The official magazine of the National Skeet Shooting Association and the National Sporting Clays Association
Joint Base Rod and Gun Club at Ft. Dix, New Jersey, hosted the Jersey Devil, its first two-gun event of the year, on April 10. In spite of concerns about the possibility of rain, we were blessed with near-perfect weather.
The first event was the 12-gauge, and New York shooter Robert Nowak shot his first 100 straight. Michael Estepp (MA) also broke a perfect score, setting up a short but spirited shoot-off in which Robert Nowak won the 12-gauge championship. Ben Galioto won A class with a 95. Kenny Brown and Dick Lukasik, both with 97s, settled B class on the shoot-off field. After three stations, Dick Lukasik won his class. Joe Madlinger put together four remarkable rounds to shoot a personal best score of 98. Ralph Novotny iced D class with a 91, and Andrew Harmon, who had a stellar day, broke 93 to take E class.
In the 20-gauge event, Ben Galioto was able to bear down and shoot a solid 99 to win the championship outright. Michael Estepp won AA with a 97. Kenny Brown’s 96 secured A class. Spencer Ball shot a very strong 98 to win B class, and Zeke Walker’s 91 kept nine competitors at bay to win C class. Rounding out the field was Andrew Harmon, who won D class with a 96.
The HOA Champion was Michael Estepp with a 197×200.
Twenty-seven shooters came from Massachusetts, New York, Delaware and New Jersey. Thanks to all who came to participate, along with those who set and tuned the targets or supported the shoot in any way. A big thank you to our referees Sophia Galioto, Hank Bauer and David Collins for doing an outstanding job on the button.
– Contributed by Ben Galioto
Pine Belt Sportsman’s Club hosted the 2020 New Jersey State Championship. Much to the surprise of NJSSA officers and for the first time in New Jersey skeet shooting history, battery-powered remote controls were used in lieu of the traditional hardwired cords for our tournament.
The tournament started with the Doubles event, and Ben Galioto’s 97 earned him his third career Doubles Championship. Class winners were Joe Hall (A1), Tony Viel (B1), Robert Vrablik (C1) and James Luts (D1).
The weather on Saturday morning was literally perfect for the 12-gauge event, and Leo Nebbia shot a terrific 99 to win the gun championship. After a 20-year lay-off, Brian Ziegler came back and won A1 with a 97. Winning the classes were Dick Lukasik (B1), Robert Madosky (C1) and Greg Khalaf (D1).
On Saturday afternoon, the weather remained perfect for the 28-gauge, and Dick Lukasik hammered 99 targets to win his first state championship. The entire New Jersey skeet fraternity couldn’t be happier. Class winners were Ben Galioto (AA1), Leo Nebbia (A1), Robert Vrablik (B1), Tony Veil (C1) and Joe Madlinger (D1).
The weather was very hot for Sunday morning’s 20-gauge event, but this had no effect on Robert Vrablik and Dick Lucasik, who both broke 98s and made their way to the shoot-off field. After two stations, Robert Vrablik was crowned 20-gauge champion. Class winners were Brian Ziegler (AA1), Leo Nebbia (A1), Greg Khalaf (C1) and Joe Madlinger (D1).
The final gun was the .410, and we literally had a windstorm come through Pine Belt for the little gun. Leo Nebbia, Ben Galioto and Jim Seiler (who also returned after a 20-year lay-off) all shot 92s and made their way to the shoot-off field. After three stations, Leo Nebbia won the .410 championship. Class winners were Ben Galioto (A1), Michael Costello (B1), Greg Khalaf (C1) and Joe Madlinger (D1).
The HOA title went to Leo Nebbia with a 386. Leo won three state titles for the weekend, taking home a beautiful silver belt buckle. Dick Lukasik was one target off the pace, earning him HOA runner-up. Class winners were Ben Galioto (A1), Robert Vrablik (B1), Clifford Schaffer (C1) and Joe Madlinger (D1).
Our referees, Mark Bricker, Sophia Galioto and Eric Bachmann, did a terrific job. Thank to our skeet administrator Kevin Dawkins for running our shoot. Finally, a special thank you to our biggest sponsor Robert Madosky, who has provided us with some very nice shooting shirts for two decades.
– Contributed by Ben Galioto
The 2020 Earle Darby shoot at Cherokee Gun Club (Gainesville, Georgia) was filled with fun shooting. This tournament has a long history honoring Earle Darby, who was honored last year at the World Skeet Championships for his refereeing history. He is one of the cornerstones of our small club.
The 12-gauge event had a lone 100 shot by Pat Savage. This was Pat’s first 100 since 2003 in any gun – much too long a dry spell. Class winners were Jay Tompkins (AA), Sydney Pittman (A), Dani Zeigler (B), Walton Starling (C), Myrl Miller (D) and Caleb Harmon (E). The 20-gauge was won by Blake Argo after a shoot-off of the 99s with Sydney Pitman (AA), Davis Zeigler (A), Deanna Culpepper (B), Jack Mills (C) and Luke Goddard (D).
In the 28, Blake Argo (97) was champion once more after another shoot-off with Sydney Pittman 97 (A), and Dani Zeigler (B), Dennis Lesher (C) and Myrl Miller (D).
The scheduling for the tournament has some issues, as shooting on Sunday before 12:30 is not allowed. The afternoon’s .410 event was hampered by weather, as the sky was overcast and darkness made seeing targets touchy. It was apparently easier for young eyes to see the targets, as Sub-Junior Dani Zeigler shot the lone 97 to take gun champion. Class winners were Davis Zeigler, Dani’s older brother (AA), Stacy Young (A), Mark David (B), Jack Mills (C) and Michael Savage (D).
The HOA was won by Sub-Junior Dani Zeigler with a fine 389 that bested the field. She has shown that she is a deserving champion. She is following up her 2019 Sub-Junior Lady World HOA championship, the 2020 Sub-Junior Lady World HOA and the .410 Sub-Junior World Championship. Davis Zeigler (AA), Sydney Pittman (A), Deanna Culpepper (B), Jack Mills (C), Myrl Miller (D) and Michael Savage (E) filled out the classes.
Congratulations to all winners and many thanks to all who attended, making this one of the best Earle Darby tournaments in many years. Thanks go to referees Bill Moseley, Henry Burks, and Mike, Davis and Mindy Zeigler. Many thanks to our sponsors Todd Bender, Pat and Mike Savage, Academy Sports and MEC Outdoors. Without all their support, we could not have this shoot.
– Submitted by Pat Savage
PSSA held the 84th annual Pennsylvania State Open Skeet Championships at the beautiful Shenecoy Sportsmen 16-field facility in McConnellstown, Pennsylvania, on August 21-23. The weather was warm and humid with a bit of rain on Sunday afternoon. With 30 out-of-state shooters (from AZ, CA, DE, IN, MD, OH, VA and WV), 183 participants shot at least one gun Thank you so much for coming, folks! The shoot difficulty factor was 19.
Open HOA winners were Joe Vescovi, champion (398) from Pennsylvania; Sam Armstrong, runner-up (396) from Maryland; and Alessandro Vitale, third (396), Maryland. Pennsylvania HOA winners were Vescovi, champion; Chris Kline, runner-up; and Frank Smithmyer, third. Open HAA Champion and runner-up, respectively, were Vitale (495) and Armstrong (493); Vescovi (492) was third. Pennsylvania HAA honors went to Vescovi, champion; Kline, runner-up; and Nick Boerboon, third.
The 28-gauge Prelim started the festivities on Friday morning with 51 shooters participating. Steve Hildebrand was outright champion after he shot the lone 100 straight. This was Steve’s first 100 straight in the 28-gauge, and he said he was glad to finally get it done. Kenny Riddile and Tim Botwright, respectively, were runner-up and third. Clay Gormish, Alyssa Gormish, Allison Shaffer, Mark Eckert and Colby Eckert, respectively, took AA1 through D1.
There were 99 doubles shooters on Friday afternoon, and two 99s were the high scores. Boerboon emerged as open champion by winning a shoot-off of those 99s with Vitale, runner-up. Alyssa Gormish was open third. Alyssa and Josh Crofutt, respectively, were Pennsylvania runner-up and third. Pennsylvania class firsts went to Kline, Fran Kosmacki, Mike Rykacewski Jr., Mark Eckert, Brady Leyo and Jerry McCullough (AAA-D).
In the main event, there were seven 100 straights in the 12-gauge, seven in the 20, four in the 28 and three in the .410.
Pennsylvania champions, runners-up and thirds, respectively, were: Smithmyer, Kosmacki and Vescovi in the 12 (181 shooters, with Smithmyer Open Champion); Kline, Boerboon and Alyssa Gormish in the 20 (168 shooters, with Fred Schantz from Ohio, Open third); Smithmyer, Rykacewski Jr. and Vescovi in the 28 (165 shooters, with Smithmyer Open Champion); and Vescovi, Kline and Crofutt in the .410 (165 shooters, with Vitale, Armstrong and Vescovi, respectively, Open Champion, runner-up and third).
Class in-state first places were won by Kline, Adam Vollmer, Hildebrand, Gil Rodler Jr., Jack Harshbarger, Vance McLaughlin and Eric Sprenkle (12-gauge AAA-E); Clay Gormish, Crofutt, Hildebrand, Roy Holtz, Marcus Rosenstiel, Jr. and McLaughlin (20-gauge AAA-D); Brian Steinert, Ed Call, Ethan Call, John Davies and Joe Gans V (28-gauge AA-D); and Bryson Fox, Crofutt, Kline, Ethan Call, Carl Biddle and Rachel Sauers (.410 bore AAA-D).
Coryn Dietz from Maryland was Sub-Junior open HOA CH. Marcus Rosenstiel, Jr., Allison Shaffer and Colby Eckert, respectively, were open and state Junior HOA Champion, runner-up and third. Open Lady winners were Alyssa Gormish, champion (389), Hanna Goodard, runner-up from Virginia, and Missy Vescovi, third. Pennsylvania Lady HOA winners were Alyssa, champion; Missy, runner-up; and Rachel Sauer, third.
Saturday evening was busy, beginning with 12- and 20-gauge shoot-offs and a hat shoot.
Dylana Eroh shot her first 25 straight, and her hat was properly perforated; congratulations, Dylana! Vance McLaughlin shot his first 50 and 75 straights in the 12-gauge event, but he left early and temporarily saved his hat.
Pennsylvania’s top shooters for 2019 were recognized. Fran Kosmacki with a 0.975 average was the State’s Top Gun. All-State first and second teams were recognized, and each member received a nice wooden plaque. The first team included Mike Rykaczewski Jr., Josh Crofutt, Denny Lehman, Dan Felton and Clay Gormish; second team members included Kenny Riddile, Gary Nace, Debra Meade, Meghan Darrough and David Darrough.
All Juniors and Sub-Juniors (11 shot in the 12-gauge) had 50% of their entry fees paid by PSSA. Four boxes of shells for each event, except the Prelim, were also provided by PSSA.
The PSSA President’s Cup award for 2019 was presented to Denny Lehman in recognition of his ongoing support of skeet in Pennsylvania. Denny, again this year, spearheaded a drive to solicit added money for the 2020 State Shoot. Many thanks to Denny and to Murry Gerber and Elite Shotguns, the major sponsor of the Pennsylvania State Shoot, and all the other businesses and individuals that made the donations that resulted in over $11,000 in added money. The added money was capped so that gun champion, runner-up and third received $80, $70, and $60, respectively. All class first through fifth places received cash from added money (e.g., in the 12-gauge E1, E2, E3, E4, and E5 received $50, $45, $40, $35 and $30, respectively).
Reno Hassinger was named Pennsylvania’s 2019 Rookie of the Year.
Nathaniel Neuland from MD, in a field of 21 shooters, won the BCDE Challenge shoot-off. The top prize was a Henry rifle donated by Ed and Theresa Call (thank you so much, Ed and Theresa!). Class champions and runners-up were awarded shells, one flat and one-half flat, respectively.
The 5-man team handicap championship shoot-off (free to all shooters, based on 12-gauge averages) involved five teams. The winning team members were Sam Armstrong, Alessandro Vitale, Mike Wollard, Mark Saussure and Fran Kosmacki, and each received a beautiful belt buckle. This was an encore performance, as the same team took home the belt buckles last year.
Clair Krug (CK’s Catering) provided the delicious catered dinner for all, at no extra cost to the shooters and their guests, on Saturday night at the club. Thanks to everyone who donated to make this happen.
Kudos to Tami Daniel-Means and her hubby Al for handling registration, scorekeeping and posting; Bobby Wilkin who was Chief Referee and shoot-off announcer; the Generations Skeet Club team who handled medal preparation and distribution; and Mark Saussure, PSSA President who was pretty much everywhere, including being emcee at Saturday night’s recognition/award presentation event.
Special thanks to the following folks whose hard work was greatly appreciated: Barry and Lori Sheffield (Shenecoy managers), Rod Shyda (Lincoln Traps), Petersburg Volunteer Fire Company (handled the kitchen), Chuck Mattice, Bill States, Danny Moore, Rick Grimminger, Carl and Doris Confer, Bill Ozanich, Wade and Laura Schlusser, Dave, Tom and LeAnn Weaverling, Mark Wickersham, Bill and Mary Doutt, John Duhon, Mitch Heaster, Charlie Stambaugh, Doug Swoboda, Evan Simon, Bob Sechrist and Jim Flutka.
It is safe to say that Pennsylvania skeet shooting is a family affair. Nineteen mother/father/son/daughter pairings participated in this year’s State Shoot (23% of the 183 shooters). Eleven father/son, four father/daughter, two mother/father/son, one father/daughter/son, and one father/son/son were involved.
– Contributed by George Gleich
