Two Mid-Shore teens, bolstered by the community’s support and enthusiasm, are heading to Nebraska this month to compete in 4-H’s largest championship competition in the country, the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championship. Along with two teens from the Western Shore, the group will represent Maryland at the competition in the shotgun discipline.
Megan Watts, of St. Michaels, and Brock Harris, of Preston, have had a cadre of people working with them in support of their pursuit on such things as fundraising, coaching and mentoring. The Talbot Rod and Gun Club recently donated $2,500 toward their travel expenses to the competition where 35 states will be represented and 1,000 teens from 15 to 19 years old will be competing in nine disciplines.
Megan and Brock are excited for their adventure and have been training hard. They both started young within the 4-H organization, putting in their time on the course as well as in other areas of interest. It wasn’t only their dominant shooting skills that earned them a spot on the Maryland 4-H team, however. Each had to shoot a cumulative score of 82% or better. Shooting was 60% of their total score. They then had to participate in an intense interview with three 4-H representatives, which was 20% of their overall score. Then they submitted a resume that completed the testing. That takes tenacity, guts and dedication.
By the time they travel to Grand Island, Nebraska for the June 26 opening ceremonies, Megan and Brock, along with their teammates PJ Hinch and Gavin LaSala, will be competition ready. It’s then that they will need to let their training take over as they shoot 100 skeet, 100 clays and 100 trap each day of the competition.
Donations may be sent to Nebraska Trip
c/o Parker Spurry, Shore United Bank,
1013 S. Talbot Street, St. Michaels, MD 21663. Questions may be directed to Conrad Arnold, program coordinator for the national 4-H shooting sports program, at 410-310-5967.
Good Luck Megan and Brock!