The 102nd West Virginia State Shoot was held June 28th thru July 2nd at Winchester Gun Club. Two hundred sixty seven shooters from thirteen states travelling from as far west as Colorado and as far north as Maine shot for 262 trophies and $5400.00 in Added Money during the five day shoot.
During Sunday’s Premier event, the WV Handicap Championship, Steven Sprout posted an in state high of 95 to claim the WV Handicap Championship. Runnerup Jeremy Keplinger 94; The 91’s and 89’s filled 3rd thru 6th. Competitors choose to flip rather than shoot off and the results were: Morgan Gump third 91; Zachary Pethtel fourth 91; Rusty McHenry fifth 89 and Collin Hopkins sixth 89. Category winners were: Jr, Ronald Keplinger 86; Sub Vet, Michael Wilder 94; Sub Jr, Zane McHenry 94; Sr Vet, Darrel Murray 92; Vet Bill King Jr 91.
In Non-Resident action, James Bechtel outpaced the field by two targets to win the Non Resident Handicap Championship from the 25.5 with a 97. John Bechtel shot a 95, to secure runnerup honors. Third thru sixth, the results were: Caleb Delp, third 94; Ronald Smith, fourth 94; Richard Granatir, fifth 93; Four shooters tied at 92 for sixth place after the third call only one shooter was still on the grounds, James Jones was awarded sixth. Category shooters: Jr. Greystone Stainback 95; Jr. Gold, Ethan Ledford won after a shoot off with Caleb Mathis both posting 94’s; LDI, Ramsey Kelly 88; LDII, Sharon Martin 87; Three knotted at 92 for SubVet , Donald Weineich won after a forfeit by Rance Boyd and a win in the shoot off with Joseph Santos; SubJr, Conner Mathis 91; SrVet, Dennis Kochanowski 95 and Vet, William Natcher 96; Hall of Fame Contributor Award John Bechtel.
Saturday’s Championship Singles was again looking to be a repeat of 2022 with three WV resident shooters emerging with the top score of 198, that is, until Michael Wilder posted a perfect century in the last hundred for a score of 199 to claim his first WV Singles Championship relegating Nicholas Harden to Runner up and category shooters Gary Gaither and Robert Harden to their respective categories all having 198’s. David Hunter won Class AA; David Weddle and Scott Ross tied for Class A with Ross winning after Weddle failed to answer the call; Class B laurels went to Morgan Gump; Donald LaFollette, Class C victor and Class D was won by Ronald Keplinger. Category winners were: Jr. Marshall Supanik; Sub Vet, Mark Isner; Sub Jr, Ethan Ferris; Sr Vet, Gary Gaither; Veteran Robert Harden. Resident Parent Child Champions Robert & Nicholas Harden. Stephen N Harden Memorial Trophy on the 500 singles targets went to Robert N Harden with a score of 494.
Fred and Mary Ellen Dague owners of Dague’s Farm Raised Beef and Eggs once again covered Target fees for the first 20 Junior or Sub Junior Shooters signing up for Saturday’s 200 bird WV Singles Championship. We thank Fred and Mary Ellen for their support of youth shooting. Speaking of sponsors to thank in addition to Fred and Mary Ellen, Dodd’s Sporting Goods of Ellenboro, WV provided the trophies for Wednesday’s events, we’re happy to have their support. Cameron Bailey of Precision Steel supplied trophies for Thursday’s event for the fourth year. Whitetails Unlimited for the third year in a row has donated one thousand dollars to the James A Schad Memorial Fund. The fund is used for the WV AIM Championship Awards and youth shooting in general. Their generous contributions have enhanced our ability to further support WV Youth Trapshooting.
Non-Resident Singles Winners: Champion, John Spicer 199 for the second year in a row after Gary Sutphin failed to answer the call; Runner up winner Walter Mader Jr after John Bechtel failed to answer the call, 198. Class AA decided by shoot off between Fritz Carlsten 196 and winner Michael Fontello after Travis Rockwood did not answer the call ; Class A, Scott Petitto 196; Class B, John Bechtel 198; Class C, Brianna Goin 193; Robert Mulberger won Class D, 188. Categories winners were: Jr, Caleb Delp after a 25 to 24 shootoff with Samantha Mcinteer 197; Jr Gold, Caleb Mathis 195; LDI, Bethany Breighner 195; LDII, Kaylynn Hamilton 192; Sub Vets Daniel Vanbeek and James Preskitt tied with 198’s and Preskitt won after a shootoff 25 to 24; Sub Jr, Jackson Palmisano 193; Sr Vet, Gary Sutphin 199; Vet, Raffaele Marasca 196. Non-Resident Parent Child Champions Todd & Alec Sauble; Non-Resident Husband & Wife Champions Donna & William Natcher.
Mark Isner claimed his third WV Doubles Championship, his first one in 1999 and the other last year, with a score of 95. Michael Snyder broke 92 for the runner up slot. Class A Nicholas Harden 89; Class B Scott Ross 90; Class C Andy Cooper 81; Class D shooters Zachary Pethtel 75; Category winners were: Jr. Marshall Supanik 83; Sub Vet Todd Sauble 90; Sub Jr Ethan Ferris 93; Sr Vet Darrel Murray 89, Vet Robert Harden 94.
Joe Ramous Jr from Colorado won the Non-Resident Championship with a 99. The runner up slot went to Michael Fontello after a one round shoot off with Andrew Barrett both tying with 97’s, Barrett falling back to Class A; Class AA Fritz Carlsten 96; Class B Bryan Davis 93; Class C William McGivern 89; Class D Kelly Ramsey 86; Category winners were: Jr. Roman Barrett, 93; Jr Gold Caleb Mathas 95; LDI Megan Smith 95; LDII Donna Natcher 89; Sub Vet John Kirksey 94; Sub Jr Jackson Palmisano 91; Sr Vet James McMillen 94; Vet William Natcher 93.
Wednesday was the James A. Schad Memorial Fund Day with trophies sponsored by Dodd’s Sporting Goods of Ellenboro, WV. Wednesday’s events are named in honor of shooters that have passed away. Event I- Gene Huffman Singles, Event 2- Gerald Narigon Handicap and Event3- James Marcum Doubles.
Event 1 Gene Huffman Singles Results
Event 2 Gerald Narigon Handicap Results
Event 3 James Marcum Doubles Results
Thursday, Champions Day, honored the 2022 State Champions. Cameron Bailey, owner of Precision Steel, designed the trophies exclusively West Virginian made from locally sourced cherry wood and laser engraved WV outline with a Mountaineer at the ready.
Event 4 Mark Isner Singles Results
Event 5 Collin Hopkins Handicap Results
Event 6 Mark Isner Doubles Results
Friday, Class Championship Day over $1600.00 dollars in added money was provided by the WVATA. A total of 5460.00 in added money for the weekend.
Event 7 WV Singles Class Championship
Event 8 WV Preliminary Handicap Championship
Event 9 WV Doubles Class Championship
High All Round WV Resident was Robert Harden 376
High Over All WV Resident was Mark Isner 1213
Non-Resident HAA was Joe Ramos Jr 385
Non-Resident HOA was Caleb Mathis 1224
Full results on Shootscoreboard.com
In state news the annual officer election retained all current office holders:
President Matthew Hayes
Vice President Rusty McHenry
Treasurer Steven Sprout
Secretary Brandy Hayes
ATA Delegate Robert Harden
1st Alt ATA Delegate Nicholas Harden
2nd Alt ATA Delegate Darrell Dowler
State Team Certificates and Jackets were awarded to the WV State Team Members:
FIRST TEAM
Capt. Robert Harden 0.9381
J.W. Dowler 0.9144
Steven Sprout 0.9084
Anthony Sellaro 0.8971
Collin Hopkins 0.8893
SubJr. Marshall Supanik 0.8802
Lady II Tammy Jackson 0.8063
Sub Vet Mark Isner 0.9293
Veteran Fred Dague 0.9112
Sr. Vet Doug Damron 0.9244
SECOND TEAM
Capt. Michael Snyder 0.8852
Bill King Jr 0.8838
Gary Gaither 0.8733
Zachary “Rip” Pethtel 0.8682
Chuck Jackson 0.8729
SubJr. Ethan Ferris 0.8713
Sub Vet Todd Sauble 0.9085
Veteran Darrel Murray 0.9050
Sr. Vet Gary Holmes 0.8853
ATA All American team members SubVet, Mark Isner, third placement and Sub Junior Ethan Ferris. Congratulations.