By CADE RENSINK
K-State Research and Extension
On October 12 and 13, the Central Kansas Extension District (CKD) 4-H Shooting Sports Team went to Sedgwick for the Kansas 4-H State Shotgun Match. To participate at the state level, youth must have shot an eligible score at one of several regional qualifiers earlier in the year.
In total, there were 205 4-H’ers from 27 different Extension units. Those making the trip from CKD were Bailey Mader from Bennington, Coy Malmberg, Callan Rensink, Colyer Rensink, Layton Christensen, Mayson Nagel, A.J. Noon, and Charlie Klein of Minneapolis, J.J. Riedel of Salina, and Gauge and Lane Fritz from Gypsum.
All CKD members showcased their skills in Trap Shooting. Klein, Malmberg and the two Fritzes also qualified in Skeet with Christensen joining them in Open Sporting Clays. Colyer, Layton, J.J., and Gauge shot in the Junior Division (62 youth) and all others entered in the Senior Division (143 youth).
After a long two days of competition, CKD had a good showing in all three disciplines. In the Junior Division, Gauge Fritz was 15th in Skeet, 20th in Sporting Clays and placed 16th Overall with a combined score of 219/300. For the Seniors, Lane Fritz took 2nd in Trap with a score of 98, 9th in Skeet, 2nd in Sporting Clays with an 89, and was 3rd High Overall with an aggregate score of 276/300. Callan Rensink and Coy Malmberg tied for 20th in Trap with a score of 94.
Now that the fall season is complete, CKD 4-H members will spend the winter practicing BB gun and air rifle in hopes of qualifying for state in April. Moreover, they will be looking to three-peat as a Kansas team at the 2025 Daisy National BB Gun Championship Match in Rogers, Arkansas next summer.