4-H Modified Trap Qualification

4-H Shotgun – OC’s 4-H shotgunners went to Blairsville for the 4-H modified trap qualifications today and came home with all the first place medals. From here on out it gets complicated. 

        Competition was between the 4-H teams from Union (our hosts), Pickens, Rabun and Barrow counties.  There were three shooting stations set up similar to the state tournament annually held in Eatonton.  The juniors (middle school kids) had to shoot 16 of 25 to qualify for state and the seniors (high school kids) 20 of 25. 



OC's first place junior division.



        For whatever reason no one on any team shot 25 of 25.  Nevertheless, both Cade Massey and Logan Grimes shot 22 of 25 which put them tied for the lead in the junior division.  In the meantime Union County had two junior kids shoot 21 of 25.  Both pair had to go to the doubles machine to decide the 1, 2, 3, and 4^th position for individual purposes.  Moreover, both Union County and Oglethorpe were tied for the team totals in the junior division.  So it was decided that whoever won between the Oglethorpe pair would shoot doubles against the winner of the Union County pair. 

        Massey, for the OC junior division shot first and hit 5 of ten under pretty difficult conditions.  Grimes, who was in the zone, shot 9 of 10 to win the first place individual medal and Massey took home second place.  When it came time for OC to shoot against Union for the junior team first place medal, Grimes once again shot 9 of 10 to Union’s 7 of 10.  This cinched OC’s first place team finish in the junior division.

OC's first place senior division.

        The senior division was no less exciting.  Oglethorpe’s Chance Fowler shot 24 of 25 making him OC’s best senior shooter of the day.  Fowler’s 24 put him in a tie with Union, Pickens and Rabun’s top shooters for the day and this had to be decided at the doubles machine. 

        Much like the junior division the doubles match would decide the first through fourth places for individual medals.  However, unlike the junior division OC with a score of 113 was the clear number one finisher on the day. 

        Fowler was chosen to go first and shot 9 of 10 missing only the 7^th bird.  The Rabun shooter was up and matched Fowler’s score at 9 of 10.  The Union County shooter shot only 5 for 10 which gave Pickens’ shooter third place with his 7 of 10.

        For the second round of doubles the Rabun shooter went first and scored 7 of 10.  When Fowler’s turn came he improved his score with a decisive 10 for 10 to take the individual title in the senior division. 

        This finish gave OC both the junior and senior division team titles as well as a first place individual title in the senior division and first and second place individual titles in the junior division.  With Haley Thorne winning the senior division and Colton Evans winning the junior division at the qualifying match in Elberton last week, OC has come home with all the first place medals available before the state meet. 

        With over 700 kids competing at the state meet OC can’t rest, but if the qualifying meets are any indication OC will be one of the top teams again this year.