler, he first enrolled in 4-H and we didn’t know that there was like any shooting sports in 4H at first,” said Cassidy James, who is in 4-H.

James decided to join shooting sports, practicing archery and pistol, the second of which she’ll be competing with during nationals.

Emmy Lora is another member of the team. She’s competing in shotgun, her favorite of the nine disciplines to compete in. Lora said nationals is not only about the competition, but the shooting sports community.

“I’m mostly excited about the memories we’ll make there together as a team,” said Lora.

Shooting sports team coordinators Tom and Kim Baker said the team’s target is to do more than shoot straight.

“They’re learning responsibility, they’re learning gun safety, they’re learning leadership,” said Kim Baker said. “All of the things that come with being with the mentors in 4H. So much fun that they don’t even realize they’re learning all of that stuff.”

The team told 13 Action News they learn about gun safety, mechanics, tactics, time management and discipline as well. Luke Schnee, who is competing in air rifle, said safety is the most important thing.

“I think that’s really what 4H is about, is the safety and if you want to, you can move more into the competitive stuff and the shooting,” said Schnee. “But it’s mostly about safety and the youth development.”

No matter what the outcome, when the team heads to nationals on Saturday, head coach for the national pistol team, Steve Arnold, said he hopes the team is proud of themselves. He said they should define their success by how they feel.

“I could not be prouder if they were my own kids,” said Arnold. “They’ve worked hard, they take direction well, they make me very proud.”

The team will head to Nebraska on June 22, and the competitive events start on June 25.

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