DATE: July 28, 2009

CONTACT: John Cummings , 864-656-3601
cumminj@clemson.edu

WRITER: Debbie Dalhouse, 864-656-6737
ddalhou@clemson.edu

4-H BB gun team hits target for spot at championship match

ANDERSON — This month the Anderson Aces 4-H BB gun team put South Carolina on the map at the 44th Annual International BB Gun Championship Match held in Bowling Green, Ky. The Aces finished in 28th place overall, with individual team members achieving numerous top 10 finishes.
 
More than 200 youth aged 9-15, plus 68 alternates, represented 42 teams from across the United States at the match July 4. The championship match consisted of shooting stages in four positions (prone, standing, sitting and kneeling). Participants also took a comprehensive test covering shooting safety and rules of conduct.

Noteworthy performances by the Aces team include: Graylyn Christenbury placed sixth in sitting and 10th in prone; Ian Cummings tied for eighth place in the sitting position; and Emlynn Shoemaker placed fifth in kneeling, seventh in prone and eighth in standing.
 
Other team members competing at the match were Jonathan Burdette, Ray Cummings, Jake Willey and Caleb Cutlip, accompanied by coaches John Cummings and Vinson Burdette.
 
Coach Cummings said, “We are proud to have been able to represent our state at this prestigious event. While our goal was to finish higher as a team, we are very pleased with the outcome and the individual performances of our young marksmen.”

Team member Ian Cummings talked about what it felt like to attend the match. “It’s great to be able to put all the hours of practice to a test against so many other dedicated shooters,” he said.  His younger brother, Ray, said, “It’s fun, but a little bit scary to be shooting against that many people.”

The team expresses gratitude to the numerous local businesses that made donations to help cover the costs of their travel.

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