Photo provided Eight members of the Top Gun Shooting Club competed at the state championships in February and won nine medals. Front, left to right: Riker Haas, Alden Vance, Sierra Orozco, Katie Orozco and Hadley Dalmorin. Back, left to right: Tristan Vance, AJ Schaible, Chantel Jordan.
A team of eight 4-H Youth represented the 4-H Gila County Top Gun Shooting Club at the Arizona Shooting Championship in mid-February. They went out to competitions in Phoenix and Casa Grande mainly to gain experience, but the club’s leader, Carol He said, as Ptak said, they had another idea.
These eight (4 seniors, 2 juniors and 2 intermediates) won 9 of the event’s 18 medals, including 2 champion buckles. Not only that, but all four seniors have qualified for Arizona’s national team, which will be in his 4-H Nationals match this summer. This is a valley with clubs and borrowed rifles and pistols that just started in June 2022.
Seniors Shantel Jordan, Sierra Orozco, AJ Scheible and Tristan Vance will travel to Grand Island, Nebraska June 25-30, 2023. Jordan and Schable have qualified in both air pistol and air rifle and will be competing in the latter.Orozco qualified at PisThor, Air Pistol Vance. Hadley Dalmolin and Alden Vance both earned championship buckles. Additionally, Dalmolyn took home his three medals. Schaible and Ryker Haas each scored two points, while Jordan and Katy Orosco scored one each.
Ptak, who has selected eight team members, expected the club to take two to three years to become a competitive team, so February’s performance came as a surprise to all. “I think they were very surprised to find out we were competitive at the state level,” she said. “They’ve gotten so much better,” she added, team members showing good attitudes and being encouraged by their successes.
Ptak said the Top Gun Shooting Club has grown from 14 to 35 this year. From the age of 8 he is intended for adolescents up to the age of 18. “The program provides a supportive environment in which young people can experience hands-on and fun learning experiences.”
Adult volunteers undergo background checks and are certified as shooting sports instructorsToth Through training in state workshops. His certified 4-H Teen Leader may also assist in teaching.
The club’s next goal is to raise $14,000 for equipment and travel expenses for a trip to the national convention. On April 12, they were boosted toward that goal when the Grove Rotary Club presented Top Gun with his $1,000 and his $250 check. Also on that day, he donated $1,000 to the Globe-Miami Area Memorial Foundation.
