Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Youth from the Copper Tips 4-H Archery Club and Keweenaw Explorers 4-H Club continue to show off their deadeyes.
The 6th annual 4-H Upper Peninsula Regional Shooting Tournament was held at the Sagola Township Sportsmen’s Club in June.
More than 40 shooters and archers from five UP counties gathered for the event with many of them vying to qualify for the state competition in August in St. Clair County.
Houghton-Keweenaw, Delta, Dickinson, Iron, and Schoolcraft counties competed in four disciplines: BB, Air (Pellet) Rifle, .22, and Target Archery. Cloverbuds (ages 5-8) participated in BB and Archery, while other youth competed in three age divisions (Beginner (ages 9-11), Junior (ages 12-14), and Senior (ages 15-19) for all 4 classes. Each attendee was allowed to enter in two events and more than 18 events were held.
Seven members (ages 9-19) from the Copper Tips 4-H Archery Club and Keweenaw Explorers 4-H Club represented Houghton-Keweenaw County and competed in 10 events. Four Houghton-Keweenaw archers had Regional personal best scores. For the second year in a row, all Houghton-Keweenaw members brought home medals for individual and/or team events. Houghton-Keweenaw County swept the Unsighted Archery Junior and Senior Divisions.
Copper Tips 4-H Archery Club leader, Jen Bach remarked “Our youth demonstrated again their ability to discipline themselves to prepare for this event. Their ability to focus this year was outstanding- as their personal best scores reflect.”
In the Beginner division (ages 9-11) four events were held. In Unsighted Archery, Timothy Busick (Delta) earned the top spot followed by Olivia Tiglas (Schoolcraft), and Levi Bach (Houghton-Keweenaw). A squad consisting of Houghton-Keweenaw’s Levi Bach, Sterling Fryer, Lorelei Fryer, and Iron County’s Dane Ryan and Maddy Smith placed 3rd in the Beginner BB Team event.
The Junior division (ages 12-14) had six events. Target Archery Unsighted had Karissa Kruzich (Houghton-Keweenaw) earning top honors over Brianna Tiglas (Schoolcraft.)
In the Archery Unsighted Senior division (ages 15-19) Noah Bach (Houghton) defended his title from 2018, topping his brother Caleb Bach (2017 and 2018 Junior Unsighted Champion), and Mindy McKinnon (Iron). Noah also had the top unsighted score across all age group divisions.
In the Archery Team event, the Houghton-Keweenaw County team of Noah Bach, Alaina Bach, Sterling Fryer, and Levi Bach took 3rd place; besting the other Houghton-Keweenaw team comprised of Caleb Bach, Lorelei Fryer, Karissa Kruzich, and Brittany Cunningham, who placed 5th.
Through the support of the Keweenaw Community Foundation and Michigan 4-H Foundation; the Copper Tips 4-H Archery Club obtained range equipment and a canopy that proved essential to having such a strong showing by local youth at the UP Regional Shoot in 2019. Houghton-Keweenaw youth generously shared their equipment so that other archers could also compete.
Many of the shooters in attendance will be representing their home county at the State of Michigan 4-H shoot at the beginning of August. For more information about 4-H Shooting Sports opportunities in the area please contact the Michigan State University Extension office at (906) 482-5830.
