LOCALS SHOOT THEIR WAY TO THIRD AT NATIONALS

By Anissa Crawford
Contributing Writer
    The Marshall County Sharpshooters took a BB gun team and an air rifle team to Rogers, AR, over the July 4 weekend to the Daisy National Championship Tournament and came home with a pair of third place trophies, plus an individual national championship.
    “They all had a fantastic showing, and they have worked hard to achieve all they have,” said team coaches.
    Marshall County was part of a dominant South Dakota performance.  The state sent seven teams to the national event and took first, second, and third place in the 59-team BB gun competition.  Roberts County won the gold, Humboldt the silver, and Marshall County the bronze.
    “The man writing the article for the Daisy website asked me, ‘Is there anything to do in South Dakota other than shoot?’” said Anissa  Crawford.  “We are so proud to have been a part of it!”
    The BB Gun competitors are required to take a written safety and rules test and prepared well for it, bringing home first place honors.  Test scores are added to shooting scores to determine final placement.  Nick Cutler, Tina Rapkoch, and Amelia Crawford all scored 100’s on their test, and the rest of the team only missed one question each.
    The BB gun team is made up of five shooters plus two alternates. On the main team were Rosalyn Rapkoch, Nick Cutler, Joanna Cutler, Jacey Melroe, and Amelia Crawford.  The alternates were Tina Rapkoch and Alivia Crawford.
    Amelia Crawford compiled an aggregate score of 483 and claimed the Individual Aggregate National Championship in a field of 294 shooters.  She was first in the standing position with a score of 96 and four centers.
    Melroe was right behind with a 481 total, good for the sixth place.  She was third in prone with a 99 and seven centers.  Nick Cutler scored a 474 total, Joanna Cutler 468, and Rosalyn Rapkoch 464.  Amelia and Jacey also qualified to shoot in the BB Gun “Top Gun Shoot Off” with Amelia placing sixth and Jacey eighth.
    In the alternate competition Alivia Crawford scored a 476 to place second and was also second in the standing position.  Tina Rapkoch was eighth with a 468 total.
    The third place air rifle team consisted of Grant Cutler, Chris Cutler, Austin Crawford, and Ariana Crawford.  Austin Crawford took third place individually, placing second in prone with a 193 and 12 centers and second in kneeling with a 185 and four centers. His aggregate score was a 535.  Grant Cutler had a 527, good for the seventh spot, Chris Cutler a 492, and Ariana Crawford a 429.  Grant and Austin went on to participate in the air rifle “Top Gun Shoot Off” where Austin placed sixth and Grant placed 10th.