Clay Target Nation

The official magazine of the National Skeet Shooting Association and the National Sporting Clays Association

Pennsylvania State Championship

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The beautiful Shenecoy Sportsmen skeet club hosted the 83rd annual Pennsylvania State Open Skeet Championships on their 16-field facility in McConnellstown, Pennsylvania, on August 23-25. The weather, facilities, birds and referees were all great. Shooting at least one gun were 213 participants, including 48 out-of-state shooters from 12 states.

Alessandro Vitale, Zone 2 committeeman from Maryland, was Open HOA Champion (397) and HAA (493). Sam Armstrong, also from Maryland, was Open HOA (393) and HAA (491) runner-up. Pennsylvanians Joe Vescovi and Fran Kosmacki were Open HOA third (391) and open HAA third (487), respectively. State HOA Champion, runner-up and third, respectively, were Vescovi, Gil Rodler Jr. and Kenny Riddile. Kosmacki, Chris Kline and Riddile were Pennsylvania HAA champion, runner-up and third.

The .410-bore Prelim started the festivities on Friday morning with 44 shooters participating. Michael Zavasky was champion after he won a shoot-off of 97s with Colin Crawford; John Sarge’s 96 was good for third. Tim Botwright, Dave Cominsky, Mike Wojtecki and Joseph Gans V, respectively, took A1 through D1.

Friday afternoon, 141 participants shot doubles, with Nick Boerboon, Chris Kline and Steve Hildebrand shooting 99s and taking Open and Pennsylvania champion, runner-up and third, respectively. State class firsts, AA-D, went to Kosmacki, Frank Smithmyer, Meghan Darrough, Jeff Wright and Gans V.

In the main event, there were eight 100 straights in the 12-gauge, seven in the 20, one in the 28 and none in the .410. With the great weather, over 200 shooters and a shoot difficulty factor of 25.4, it seems like there should have been more 100s, but you never know.

Pennsylvania champions, runners-up and thirds, respectively, were: Meghan Darrough, Vescovi and Gary Nace in the 12-gauge (204 shooters, with Vitale from Maryland as Open Champion); Mark Eckert, Adam Vollmer and John Stough in the 20-gauge (199 shooters, with Mark Polek from Maryland Open Champion); Denny Lehman, Rich Vensel and Vescovi in the 28-gauge (184 shooters, with Vitale Open Champion); and, Crawford, Zavasky and Rodler Jr. in the .410 (180 shooters, with Vitale Open Champion).

Class first places for Pennsylvania were: Boerboon, Clay Gormish, Ed Call, David Darrough, Joseph DeAugustine, William Kline and Eric Mitchell (12-gauge AAA-E); Smithmyer, Josh Crofutt, Rodler Jr., Ernie Anderson, Josh Mitchell and Richard Egick (20-gauge AAA-D); Kosmacki, Brian Steinert, Smithmyer, Brad Gregory, Don Steinert and Egick (28-gauge AAA-D); and Kosmacki, Mike Rykaczewski Jr., Riddile, Joe Paul, Allison Shaffer and Mike Rykacewski, Sr. (.410 bore AAA-D).

Colby Eckert was Pennsylvania Sub-Junior HOA Champion, while Garrett Baisey from Virginia was Open Sub-Junior Champ. Meghan Darrough and Allison Shaffer, respectively, were Pennsylvania Junior HOA Champion and runner-up; John McKeel from Virginia took the Open Junior HOA championship.

Pennsylvania Lady HOA winners were Meghan Darrough, Debra Meade and Allison Shaffer (champion through third, respectively). Open Lady winners were Victoria Stellato (champion, from North Carolina), Meredith Tunick Kling (runner-up, from VA) and Angelina D’Aquanno (third, from New Jersey).

Saturday evening was very busy, including a hat shoot. Meghan Darrough and her father David both shot their first 100 straights in the 12-gauge event, and their hats were appropriately demolished. Mark Eckert also had his first 100 straight in the 20-gauge event, and his hat was disrespected as well.

After shoot-offs and the hat shoot, a brief memorial service for Pennsylvania skeet shooters who passed away since the last State Shoot was held. The deceased include Mary Louise Holtz, Tom McConnell, George Cree and Nick Sisley. Tim Holtz, Gary Trilli and Marie Palmer spoke.

Pennsylvania State Teams for 2018 were recognized, and each member received a nice wooden plaque. The Pennsylvania first team included Fran Kosmacki, Denny Lehman, Clay Gormish, Dan Felton and Kenny Riddile. Second Team members are Rich Vensel, Ethan Call, Josh Crofutt, Debra Meade and Joseph Gans III.

The PSSA President’s Cup award for 2018 was presented to Ed Call in recognition of his support of skeet in the state.

All Juniors (11 in the 12-gauge) and Sub-Juniors (nine in the 12-gauge) participating in this year’s State Shoot had 50% of their entry fees paid by PSSA. Shells used (four boxes for each event except the Prelim) were also provided by PSSA. The Fulton County, Pennsylvania 4-H Shooting Club had seven Junior shooters participating in the 12-gauge event.

Denny Lehman spearheaded a drive to solicit added money for the 2019 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 $11,205 in added money (see photo of donors’ banner). This money was distributed to 125 of the 213 shooters who participated in the shoot. 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.,12-gauge A1-$55, A2-$50, A3-$45, A4-$40, A5-$35). Attendance at this shoot has increased dramatically in the past three years, with 12-gauge entries going from 150 (2017), to 185 (2018), to 213 (2019). The added money and its distribution certainly have had something to do with that!

Mark Polek from Maryland, in a field of 20 shooters, won the BCDE Challenge shoot-off. The top prize was a Henry rifle donated by Ed and Theresa Call (thank you, Ed and Theresa!). Class champs 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 11 teams. The winning team members were Sam Armstrong, Alessandro Vitale, Mike Wollard, Mark Saussure and Fran Kosmacki, and each received a beautiful belt buckle.

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 who ably handled registration, score keeping and posting; Bobby Wilkin who was Chief Referee and shoot-off announcer; the Generations Skeet Club team who handled medal preparation and distribution; and Tim Holtz, PSSA president, who was pretty much everywhere, including being emcee at Saturday night’s recognition/awards 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, John Davies, Rick Grimminger, George, Brian and Sandy Garner, Carl Confer, Bill Ozanich, Wade and Charlie Schlusser, Ed Tos, Tom and LeAnn Weaverling and Mark Wickersham.

Be sure to include Shenecoy in your shooting schedule for 2020. It appears that there will be three major skeet shoots “on the hill” next year – the U.S. Open (Pennsylvania location for the i-shoot), the Zone 2 and the Pennsylvania State. It should be a blast (pun intended).

 Scores: Doubles winners-Rev1

– Contributed by George Gleich

 

Nebraska State Skeet Championship

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Saturday morning brought the Morton Buildings 20-Gauge Championship event. Kurt Mann of Kearney added another state title to his resume, shooting the lone 99 in the event. After a shoot-off of 98s, Dave Meisinger was runner-up and Corey Zenon was third. Class winners were Rob Predmore (AA), Chris Lutz (A), Adam Classen (B), Richard Burkhart (C) and Rob Hinze (D).

The Class One Machine .410 Championship event was next up on Saturday afternoon. Skies were darkening, and phones were busy checking radar all afternoon, in the hopes the event would be completed. Rob Predmore broke a 96 and added yet another buckle to his collection. Rob and his .410 like LCWGC, as he posted a 100 straight in the baby bore last year at the Conley shoot in North Platte. Dale Fangmeyer, runner-up, outlasted Chris Lutz, third, in the shoot-off of 95s. Class winners included Bill Buettgenbach (A), Deric Meisinger (B), Wayne Bennett (C) and Steve Zwiener (D). The rain and lightning finally came, and the last squad out had to finish on Sunday morning.

On Saturday evening, shooters and guests were treated to a wonderful smoked pork chop dinner. Door prizes were handed out, thanks to our many great sponsors. To wrap up the day, Deric Meisinger came away with the free entry into the 2019 World Skeet Championships.

Sunday was a day of firsts, starting with the Conreco, Inc. 28-Gauge Championship event. Jacob Uphoff shot his first ever 100 straight in the 28-gauge, and the only 100 straight in the field, to take his first Nebraska state title. Runner-up went to Jerry Classen, and third went to Dave Meisinger after shooting off their 99s. Rob Predmore (AA), Corey Zenon (A), Jim Lewandowski (B), Bill Garber (C) and Rich Johansen (D) took class honors. It is good having Mr. Johansen back in the state, as he had left for Nevada for quite a few years.

Fifty shooters took to the fields Sunday afternoon for the Anderson Auto Group 12-Gauge Championship event. Only one of those 50 shooters didn’t miss, and that was Josh Peters. This was Josh’s second state title of the weekend. Harry Walker, runner-up, outlasted third-place Don Serna and Zach Hinze (C1) in the shoot-offs of 99s. Other class winners were Predmore (AA), Bill Garber (A), Nick Degenhardt (B), Leighton Webb (D) and Cody Nelson (E). The coveted John Day 5-Man Team trophy went to the team of Cody Nelson, Ron Fucinaro, Nick Degenhardt, Mike Kirkland and Jim Stumpf.

Rob Predmore (389) came away with the Kolar HOA title. Other notable HOA results included Josh Peters, runner-up; Chris Lutz, third; Dave Meisinger (A1); Don Serna (B1); Zach Hinze (C1); Rob Hinze (D1); and Jes Crankshaw, Lady Champion. Josh Peters (482) claimed his fourth belt buckle for the weekend by winning the HAA title.

Thanks to Lincoln County Wildlife Gun Club, as well as all of the staff and volunteers, for putting on such a great shoot. Thanks also to our many of out-of-state guests who participated this year. The 2020 Nebraska State Championships will be in Omaha next year. Hope to see you there!

 

– Contributed by Chris Lutz

Minnesota State Championships

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Seventeen-year old Hayden Wege claimed championships in nearly every event at the 2019 Minnesota State Skeet Championships. He first appeared at the Minnesota State Championships in 2016 at age 14, shooting in class D with an HOA score of 355. In subsequent state shoots, Hayden posted HOA scores of 383, 389 and now 395, claiming the 2019 Minnesota State Championships in doubles, 12-gauge, 28-gauge, .410, HOA and HAA.

Hayden attributes much of his success to Tony Lowe, his mentor and NSSA Certified Skeet Instructor who also coaches for the Minnesota Youth Shooting Program SCTP team, as well his mother Kristen Wege, who serves as Hayden’s coach and is a Certified Shotgun Instructor, and the head SCTP coach for the Minnesota Youth Shooting Program. Hayden will finish high school this year and enroll at Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee, where he earned a shooting scholarship.

The American flag was raised at the start of the doubles event with the singing of the National Anthem by Justin Staebell, a formidable skeet shooter who sings opera.

The 20-gauge championship was won by incoming Minnesota Skeet Shooting Association president, Jeff Schneider, who bested Hayden Wege in a shoot-off of 99s.

Class champions include:

HOA – Michael Lohman (AA), Justin Baker (A), Janice C. Lohman (B), Mark Cameron (C) and David G. Seidel (D)

12-Gauge – Mark VanderBloomer (A), Robert Muehlenkamp (B), Tate Peterson (C),

Marcus Andrade (D) and Arthur R. Peterson Jr. (E)

20-Gauge – Hayden Wege (AA), Gene J. Helsene (A), Paul Davis (B) and Harry Hoppmann (C)

28-Gauge – Mark VanderBloomer (AA), Gene J. Helsene (A), Brian Hendrickson (B), Mike Halbach (C) and Mark Cameron (D)

.410-Bore – Justin Staebell (AA), Justin Baker (A), Randy Vaske (B), Mark Cameron (C) and

Tate Peterson (D)

The Minnesota Skeet Shooting Association thanks Minneapolis Gun Club Manager, Mark Cameron, for hosting another great state championship. Thanks also to Bob Muehlenkamp and Mike Quigley for running the NSSA software, making the reservations and maintaining the scoreboard.

 

– Contributed by Ronald Chandler

Gil Rodler Memorial

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Tarentum District Sportsmen’s Club (TDSC) near Sarver, Pennsylvania held their fifth Gil Rodler Memorial 4-gun shoot on Labor Day, September 2. Gil Rodler Sr. passed away in June of 2014 at the age of 88. Gil was one of the best skeet shooters in Pennsylvania for many years and had many friends and acquaintances in the skeet community. Gil Rodler Jr. attended the shoot and shot very well, ending up as 28-Gauge Champion, A1 in the 20 and A1 in the 12. Gil Sr. would have been proud but probably would have asked his son, “What happened in the .410?”

The weather was great, partly cloudy to partly sunny, near 75 degrees with light winds. A total of 31 shooters participated in this four-gun, 50-bird-per-gun affair. HOA winners were Josh Crofutt (Champion, 195), Chris Kline (runner-up, 194) and Mike Wollard (third, 191).

The .410 was first on the agenda, and 26 competitors shot the little gun. Kline took the championship outright with his 49; Tim Holtz was runner-up with a 48. Class firsts went to Mike Rykaczewski Jr. (AA), Crofutt (A), Debra Meade (B), Harry Simonovich (C) and Ross Carney (D).

The 28-gauge was next up with 27 shooters, and there were three 50s from Gil Rodler Jr., Wollard and Meade; Rodler emerged as Champion and Wollard as runner-up. Rykaczewski Jr., Meade, Arvid Kobosky, Bryson Fox and Lance Petro, respectively, were AA1, A1, B1, C1 and D1.

Twenty-seven shooters took part in the 20-gauge event. Wollard had the only 50 straight and was champion. Crofutt, runner-up, won a shoot-off of 49s with Kline (AA1). Rodler Jr. (A1), Ernie Anderson (B1), Paul Hunt (C1) and Simonovich (D1) rounded out the list of class winners.

Twenty-nine shooters shot the 12-gauge. There were three 50 straights: Crofutt (champion), Kline (runner-up) and Kevin Spessard (B1). Other class firsts went to Meade (AA), Rodler Jr. (A), Tom Shields (C), Bob Waite (D) and Petro (E).

Kudos to Jerry McCullough and Mike Rykaczewski Sr. for shoot management and to John Smith, Gary Trilli, Chris Smith, Paul Augustin, Tom Gulotta, Josh Crofutt and Mike Rykaczewski Jr. for pulling and scoring. Many thanks to Regina Nemergut and Marie Palmer for preparing and serving the food.

 

– Contributed by George Gleich

Firebird 400 at Generations Skeet Club

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Generations Skeet Club’s 21st annual Firebird 400 was held at its beautiful four-field club near Patton, Pennsylvania, on July 19-21. The weather was oppressive all weekend – hazy, hot and humid with variable wind, but no lightning! Fifty-one shooters shot at least one gun. Joe Vescovi was HOA Champion with a fine 393. HOA runner-up was Chris Kline with a nice 392, and Becky Myers was the Lady HOA Champion.

Doubles were shot on Friday afternoon with 30 shooters. Kline shot the lone 100 straight and was Doubles Champion. Class firsts went to Clay Gormish (A), Adam Vollmer (B), Jerry McCullough (C) and Joe McGarvey (D).

The 28-gauge shooting, with 45 shooters, began on a muggy Saturday morning under overcast skies. Frank Smithmyer ran them and was outright champion. Class firsts included Kline (AA), Dan Felton (A), Mike Naleppa (B1 after winning a shoot-off of 96s with Michael Moats and Kevin Spessard), Joe Paul (C) and Mark Strickland (D).

Shooting continued on a hot and sunny Saturday afternoon with the 12-gauge event for 46 shooters. Gormish posted the only 100 straight and was 12-gauge Champion. Vollmer, Felton, Michael Vescovi, Moats, Colby Eckert and Vance McClaughlin, respectively, were AA, A, B, C, D and E class champs. This was after Vollmer won a shoot-off of 99s with Kline and Smithmyer, and Eckert won a shoot-off of 96s with John Davies.

As usual at Generations, the Saturday night feast in the Youth Barn was superb. It began with drinks, melt-in-your-mouth venison bites with homemade dip and various cheese squares. Joe Vescovi prepared, carved and then served the delicious prime rib. Numerous volunteers prepared fancy baked beans, skin-on potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, green beans and various vegetable salads along with a large selection of yummy desserts to round out the meal. Beverages included cold beer on tap, soft drinks and homemade wine. On Saturday night, the group headed to Lake Eddie to enjoy swimming, jet skiing, tubing, fishing and a campfire (not sure the fire was necessary!).

Sunday morning, still muggy and time for the .410 bore, had 45 shooters taking the field. Joe Vescovi’s 98 took the championship outright; class firsts went to Tom Shields (A1 after a shoot-off of 96s with Kline), Gary Nace (B), Mike Norris (C) and Terry Smith (D).

The 20-gauge event was last and took place on Sunday afternoon with 44 shooters. Weather was hot and hotter! Joe Vescovi had the lone 100 and was 20-gauge Champion – it was quite a weekend for Joe! Kline, Vollmer, Spessard, McGarvey and McLaughlin took firsts in AA, A, B, C and D classes.

The three-man blind, based on .410 scores with teams picked by the computer, was won by the team of Dan Felton, Ryan Holtz and Mike Norris, each receiving $60. Ryan Holtz bought the winning team in the in the exciting live auction on Saturday night and pocketed $555!

Ryan Holtz handled registration and scorekeeping/posting, with assistance from Katie Eberhart on Sunday. Michael Vescovi performed chief referee duties, and a fine group of young referees including Paige McMullen, Abbey Lansberry, Adam Bobak, Zach Stoltz and Scott Kutruff did a great job under less than comfortable conditions. Numerous members of the Generations family pitched in as needed to keep things running smoothly. Last but not least, Pat Leyo provided delicious doughnuts on Saturday and Sunday morning – thanks so much, Pat!

– Contributed by George Gleich

 

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