Posted: July 26, 2024
Pennsylvania 4-H’ers recently competed in the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championship in Grand Island, Nebraska. The competition included 708 4-H youth ages 14-18 from 40 states. Pennsylvania sent 16 participants and five coaches.
“Nationals was an amazing opportunity to represent Pennsylvania in air rifle and meet people across the country who share the same love for 4-H shooting sports,” said Alivia Snyder, a 4-H member from Blair County.
Joulia Wolf, also from Blair County, reflected: “I am happy for the opportunity to do something that I enjoy on a national venue. I met people from all over the country who share my interests. Everyone was friendly and enthusiastic. Never once did I feel as if there were any hard feelings from others. I am thankful for the opportunity and encourage others to experience their discipline at the national competition.”
Under the guidance, training and supervision of adult mentors, 4-H shooting sports offer a positive and safe environment for youth, fostering responsible and ethical practices in the use of firearms and archery equipment.
Pennsylvania teams included the following:
Air pistol
- Naomi Cross, Susquehanna County
- James Grisafi, Susquehanna County
- Alyssa Bergenstock, Montour County
- Coach Mark Cross, Susquehanna County
Shotgun
- Cameron Hixson, Fulton County
- Tanner Friedline, Somerset County
- John Bruner, Indiana County
- Grant Chapman, Greene County
- Coach Clark Bruner, Indiana County
Small-bore rifle
- Madison Allen, Somerset County
- Kiersten Allen, Somerset County
- Maggie Palfrey, Indiana County
- Molly Miller, Somerset County
- Coach Suzanne Palfrey, Indiana County
Air rifle
- Joulia Wolf, Blair County
- Alivia Snyder, Blair County
- Sebastien Guillotin, Montgomery County
- Cassidy Schaefer, Montgomery County
- Coach Josh Wolf, Blair County
Walter Wukovitz, of Adams County, participated as an individual in the archery competition. His coach was Lisa Truax.
Pennsylvania 4-H’ers secured many awards throughout the week, both in team and individual categories. Guillotin placed 13th in standing air rifle out of 94 participants. As an individual in the air pistol category, Cross placed seventh out of 76 participants. She also placed eighth in rapid fire individual and sixth in slow fire individual. Hixson placed 15th in skeet out of 129 participants.
Among 19 teams, the Pennsylvania small-bore rifle team came in fourth overall, and Palfrey earned sixth place as an individual out of 78 participants. Madison Allen took first place in 3-position, Kiersten Allen earned second place and Palfrey took fourth place. Kiersten Allen earned ninth place for silhouette. The team took fourth place in silhouette and first place in 3-position.
Josh Wolf, air rifle coach, said he was impressed by the respect he witnessed among the competitors.
“I know our air rifle participants had a great time meeting other participants,” he said. “I overheard a lot of conversations relating to interests outside of the competition. I spoke with several shooters, coaches and shooting instructors from around the country and could not believe how genuine and sincere they were. I witnessed our participants develop their sportsmanship from this experience.”
Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Pennsylvania 4-H website at https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h/counties.
