Cameron Bailey Captures Doubles, Handicap

and High All Around Championships.

Steve Sprout Adds Another Singles Title.

   Two Hundred eighty three shooters came from seven states and as far away as Texas to compete in the 97th West Virginia Trapshooting Championships held July 6th - 9th. As always, the West Virginia State Shoot story includes the weather and this year the theme was wet, seeing rain all but the last day. Attendance was up, throwing over 130,000 targets during the four day tournament. 

         Last year’s Doubles Champion, Cameron Bailey, retained his Doubles title and added three more: WV Handicap Championship, WV HAA Championship and WV HOA. Steve Sprout added a third WV Singles Championship to his resume`.

         Saturday three shooters broke 198, to tie for the WV Singles Championship.  WVATA Treasurer Steve Sprout, WVATA President Scott Ross and Fred Dague are no strangers to Championship titles. Steve won back to back WV Singles titles in 2007 and 2008. Scott won the WV Singles Championship in 2009 and 2011, the WV Handicap Championship in 2013, WV Doubles title in 2011 and three-peating the WV HAA in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    The three went to the line, after one round, Fred, dropped one more target than the others and claimed the WV Sub-Vet Championship. Steve and Scotty returned to the line and turned in perfect rounds. Again returning to the line, the multi-time champions squared off. Scotty dropping one on his first post and Steve running them out.

      Sprout won his third WV Singles Championship and Ross was Runner-up. Last year’s Singles Champion, Nicholas Harden took WV Class AA, Class A, Darrel Murray; Class B, Jeremy Keplinger; Class C, James Marcum and Class D John Null. Jennifer Everett and Shelly Slusher shot off for Lady 1 and after two rounds Jennifer was the victor; Sandra Spencer claimed Lady 2; Alec Sauble Junior Gold champion.

       In the Junior category Stephanie Lewis and Braden Carroll both broke the same score in the Championship Singles; after the shootoff, Braden claimed the victory. There’s a little more to this story though, this was Stephanie’s first state shoot, first shootoff; and she won her first trophy earlier in the week, I’ve asked Stephanie to write about her 2017 State Shoot experience and will post on the website, stay tuned.

         Brandon Scamchorn won Sub Junior Honors; Veteran laurels went to Darrell Dowler and Sr. Veteran Thomas Urquhart who shot a 192 to top his category. WV Husband and Wife were Shelly and David Slusher, WV Parent Child Robert & Nicholas Harden.

     Daniel Rodgers broke the lone 200 during Saturday’s Open Singles Championship. Three shooters, Brandon Deal, Andrew Zboroisky and Osker Reynolds all broke 198. Andrew was a no show for the shoot off, Brandon and Osker put on a show for a couple of rounds. Brandon Deal was the Open Class AA winner. Jared Hanna claimed Open Class A; Wesley Santini took Open Class B turning in a 195 as did Cody Nicklow  for Open Class C, Maddie Hill was Open Class D winner. Robert Judy’s 190 was good for Open Junior Gold; Open Junior Jack Noftz’s 198 lead the Category. Shane Biser won Open Sub Junior with a 197; Open Lady 1 was Beverly Scott; Peggy Wise claimed Open Lady 2; Open Sub Vet won with a 196 of Robert Grosjean; Open Veteran was also won by a 196 by Robert Ryhal while Open Sr Veteran Ted Carwile carded a 198 for top honors in his category. Bill & Marcy Plunkett won Open Husband & Wife and Alan and Brandon Deal took the Open Parent Child. Scott Ross broke a 396 to win the Stephen N Harden Memorial Trophy.

     Sunday's WV Doubles Championship saw Cameron Bailey and two time WV Singles Champion,Todd Sauble, lead all residents with 96. Cameron was perfect in the shootoff claiming his second back to back WV Doubles title.

         Todd Sauble fell back to Sub-Vet Champion. Steve Sprout was runner-up, Kevin Miller Class AA; Scott Ross and Bill King Jr. tied for Class A both agreeing to flip Scott won the toss and the Class; Kip Captor Class B; Jeremey Keplinger claimed Class C; and Tammy Jackson winning Class D. Lady l, Jennifer Everett; Lady ll, Sandy Spencer Junior Gold, Alec Sauble; Junior was Josie Mc Adams; Veteran Darrell Dowler; Ralph Corley won Sr Vet.

   For the second year in a row, Joe Charnigo had a perfect century in the Championship Doubles Sunday and lead all shooters to claim the Open Doubles Championship.

     Kyle Hamilton broke just one less for Open Class AA; Ray Gajoch’s 96 was high in Open Class A; Adam Stefkovich who won the 2014 Grand American Handicap won Open Class ; Open Class C winner was Robert Bredniak and Open Class D was won by Jason Ketchel over Michael Stabinski after a shoot off. Open Lady 1 winner was Bethany Breighner; Peggy Wise claimed Open Lady 2; Ian Fleming took Junior Gold with a 94; Open Junior Daniel Rodgers; Open Sub Junior Shane Biser; Open Sub Vet Flip Jendre, blasted a 99 for top honors in his category; Open Veteran was Don Renner and Texan, Daryl Farmer, won Open Sr. Veteran.

    Sunday's Handicap Championship was won by Cameron Bailey. Nicholas Harden was Runnerup; Kevin Miller placed 3rd in the Handicap. Mark Isner  was fourth. Six shooters were knotted at 91 for 5th and 6th ,several of which had left the grounds, Carl Rohrbaugh placed 5th and Shelly Slusher 6th . Jennifer Everett and Sandy Spencer Lady l and ll, Alec Sauble, Junior Gold and Braden Carroll, Junior, Sub Junior, Brandon Scramchorn. Jim Schad Sub Vet., Veteran, PJ Shanholtz, Thomas Urquhart won the resident Sr. Vet trophy.

Open Handicap Champion went to Steve Stedman who shot a 98 and Runnerup was Jonathan Dowler with 96; Maddie Hill and Walter Mader tied for Open 3rd. Maddie winning by being perfect in the shoot off leaving Walter 4th place. The shooters breaking a 94 did not stay for the shoot off and was determined by lot James Bechtel 5th;Osker Reynolds 6th ;Lou Satoris 7th ;Shane Biser 8th ; Nick Galata 9th ; and John Gajoch 10th.Robert Judy Open Junior Gold; Alex McCafferty and Zachary Debord broke 96 for  Open Junior and Open Sub Junior honors respectively. Open Lady 1 Susanna Sandala broke 93 to win her category; Marcia Chocinsky was Open Lady 2 winner; Open Sub Vet won by Patrick Westfall; Open Veteran Randy Taylor broke 95; Open Sr. Veteran with a score of 95 was Merle Laney.

Open High All Around, Steve Stedman, lead all shooters with a 390; HAA Open Junior Gold went to Alec Sauble with a 368; HAA Open Junior/SubJunior Daniel Rodgers; HAA Open Sub Vet Flip Jendre;HAA Open Veteran Curtis Paul; HAA Open Sr Vet. Ted Carwile; HAA Open Lady 1 Bethany Breighner; HAA Open Lady 2 Peggy Wise.

Open HOA Daniel Rodgers 956; HOA Open Junior Gold Alec Sauble 857;HOA Open Junior/Sub Junior Jack Noftz 933;HOA Open Sub Vet Todd Sauble 933; HOA Open Veteran Douglas Howell 938; HOA Open Sr. Veteran Douglas Damron 915; HOA Open Lady 1 Bethany Breighner 936; HOA Open Lady 2 Sandra Spencer 878.

The Newt Jones Trophy was awarded this year to Todd Sauble.

 Cameron Bailey was named the ATA Rookie of the year in 2013 he did not register a target in 2014 due to starting his company Precision Steel LLC in Slanesville, WV. He began trapshooting again in 2015. Cameron has been on several WV State Teams and is currently Captain of the 2017 WV State Team.

      Earlier in the week, one hundred and one shooters took the line on Thursday to compete in the Nicholas Harden Singles. Curtis Paul broke the lone 100 for High Gun, three shooters Scott Ross, Steve Sprout and Joe Charnigo were locked at 99 for Class AA, after the carryover Scott Ross won, Darrel prevailed; Class A went to Keith Woncheck; Robert Custer broke 97 for Class B; Class C carryover was won by Terry Groves over Ronald Deliere; and 2nd year shooter Stephanie Lewis won D class. Alec Sauble swept the Junior Gold category on Thursday’s events as did Daniel Rodgers in the Junior Category. Brandon Scamchorn was high Sub Jr in Thursday’s Singles and Handicap. Lady 1 and Lady 2 categories were won by Beverly Scott and Sandra Spencer respectively. Fred Dague won Sub Vet after a carryover with Todd Sable, Douglas Howell bested Paul Harvey after “the rest of the story” was revealed in the next days carryover for Veteran. The Sr Vet category carryover took to the third round to decide Ted Carwile the winner between him and Sheldon Hostetter.

       In the Nicholas Harden Handicap, Walter Mader broke the event high score of 98. Gary Verhoff won 18-21.5 yd group with a 95 after Braden Carroll forfeited. Jeff Quinn broke 97 for 22-23.5 yd group; Norman Mullins and Robert Chocinsky decided to flip and Mullins took the 24-25.5 yd group. Scott Ross broke 95 for the 26-27 yd group. Tammy Jackson and Judy Kovac tied and Tammy won by forfeit when Judy did not answer the call. Lady 2, Marcia Chocinsky was high with a 93. Douglas Howell broke 97 to best all Veterans. Morgantown’s Thomas Urquhart, won Sr. Veteran.

       The Cameron Bailey Doubles; Open Champion was Nick Harden. Bethany Breighner and Daniel Rodgers, knotted at 96 after Sunday’s carryover, Harden was the winner with Breighner taking Lady 1 and Rodgers taking Junior. Cameron Bailey claimed Class AA over Joe Charnigo after winning the WV Doubles Championship. Walter Mader broke 95 for Class A; Class B was decided after a carryover between Thomas Gray and Todd Sauble with Sauble prevailing. Toot Riggle was high in Class C; and Noreen Snively the Class D winner. Tuff Hutchins won Sub Junior; Sandra Spencer was high in Lady 2; Jim Schad broke 95 to secure Sub Vet. Darrell Dowler took Veteran category; and Sheldon Hostetter prevailed as Sr. Vet.

        Friday’s Singles Class Championship Junior Gold shooter Alec Sauble broke the lone 100. Scott Ross shot a 99 for Class AA. Matthew Hayes broke 97 for Class A laurels; Carl Rohrbaugh scored a 97 for Class B; Jeremy Keplinger took Class C honors and Braden Carroll broke 92 for a Class D victory. Open Class AA four shooters broke 98, Curtis Paul, Cameron Bailey, Steven Sprout and Paul Harvey after the carryover Bailey rose to the top spot. Open Class A also saw four shooters knotted at 97,Tim McMillian, Michael Benlock, Richard Sexton and James Jones. Sexton was the winner after carryover. Jason Galata secured Class B with a 99; Marcia Chocinsky won Open C breaking a 94 and James Padovich one less for Open Class D. Open Junior was tied between Daniel Rodgers and Jack Noftz and wasn’t decided until the last 25 in the Singles Championship in Rodgers favor; Open Sub Junior Shane Biser and Brandon Scamchorn  both broke 97’s with Biser winning the carryover; Jennifer Everett broke 97 for Open Lady 1 honors. Sandra Spencer bested all ladies with a 99 to claim Open Lady 2; Fred Dague won Sub Vet after tying with Darrel Murray and winning the carryover. Open Veterans, Douglas Howell and Robert McClelland were locked at 99 until Howell ran the first round of the carryover. Kenneth Shockey turned in a 97 to lead all Sr. Veterans.

       Jonathon Dowler shot a 96 to win Open Champion in Friday's rain soaked Preliminary Handicap event. Norman Mullins and Richie Granatir broke 95 for 2nd and 3rd after Richie was a no show for the shoot off. Three shooters were knotted at 94 and after the coin flip, Michael Benlock was 4th; Scott Ross 5th and James Bechtel 6th place. Robert Judy shot a 91 for Open Junior Gold; Cody Nicklow 95 to claim Open Junior; Open Sub Junior was scured by Shane Biser’s 93. After a shootoff between Jennifer Everett and Bethany Breighner, Breighner prevailed. Open Lady 2 went to Marcia Chocinsky; Roger Taylor broke 95 for Sub Veteran;Douglas Howell won Open Veteran when Dennis Bednarski didn’t answer the call for the shootoff. Bill Wheeler and James Padovich were tied with 92’s when neither showed up for the shoot off. The winner was decided by coin flip with Padovich getting the nod.

       WV Doubles Class Championship  Class AA Champion, Nicholas Harden and Cameron Bailey smashed 98 birds each with Cameron prevailing in the carryover. Steven Sprout  broke a 94 to claim Class A honors; Doug Dameron’s 95 topped Class B; Three were knotted at 86 for Class C Jermey Keplinger, Jennifer Everett and PJ Shanholtz with Keplinger prevailing in the carryover; and Donald Lafollette won Class D. Open Class AA shooter Richard Granatir lead the field with a 99; Michael Kemp claimed Open Class A with a 94; Open Class B Adam Stefkovich prevailed over Dennis Barger after the carryover; Richard Blatt took Open Class C with a 88; Kinzy Smith shot 87 for Open Class D; Junior Gold shooter Alec Sauble broke 93 to top his category; Jack Noftz bested all Juniors with a 92; Shane Biser claimed Open Sub Junior honors with a 92. Sandra Spencer topped all Lady 2 Shooters for the category honors; Todd Sauble’s 91 was high in Sub Vet; Douglas Howell was Open Veteran winner; and Sheldon Hostetter just let 2 slip for a 98 to claim Open Sr. Veteran.

    The WV State Team was recognized and awarded Certificates along with quarter zip Sweat Shirts Embroidered with WVATA Logo and names The awards generously donated by Russell Lillard, Jr. of Superior Industrial  Laundries, of Fairmont, WV.

   Elections were held the results are as follows: Russell Lillard; Vice-President, Steve Sprout, Treasurer; Jim Schad, Secretary; Nicholas Harden, ATA Delegate; Robert Harden, Alt.; Delegate, Darrell Dowler, 1st Alt Delegate; Mark Isner, 2nd Alt. Delegate; Cameron Bailey, Director at Large and Darrel Murray Ex-Officio

    I would like to thank Brooke County Sportsmens Club and Tournament Director, Chuck Jackson, for a fine shoot.  

 Bruce Haislip who ran the computer for several years is having some health issues and was unable to attend this year. Bruce trained Linda Viderman for the job. She ran the computer like a pro! Linda donated her time and equipment to run the computer for the WV Hall of Fame shoot held at the Marshall County Hunting & Fishing Club in June.  Thank you Linda.

 It takes a lot of people a lot of hours to run a shoot like ours, I want to say THANKS!  From classification to squadding, cashering, computer, loaders, scorers, target setters, trap mechanics, squad hustlers, food service, groundskeepers everybody did a stellar job! Thanks.