4-H members from seven counties around the state joined for the annual Summer Sizzle Shoot June 3 at the Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club. Nearly 65 youth participated in the Illinois 4-H shooting sports competition, organized by Marshall-Putnam 4-H Shooting Sports. LaSalle county shooting sports instructors volunteered to help run the ranges.

“The participants practice and build their shooting sports skill as they also learn to cooperate and work together,” says Anne Scheel, University of Illinois Extension 4-H program coordinator for Marshall-Putnam counties. “Shooting sports teaches patience, resiliency, focus, and determination.”

Youth interested in joining the 4-H program may contact Scheel at 309-364-2356 or their county 4-H coordinator.

Three age divisions separated the youth who competed in air rifle, .22 rifle, shotgun, and archery.

Air rifle

Winners in the junior air rifle division include Kayden Catton-Marshall-Putnam Counties, first; Eion Rickey-LaSalle, second; Logan Wilhelms-LaSalle, third; and Colton Nuske- LaSalle, fourth.

LaSalle County 4-H members finished at the top of the intermediate air rifle division. Placing first was Eoban Rickey; Avery Sherman finished second: and Mason Sherman finished third.

In the senior division Lilliana Bernabei-LaSalle took first.

.22 Rifle

Kayden Catton of Marshall-Putnam 4-H placed first in the junior .22 rifle division, followed by Max Broderick – LaSalle county in second and Colton Nuske - LaSalle County in third.

In the intermediate division of .22 rifle, the winners include Beckham Massier - LaSalle County, first; Lincoln Massier - LaSalle County, second; Eoban Rickey - LaSalle County, third; Shianne Bensa - LaSalle County, fourth; and Tristen Catton of Marshall-Putnam Counties, fifth.

Lilliana Bernabei placed first in the senior .22 rifle division. She participates in LaSalle County 4-H.

Shotgun

Henry Neri - LaSalle County claimed first place in the junior shotgun division, followed by Cullen Meyer -County 4-H in second place and Cooper Hattan of Marshall-Putnam County in third.

Three Marshall-Putnam County 4-H members were in the top five placings of the intermediate shotgun division. Those youth include Mitchel Tjaden, first; Layne Whited, second; and Lane Kocher, third. Trey Lee, LaSalle fourth; and Wyatt Mix- LaSalle, finishing fifth.

Durham Switzer of Edgar County earned the top place in the senior shotgun contest. There was a close contest for second thru fourth place. A three-way tie required a shoot off for placement.  Hunter Lane -LaSalle County, second; Annika Michlik - LaSalle, third; Landon Lee - LaSalle County, fourth; and Jeremy Durham- LaSalle County, fifth.

Sighted Archery

In the sighted archery contest, Bo Neri- LaSalle County claimed victory in the junior division. Additional winners include Taylor Preston- Olge County, second; Mario Bernabei - LaSalle County, third; Boden Decker – Marshall-Putnam County, fourth; and Kailyn Warrner- LaSalle County, fifth.

Madalyn O’Connell a LaSalle County 4-H member took first place in the intermediate sighted archery division. Other winners include Lexi Sawin - LaSalle County, second; Myracle Johnson - LaSalle County, third; and Luca Palm - Marshall-Putnam counties, fourth.

In the senior division, Piper Bradbeck took first place with the highest score of the day. Piper is a member in LaSalle County. Additional winners include CJ Richards – Stark County, second; Piper Kammer – Marshall-Putnam Counties, third; Travis Broers - Montgomery County, fourth, and Sarah Daughtery - Marshall -Putnam Counties; fifth.

Non-Sighted Archery

Top junior archers using a non-sighted bow include Isley Schafer- Stark County, first; Chase Hattan Marshall-Putnam Counties, second; Avery Schaer - Marshall-Putnam counties, third; David Horsley of Stark County, fourth; and Adalida Lindstrom -Marshall-Putnam Counties, fifth.

Riggins Shafer of Stark County took a commanding lead in the intermediate non-sighted archery contest, followed by Kiryn Schaer of Marshall-Putnam counties, second; and Lillian Lindstrom Marshall-Putnam counties, third.

Kiryn Schaer represented the senior division winner.  She is a Marshall-Putnam 4-H member.

If you have questions or need more information please call University of Illinois Extension- Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam Unit Office at 815-224-0889. Extension offices are located in Princeton, Ottawa, Henry and in Oglesby on the IVCC campus.