Young top shots compete in national competition

Two Northern Nevada young men are in Texas this week representing Nevada as they compete for honors in the 4-H Shooting Sports Match.

Seventeen-year-old Bryce James is a member of the Storey County Comstock Hot Shots 4-H Shooting Sports Club. He has honed his skills over the last five years in air pistol, air rifle, .22 rifle and muzzleloader under the leadership of Rich and Tamara Knight, and also excels at shotgun.

He has also attended Carson Hot Shots meetings where he shoots to increase his shogun skills.

"Bryce took extra time in 2009 to take the Junior 4-H Shooting Sports Leader training, and continues to be a valuable junior leader in 4-H Shooting Sports for both the Carson Hot Shots 4-H club and Comstock Hot Shots 4-H club," said Sandy Wallin, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension's Carson City/Storey County Office, 4-H and Youth Programs.

Bryce represented Nevada at the 2009 National 4-H Shooting Sports Match, competing in air rifle, and in 2010, competing in air pistol, she said. He has won numerous awards at the State 4-H Shooting Sports Match over the past five years - Bronze, Silver and Gold medals in each of his disciplines.

"I've been shooting since I was 8 years old," Bryce said from San Antonio, Texas, "and I've been in so many competitions every weekend, it's like I'm practicing every weekend."

He said the competition at the national event is stiff, but he has looked forward to it for a long time. There are at least 30 states with about four competitors each competing.

Bryce is competing in sporting clays, skeet and trap.

"I feel confident in my skills, and hoping it's going to be a pretty good shoot," he said.

Fourteen-year-old Tim Syriac is from Fernley, and shoots with the Windy Hill Sharpshooters 4-H Club.

This is Tim's third year with 4-H Shooting Sports. He has competed in the State 4-H Shooting Sports Match for the past two years, Wallin said.

Among his accomplishments are taking the Gold Medal in his age group in shotgun in 2009. He also took the Gold Medal in his age group in shotgun

"Last year here in Carson City he received a blue ribbon in shotgun," she said. "Tim also competes in air rifle and .22 rifle.

His leaders in Fernley are Bob Van Pelt and Donna Rovatti in shotgun and Lisa and Gary Gray in air rifle and .22 rifle.

"This is a good chance for leadership, character building, discipline building and learning how to have fun and be safe," Tim said. "Shooting has taught me patience and good sportsmanship, and how to concentrate and just do your best."

Tim has been working at Capital City Gun Club with the Carson City Hot Shots 4-H shotgun leaders Bob Gibson, Greg Wright and Rusty Wolbers to build his skills in both sporting clays and skeet, Wallin said.

Both 4-H'ers have received help in the way of scholarships from State 4-H Shooting Sports Advisory Committee and home town clubs and fundraisers.

"They have worked hard to achieve the level of success that enabled them to apply to the national match," Wallin said.