Young 4H Shooting Teams Bring Home State Honors – Davie County Enterprise Record

Davie 4H Shooting Sports had 18 participants scheduled to compete in the 2024 NC 4H State Shooting Sports Tournament on Sept. 14 at Millstone 4H Camp and the adjacent John M Lentz Hunter Education Center.

“We didn’t have the same medal haul as we did at the Central Regional last month, but we definitely took home some hardware,” said Nelson Cowden.

The DC Hunters junior team of Porter James, Mason Wood, Colton Lockard, Ethan Manley and Hunter Myers took gold in the Muzzleloader competition. Colton was also the Junior HOA (High Overall).

DC Hunters Porter, Colton and Mason also mined some silver for compound archery.

Hunter Myers posted a perfect shotgun score (25/25) early in the morning and finished with the silver medal after a late afternoon jump-off.

Other junior participants included Saul Hardy, Peter Redelsheimer and Walker Evans. They achieved some good results and personal bests, but didn’t make it to the podium.

“The good news is that all of our juniors have several more years to compete and have medals or more medals ahead of them in the future if they stick with it.”

The seniors didn’t win gold, but they did take silver and bronze. The DC Longhunters, consisting of Brantlee Evans, Reece Long, Maddox Nifong and Brook Lockard, took silver in the Muzzleloader and the DC TrailBlazers took bronze. The Trailblazers consist of Riley Barnes. Dakota Wilkinson-Hohf, Levi Williams and Cameron White.

Evan Durham, who competed as an individual in the Open Sight Rifle, earned silver and bronze.

The good news is that Davie also has a young group of seniors. The only returning shooter from the Senior Division (ages 14-18) was Levi, and everyone else was competing in the state tournament for the first time as seniors.

“We have a phenomenal group of kids who are so much fun to work with and I look forward to watching them mature, improve and progress in the shooting sports,” Cowden said.

Special thanks to Rifle Coach Em Cheramie who traveled from Kentucky. Steve Carson is the archery coach.

“Thank you to all of our parents, grandparents, siblings and others who help. We can’t do this without you.”

Instructors include Matt Evans, Maurice Walker and Jimmy Staley.

Naomi Hellard, Stephen Timbinaris and Dallie Lakey are regular volunteers. Charles Young is the state director. Chad Ray and Misty Varnell of McDowell County 4H led the event.

“You’re all great,” Cowden said. “