CHILLICOTHE, Ill. – Illinois 4-H members from seven counties gathered to showcase their focus and skill at the annual Summer Sizzle Shoot, held June 7 at the Chillicothe Sportsman’s Club. Eighty-five youth competed in the multi-discipline Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports Contest, organized by 4-H staff and volunteers from Marshall-Putnam counties, with essential support from volunteers in LaSalle and Stark counties.
“Shooting Sports teaches patience, resiliency, focus, and determination,” said Anne Scheel, University of Illinois Extension 4-H Program Coordinator for Marshall-Putnam counties. “This event gives 4-H members an opportunity to gain experience before the State Shooting Sports competitions held in the fall.”
Participants competed in air rifle, .22 rifle, shotgun, and archery events across three age divisions: junior, intermediate, and senior.
Air Rifle Results
Junior Division
1st: Eoin Rickey (LaSalle), 79
2nd: Logan Wilhelms (LaSalle), 36
3rd: Sydney Wilhelms (LaSalle), 33
Intermediate Division
1st: Mario Bernabei (LaSalle), 153
2nd: Eoban Rickey (LaSalle), 150
3rd: Clay Zimmerman (LaSalle), 66
Senior Division
1st: Lilliana Bernabei (LaSalle), 191
.22 Rifle Results
Junior Division
1st: Eoin Rickey (LaSalle), 75
2nd: Logan Wilhelms (LaSalle), 66 + 11 (tie-breaker)
3rd: Tahlia Boyle (LaSalle), 66 + 10
4th: Josephine Heeley (Marshall-Putnam), 44
Intermediate Division
1st: Lincoln Massier (LaSalle), 183
2nd: Sarah Curtis (LaSalle), 176
3rd: Mario Bernabei (LaSalle), 172
4th: Eoban Rickey (LaSalle), 136
5th: Gwen Heeley (Marshall-Putnam)
Senior Division
1st: Beckham Massier (LaSalle), 236
2nd: Lilliana Bernabei (LaSalle), 190
Shotgun Results
Junior Division
1st: Keziah Welch (Woodford), 36
2nd: Braxton Leman (Woodford), 32 (tie-breaker)
3rd: Josiah Steffan (Woodford), 32
4th: Clyde Bachman (Woodford), 30
5th: Adilida Lindstrom (Marshall-Putnam), 27
Intermediate Division
1st: Trevan Metzger (Woodford), 46
2nd: Kale Lindstrom (Marshall-Putnam), 45
3rd: Logan Siegmann (Marshall-Putnam), 43
4th: Cooper Hattan (Marshall-Putnam), 41
5th: Harvey Schieber (Woodford), 38
Senior Division
1st: Dominic Carton (Stark), 50 (perfect score)
2nd: Chase Garey (Woodford), 47
3rd: Wyatt Mix (LaSalle), 39
4th: Clive Knoblach (Woodford), 37
5th: Avery Sherman (LaSalle), 32
Sighted Archery Results
Junior Division
1st: Kailyn Warner (LaSalle), 434
2nd: Reagan Casey (Woodford), 422
3rd: Tony Milton (LaSalle), 354
4th: Mason Sherman (LaSalle), 342
5th: Mackenzie Foster (Marshall-Putnam), 331
Intermediate Division
1st: Colt Morrison (LaSalle), 488
2nd: Ryder Baugh (Marshall-Putnam), 451
3rd: Lily Sawin (LaSalle), 422
4th: Jocelyn Erickson (Mercer), 387
5th: David Horsley (Stark), 377
Senior Division
1st: Tate Sundberg (LaSalle), 500 (highest score of the day)
2nd: Piper Brodbeck (LaSalle), 481
3rd: Riggens Shafer (Stark), 422
4th: Sarah Daughtery (Marshall-Putnam), 419
5th: CJ Richards (Stark), 367
Non-Sighted Archery Results
Junior Division
1st: Isley Shafer (Stark), 283
2nd: Judson Wier (Marshall-Putnam), 261
3rd: Sabastian Bass Huber (Mercer), 170
4th: Lily Miller (Mercer), 156
5th: Madeline Barker (Stark), 145
6th: Hayden Baugh (Marshall-Putnam), 123
“This is one of our favorite 4-H events,” said one parent. The next Summer Sizzle Shoot is scheduled for June 6, 2026—mark your calendars!
A special thank you to the Chillicothe Sportsman’s Club and their dedicated volunteers for generously providing the venue and support throughout the day.
To learn more about 4-H opportunities, contact the local Extension Program Coordinator, Anne Scheel, at amscheel@illinois.edu or 309-364-2356.
About Illinois 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension and administered through the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. 4-H grows true leaders, youth who are empowered for life today and prepared for a career tomorrow. The hands-on approach in 4-H gives young people guidance, tools, and encouragement, and then puts them in the driver’s seat to make great things happen. Independent research confirms the unparalleled impact of the 4-H experience, demonstrating that young people are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.