ATA Youth Recognition Award Winners Announced

ATA YOUTH RECOGNITION AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED:

Congratulations to:

First Place                    Katelynne Baier, Centerburg, OH                     $2,000

Second Place               Garrett Walters, Burr Oak, MI                          $1,000

Third Place                   Cole Mitchell, Olympia, WA                             $500

These awards were made possible by the Trapshooting Hall of Fame and the Friends of NRA.

A brief bio of each is posted below and will be in the next issue of the Newsletter for ATA Shooting Coaches.  Watch Trap and Field for a longer article!

Thanks to all who applied and to the seven judges scattered across the country.  These judges, all actively involved in youth programs, appreciated the opportunity to read about these outstanding applicants.  They want everyone to know it was extremely hard to select the top three.

The application form for the 2008 ATA Youth Recognition Award will remain on the web site so future applicants may prepare for 2009.  The form may be revised slightly so check the web site in December for the updated 2009 application form.  Contact Edie Fleeman at efleeman@shootata.com with your questions.

FIRST PLACE: Katelynne Baier, a rising high school senior, is the 17 year old daughter of David and Nancy Baier of Centerburg, OH.  Centerburg Youth Shooting Sports gave Katie her start with SCTP trapshooting in 2005 and she accomplished her first 25 straight at the big event that year -- the SCTP National Trap Championships.  Since then she has developed skills in International Trap to the level of being named to USA Shooting's National Junior Olympic Shotgun Team for the past two years.  Katie holds NRA Coach credentials as a Junior Trainer in rifle and shotgun.  During her high school career, Katie has been involved with 4-H, serving as an officer on the county-level junior fair board; with Civil Air Patrol, rising to the current rank of cadet chief master sergeant; Sunday school teacher; organizer and clinic director of an NRA “Women On Target” Shotgun Clinic; numerous community service projects – all while taking college coursework to complete her high school transcript and maintaining an A average.  In her essay, Katie writes, “It is through the shooting sports that I am being shaped into the individual I am meant to be.  It provides me with a positive and challenging environment in which to grow and mature as a person and as a competitor.  As I pursue my ultimate dream of making the 2012 Olympic Team, I will continue to develop and enhance my character, pursue meaningful life-skills, and promote a love for the freedoms we Americans enjoy.”

SECOND PLACE: Garrett Walters, 16, hales from Burr Oak, MI, and is the son of Wendy and David Walters.  A rising junior, Garrett has earned honors academically and in ALL the shotgun sports, most recently as Michigan SCTP Champion.  Like Katie, he is a 4-H member who honed his skills in SCTP and holds a position on USA Shooting’s National Junior Olympic Shotgun Team.  Garrett started shooting in a 4-H program at St. Joseph County Conservation and Sportsman Club, quickly deserving notice because of his diligence with training and practice.  President Jeff Brazo writes that Garrett “enjoys sharing his passion for shooting with other shooters of all ages”, with Jeff’s own son being the recipient of Garrett’s encouragement.  Garrett holds a Michigan 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor certification.  He writes, “Without the support of my parents, friends and family and my two coaches, Larry and Leslie York, I would not be writing this because I wouldn’t have had some of the opportunities that have helped me become a better shooter and a better person and for that I am very thankful.  So in closing I would just like to say thank you.”

THIRD PLACE: Cole Mitchell, is a 16 year old from Olympia, WA, son of Steve and Dori Mitchell.  A rising junior and a straight A student, Cole is ranked first in his class of 400+.  As a freshman, he founded and was president of the conservative club at his school.  He volunteers countless hours to community service, especially for the Capital High School Scholarship Foundation.  Dad Steve was the first influence on his son’s shooting avocation, but Cole’s good manners and respectful demeanor around adult shooters at his club soon attracted the attention of numerous additional mentors, who watched Cole’s confidence and self-esteem grow as he progressed as a trapshooter.  Cole’s hard work paid off and he earned the prestigious awards of Pacific International Trap Association “Rookie of the Year” and “ATA Age Group Rookie of the Year”.  Support from Kim Stephens, Washington State ATA President, along with All-Americans Gerry and Kristi Williams instilled in Cole the confidence to become an All-American himself.  Cole writes, “ATA has given me the opportunity to step up to the line and compete against the best in the nation, something very few athletes ever get to experience.  The shooting sports have not only taught me to keep my head on the stock but something much deeper.  I now have a greater respect for the sport and, even more importantly, the people who participate in it.”