HUNTING HILLS HAWKEYES W STATE MEDALS For Release: June 26, 2012 Contact: Elizabeth Menhart, Communications Director/Tourism (724-852-5210)
Pictured with the Greene County Commissioners are the members, coaches and sponsors of the Hunting Hills Hawkeyes, Greene County’s Scholastic Clay Target Program team. Fifteen team members recently received medals for their performances during the Pennsylvania Scholastic Clay Target Program Sporting Clays Championship, held June 16 at Central Penn Sporting Clays in Wellsville, Pa. (Click image to enlarge photo)
WAYNESBURG, PA — Members of the Hunting Hills Hawkeyes, Greene County’s Scholastic Clay Target Program team, recently received awards during the Pennsylvania Scholastic Clay Target Program Sporting Clays Championship, held June 16 at Central Penn Sporting Clays in Wellsville, Pa.
The event involved 190 youth shooters from across the state competing in a 100-target shoot to determine state winners in five skill divisions. Forty-seven Hunting Hills Hawkeyes members participated in the shoot, and 15 team members received medals.
Two Hawkeyes squads took first place in their respective divisions. Mathew Rush of Jefferson, Branden Sanders of Waynesburg and Nathan Hinerman of Waynesburg won first place in the intermediate advanced division, with a squad score of 225, and Zack Abbott of New Freeport, Luke Pecjak of Dilliner and Hunter Scott of Carmichaels won first place in the intermediate entry level, with a combined score of 187.
In the varsity division, the squad consisting of Nicholas Clarke of Carmichaels, Alexander Rush of Jefferson and Walter Young Jr. of Waynesburg took second place, with a score of 233. Finishing in eighth place with a score of 207 was the squad consisting of Tristan Kozel of Carmichaels, Jacob Young of Waynesburg and Andrew Buchtan of Greensboro. In 13th place with a score of 194 was the squad consisting of Tyler Rumble of Dilliner, Timothy Spitznogle of Clarksville and Seth Taylor of Morgantown, W.Va. Jacob Guthrie of Jefferson, Jake Cumberledge of Brave and Darren Tretinik of Prosperity finished in 23rd place with a score of 165.
In the junior varsity division, three squads placed. Finishing third with a score of 209 was the team of Paul Peters of Scenery Hill, Parker Woodring of Carmichaels and Timothy Heldreth of Mt. Morris. In a tie for ninth place, Will Abbott of Carmichaels, Derek Stickles of Waynesburg and Stephen Kiel of Waynesburg scored 185, and the squad consisting of Ryan Christopher Jr. of Carmichaels, Montana Bellis of Dilliner and Trystan Weir of Waynesburg finished in 11th place with a combined score of 184.
Placing fifth in the intermediate advanced division was the squad consisting of Camryn Dugan of Waynesburg, Ethan Kraus of Prosperity and Lex Uram of McKees Rocks with a score of 174.
Also placing in the intermediate entry category was the squad consisting of Thomas Heldreth of Mt. Morris, Patrick Hughes of Rogersville and Tanner Reicholf of Lake Lynn, which finished in fourth place with a score of 166. Devin Snyder of Waynesburg was individually part of the fifth-place team, and the Hawkeyes squad consisting of Chase Faddis of Carmichaels, Nick Valachovic of Morgantown, W.Va., and Dylan Miller of Waynesburg finished sixth with a score of 152.
In the rookie division, the squad consisting of Arran Hinerman of Waynesburg, Tristan Cole of Waynesburg and Cameron Cernuska of Jefferson placed third with a score of 157. The squad of Colton Stoneking of Waynesburg, Hunter Orrahood of Waynesburg and Branden Tretinik of Prosperity finished fifth with a score of 138, and the team of Ian Flynn of Greensboro, Caitlyn Dugan of Waynesburg and Barren Peters of Scenery Hill finished sixth with a score of 125. Jesse Wolfe of Carmichaels was individually part of the seventh-place team.
Three female Hawkeyes were recognized for their individual scores: Montana Bellis, junior varsity, 61; Camryn Dugan, intermediate advanced, 67; and Caitlyn Dugan, rookie, 39.
Last year, 33 members of the Hawkeyes competed in the Pennsylvania Scholastic Clay Target Program Sporting Clays Championship in Meshoppen, Pa., with 16 members receiving medals for their performances.
The Hawkeyes formed in February 2009 as part of a pilot Scholastic Clay Target Program in the county. More than 40 students in grades five through 12 have participated in the program each year.
The team’s home base of Hunting Hills is owned and operated by Sally and Roy Sisler, who first approached the Greene County Commissioners in 2008 about starting a Scholastic Clay Target Program. This year’s head coach was Chuck Mallory, who worked with several assistant coaches.
Nationally, the programs are sponsored by the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation. Locally, the Greene County Commissioners and the Department of Recreation sponsor the program with support from Friends of the National Rifle Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sylvan Energy, LLC, and Warrior Trail Gobblers. The program’s mission is to promote and teach young people the fundamentals of gun safety, team work and outdoor sports.
For more information on the Hunting Hills Hawkeyes, call the Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323.
For general information, please contact the Information Services at 724-852-5399 / Toll Free: 1-888-852-5399. County Office Building, 93 E. High Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
