6/27/2005
NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL MUZZLELOADING RIFLE AWARD WINNERS NAMED - Tom Keith

McCook, Neb. – The 2005 Nebraska High School Muzzleloading Rifle Championship was held June 24-26 at the Pawnee Free Trappers Club Range near McCook, where 16 young shooters from Nebraska and Kansas competed for awards.

There were separate matches for youths shooting traditional muzzleloaders and those who shot modern muzzleloading rifles. Some participants competed in both categories. The senior group was made up of shooters ages 15 - 19 years, and the junior group was ages 11- 14 years.

Each match consisted of each competitor firing 40 shots – five shots at paper targets placed at distances of 25, 50, 75 and 100 yards, in addition to one shot at each at 20 silhouette targets that resembled five chickens placed at 25 yards, five pigs at 50 yards, five turkeys at 75 yards and five rams at 100 yards.

In the traditional muzzleloading rifle category shooters could shoot only a cloth patched lead round ball, and modern muzzleloading rifle shooters were required to use a modern type of projectile. Only open sights were allowed and loads were limited to 75 grains or less of loose black powder or its modern equivalent. The competitors shot offhand at 25 and 50 yards, although they were allowed to use cross sticks to support the rifle when they shot at 75 and 100 yards.

The award winners were:

Senior Modern Rifle

1st place – Beau Burkhalter, Bird City, Ks.

2nd place – Evan Richter, Hays Center

3rd place -- Matt Bair, Culbertson

Senior Traditional Rifle

1st place -- Kyle Steinke, Palisade

2nd place --Evan Richter, Hays Center

3rd place -- Zane Starks, Hagler

Junior Modern Rifle

1st place -- Blaine Richter, Hays Center

2nd place -- Alex Yonker, McCook

3rd place -- Brady Rosno, Hays Center

Junior Traditional Rifle

1st place -- Misty Dobrinski, Bridgeport

2nd place -- Cody Steinke, Palisade

3rd place – Alex Yonkers, McCook

Team awards and members of each team:

High Score 4H Modern Rifle

Zane Starks, Matt Bair, Beau Burkhalter and Kyle Thomas

High Score 4H Traditional Rifle

Zack Starks, Cody Steinke, Logan Dailey and Zane Starks

High Score Open Team Modern Rifle

Zack Starks, Beau Burkhalter, Troyce Thomas and Matt Bair

High Score Open Team Traditional Rifle

Eric Anderjaska, Kyle Dailey, Kyle Stainke and Misty Dobrinski

Mike Streeter, Nebraskas hunter education coordinator, said, “The event was sponsored by the United Nebraska Muzzleloaders Association, Pawnee Free Trappers Club of McCook and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commissions Hunter Education Program. Several local business and individuals furnished supplies and materials to assist in the event and insure that the competitors were safe and well fed. Match Director Merlin Shaffer, of Trenton, expressed thanks to all of the persons involved in making this a safe and successful youth oriented event.”

“This is the first of what we hope will be an annual event,” Streeter said.

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