Dead Eye shooter Madie Snyder qualifies for air rifle championship

Local student Maddie Snyder has qualified for the 2014 Army National Junior Air Rifle Championships (USANARC). She is currently a student at Kimball High School, and her mother and father are her coaches in the 4-H Dead Eye Shooters Club. Nicole Snyder, Madie's mother, explains where they will be going and the competition itself.

"We received information that she placed 13th out of about 750 kids and that qualified her to go to nationals. We will be going to Georgia February 24th," Snyder said.

The competition summarization is, basically, a competition format that gives all participants a true shoulder-to-shoulder competition experience that is simultaneously a state championship and a national qualification. Competitors will fire Air Rifle Competitions throughout the nation, where their targets will be scored using the Orion Scoring Systems. By utilizing the Orion Scoring System, the scores will be uploaded into a national results list that displays state and national rankings in real time. The U. S. Army Marksmanship Unit is administering the championship and will provide the state certificates and national medals and awards. The website for the competition also explains all the different aspects of the competition more clearly.

Of course with competitions such as this one, there are different categories that can be competed in and each of those categories have specific rules and regulations to adhere to when participating.

"She's competing in the sporter division. Which the difference between sporter and precision is that in sporter they are not allowed to wear special clothing, like you see in the Olympics competition. They can't make as many modifications to their gun, it's not as easy to modify it for competition," Snyder said.

They already have an agenda for the competition days and plan on sticking to those.

"On the 24th, when we get there, she'll have a practice day and we'll check in equipment. Then she' ll shoot a set of 2 by 3s which means she shoot 2 targets worth 20 points, standing and kneeling. She'll do that on the first day. She'll also do this on the second day. They'll have finals both days. This is where the top eight kids for that day will compete in a ten point shoot off in the standing position. They compile it all at the end and then awards will be given," Snyder said.

In these competitions winning isn't really about the medals, certificates, or the trophies, it's about the opportunity. There is a great opportunity of competing on a national level with other junior air rifle contestants.

"They get EIC points, Earned in Competition points. The kids go for a distinguished shooter badge, and there is a very small percentage of kids that actually ever actually get this badge. The way you earn it is by competing and earning those EIC points and doing well in the competitions," Snyder said.

While shooting may seem like something that is just a fun hobby it's more than that. It can actually help students get into college.

"What a lot of people don't realize is that a lot of colleges have shooting programs in place and the students can actually get scholarships based on their participation in shooting. Much like a student can get a college scholarship for sports like football," Snyder said.

That being brought to light it's important to wonder how exactly a students involvement in shooting could be of benefit academically.

"Well, with Madie, I see a definite improvement in her focusing and mental skills. Shooting takes a lot of focus and mental decision making. She definitely applies that to all avenues of her life and her school work. So I think it gives her a good advantage," Snyder said.

The Dead Eye Shooters are in the process of getting the BB gun training started and they meet on Monday and Thursday nights at 6 p.m. at the event center. They ask that any new attendees be accompanied by an adult, for safety reasons. They provide an extensive program in gun safety, and work with kids as young as eight year of age.