Thursday, July 9, 2009 — The South Stanly Sharp Shooters team has qualified through regional and state levels to participate in the 2009 NRA International Youth Hunter Education Challenge. The competition will be held at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, N.M., July 27-31.
The team will have the opportunity to showcase their competitive shooting skills and earn national recognition.
Competitors at the NRA International Youth Hunter Education Challenge display such skills as rifle, shotgun, bow and muzzleloader shooting at life-sized targets. Other skills include wildlife identification, map and compass orienteering and more. YHEC participants get hands on training in eight skill areas, giving them expertise in all methods of take and all types of game.
Over the years, South Stanly Sharp Shooters have consistently placed in the top three and in most cases won their regional and state competitions. The team has also had multiple individuals to win top overall in their events.
This will be the second time South Stanly Sharp Shooters have advanced to the national level, the first time being in 2006 where the team placed first in archery.
Five team members and one coach will travel to Raton, N.M.
Team members are: head coach Myrick Floyd and team members, Adam Loflin, Seth Floyd, Jerrod Coley, Evan Coley and Peyton Bowers. The team also wishes to recognize coach Jason Crump who will not be able to attend the competition.
South Stanly Sharp Shooters have been hard at work with fund raisers for their trip since May.
The fund raising events were kicked off with a hot dog sale sponsored by God’s Country Outfitters followed by a golf tournament at Piney Point Country Club and a gun raffle.
In addition, the team has a multi-family yard sale planned for 7-10 a.m. July 10 and July 11 at Dicks Muffler shop in Norwood, with all profits going to help with expenses for the trip to New Mexico.
The team will gladly accept any donations from the community for their trip. All donations will be tax deductible. Anyone wishing to support the team can make checks out to South Stanly High School and mail them to: Leah Mauldin, 574 Harbor Road, Norwood, NC 28128. You may also call any of Leah Mauldin at (704) 459-0075, Kim Loflin at (704) 474-3606 and Myrick or Jennifer Floyd at (704) 983-5422.
