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Local 4-H’er competes at National Shooting Sports Event
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Katelyn Reh competing in the NRA Bullseye Match.
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Katelyn Reh competing in the NRA Steel Silhouette Match with Caden Thul spotting for her.
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2019 KS 4H Smallbore Pistol Team after winning 3rd overall. From left to right: Brett Bannon, coach, Abby Lawrenz, Katelyn Reh, Naomi Ray and Caden Thul

The week of June 23-28, 4-Hers from across the nation converged on Grand Island, Neb., to compete in the 2019 4-H National Shooting Sports Championship. During that week, 661 4-Hers, from 36 states, gathered to compete against each other and learn more about their particular shooting sports event.

After equipment check-in, there was one day of practice time followed by three days of competition. The event ended with a Friday morning awards ceremony.

This year, Kansas sponsored 36 4-Hers. Each competed in one of nine shooting sports disciplines as a member of a four-person team. Katelyn Reh from Ellinwood was a member of the smallbore pistol team. The other members of the team were Abby Lawrenz from Johnson County, Naomi Ray from Cowley County and Caden Thul from Sedgwick County. The coach for this year’s smallbore pistol team was Brett Bannon from Cowley County.

Over the last eight months, the 4-Hers practiced on their own with their local instructors/coaches. They also practiced together several times and competed at county-level 4-H events.

While in Grand Island, the pistol team competed in three events, an NRA Bullseye Pistol match, a steel silhouette match and a Camp Perry match. The first day of competition was the NRA Bullseye match. The Kansas team placed first in the event. The second day of competition was the Silhouette match and the Kansas team placed second. The third day of competition was the Camp Perry match and the Kansas team placed seventh. 

Overall, the Kansas pistol team placed third and Abbey Lawrenz was the overall champion pistol shooter for the week.