Sanborn County 4-H Shooting Sports recorded a successful year, with many new shooters, numerous county records broken and 45 shooters qualifying for the State Shoot in 113 events.
County Shoot placings were decided over three match shoots.  The top scores from the match shoots were used to determine the first, second and third place finishes for the county level.
Results were as follows:
BB Gun Senior:  1st-Aaron Linke 356.03, 2nd-Amber Schelske 349.02, 3rd-Ashleigh Fry 347.04; BB Gun Junior:  1st- (tie) Taylor Lindsey 359.02 and Megan Linke 359.02, 2nd-Dilyn Brooks 356.05, 3rd-Toby Kneen 355.02;  BB Gun Beginner: 1st-Kenlie Fridley 310.03, 2nd-Bryce Larson 306, and 3rd-Devyn Brooks 305.02.
Air Pistol Senior: 1st (tie) Evan Ohlrogge 153 and Aaron Linke 153, 2nd-Amber Schelske 138, 3rd-Brooklyn Swenson 128; Air Pistol Junior:  1st-Taylor Lindsey 162, 2nd-Toby Kneen 149, 3rd-Brody Miiller 148; Air Pistol Beginner: Ellie Evans ,160.01, 2nd-Bryce Larson 156, and 3rd-Kenlie Fridley 139.
Air Rifle Senior:  1st-Jordan Wieting 245, 2nd-Aaron Linke 241, 3rd-Evan Ohlrogge 232; Air Rifle Junior:  1st-Taylor Lindsey 215, 2nd-Dilyn Brooks 210, 3rd-Megan Linke 201; Air Rifle Beginner:  1st-Ellie Evans 165.22 3-P Rifle Junior:  1st-Megan Linke 194.01, 2nd-Dana Schelske 160.
22 CMP Senior: 1st-Aaron Linke 555.06, 2nd-Nathan Linke 550.06, 3rd-Amber Schelske 509.04; 22 CMP Junior:  1st-Megan Linke 510.03, 2nd-Dana Schelske 507.07.
Archery CWS-R Senior:  1st-Matt Terkildsen 142.10, 2nd-Royce Hunter 141.09, 3rd-Brooklyn Swenson 132.09.  Archery CWS-R Junior:  1st-Kenzee Schafer 147.13, 2nd-Toby Kneen 143.12, 3rd-Westin Hagman 137.09. Archery CWS-R Beginner:  1st-Rylan Grassel 126, 2nd-Caleb Kneen 114.04, 3rd-Carter Christian.
Archery CWS Senior: 1st-Ashleigh Fry 85.02, 2nd-Abi Fry.  Archery CWS Beginner:  1st- Carter Christian 88.01.
Archery CWOS-R Beginner:  1st-Toby Kneen 122.06.
Archery CWOS Junior:  1st-Bella Fry.   Archery CWOS Beginner:  1st- Rylan Grassel 102.02, 2nd- (tie) Carter Christian 96.01 and Tyson Eddy 96.01, 3rd-Michael Hoffman 80.
Archery RWOS Senior:  1st-Katelin Deneke 106.  Archery RWOS Junior:  1st-Toby Kneen 120.04, 2nd-Kenzee Schafer 98.03, 3rd-Sarah Poncelow.  Archery RWOS Beginner: 1st-Carter Christian 79.01, 2nd-Caleb Kneen 74, 3rd-Kaitlyn Swenson.
Archery CWSR-0 Junior:  1st-Westin Hagman.
In Match 1 state competition, Ellie Evans placed first in the Beginner Archery CWS division.  Matt Terkildsen was the fifth place senior in Archery CWS-R, and Westin Hagman placed third in Junior Archery CWOS-R.  Katelin Deneke was the third place senior in Archery RWOS.  The senior BB gun team placed second:  Aaron Linke, Matt Terkildsen, Amber Schelske and Nathan Linke.  The Junior Air Rifle team took first place:  Taylor Lindsey, Toby Kneen, Megan Linke and Kaylee White.  The Senior Air Pistol team placed third:  Brooklyn Swenson, Evan Ohlrogge, Amber Schelske and Nathan Linke.
In Match 2 state competition, Toby Kneen took first place in Junior Archery CWOS-R, as well as first place in Junior Archery RWOS.  Katelin Deneke placed first in Senior Archery RWOS, and Ellie Evans took second in Beginner Air Rifle.  Shania Cornelius was the second place junior in 22 Rifle CMP.
In Match 3 state competition, Taylor Lindsey placed third in Senior Air Rifle and second in Senior Air Pistol.  Megan Linke took first in Junior 22 Rifle 3-P and second in Junior 22 Rifle CMP.  Aaron Linke placed second in Senior 22 Rifle 3-P and second in Senior 22 Rifle CMP.  Dana Schelske was the third place junior in 22 Rifle CMP.
Nearly 1,600 youth participated in the State 4-H Shoot April 22-24, utilizing 10 different ranges in the Pierre and Ft. Pierre area. Shooters were broken down into age groups and by equipment. The South Dakota State 4-H Shoot is one of the largest youth shooting events in the nation. At the State Shoot, Sanborn County was represented well with six individuals placing in the top three, and four teams in the top three.
Individual placings at the State Shoot were as follows:  Toby Kneen-Archery CWOS-R-third junior and Air Pistol Timed Fire-second junior; Megan Linke-22 Rifle 3-P-first junior; Ellie Evans-Air Pistol Timed Fire-second beginner;
Team placings were Jr. Air Rifle-2nd place-Megan Linke, Taylor Lindsey, Toby Kneen, Kaylee White.  Sr. BB Gun-third place-Aaron Linke, Ashleigh Fry, Amber Schelske and Jordan Wieting.  Beginner Air Pistol-second place-Ellie Evans, Bryce Larson, Kenlie Fridley and Caleb Kneen.  Sr. Air Pistol-1st place-Dilyn Brooks, Emily Ohlrogge, Taylor Lindsey and Toby Kneen..
Along with placing in the top three, there were a number of shooters who placed in the top 20 of their discipline, so Sanborn County 4-H was represented well.
Sanborn County shooters broke a number of county records over the season.  In Air Rifle Beginner Girls, Ellie Evans set the record with 165.  Taylor Lindsey broke the Air Rifle Girls record with a 227 and the Air Pistol Girls record with 162.
Kenzee Schafer set the record in CWS-R County with a 147.13, and Matt Terkildsen set the record in CWS-R County with a score of 146.14.  Westin Hagman now holds the record in CWOS-R County with a 112.01, while Kenzee Schafer has the record in RWOS County with a 100.04.
Megan Linke set the record in Junior 22 Rifle CMP Girls with a score of 501.04, and Amber Schelske set the record in Senior 22 Rifle CMP Girls with 475.08.
Toby Kneen took the record in Junior Archery CWOS-R State with 114.03 and in Junior Archery RWOS State with a score of 95.  Katelin Deneke set the record in Senior Archery RWOS State with 82.01.
Sanborn County Shooting sports ended the season with a “fun shoot” in May.  During the fun shoot, 4-H shooters had the opportunity to shoot at lifesaver targets, silhouettes, and 3D archery targets, shoot blow guns, and compete against parents.
Senior shooters Aaron Linke and Nathan Linke were chosen for the South Dakota 22 Rifle team to compete at the National 4-H Shoot in Grand Island, Neb. in June.  Art Kneen was choose as the coach for the National 4-H Air Pistol team.

…See more pictures in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal.

Ethan and Michael Schmiedt compete in a friendly round of Blow Darts at the 4-H Fun Shoot.