Colusa County’s Youth Shooting Sports Team kept its eyes on the prize when it participated in the 2022 U.S. Open Youth Clay Shooting Championships in Las Vegas.
The event featured skeet, sporting clays, and trap competitions.
Descending upon the Clark County Shooting Complex from July 5-9, the Ducks made a splash as they garnered 30 individual and team awards by the event’s conclusion.
The Ducks got off to a hot start in skeet with three category winners, including Caleb Manhart (160/200) in the Rookie division, Robert Shadley (179/200) in Intermediate Entry, and Reagan Parisio (182/200) in Intermediate Advanced.
Senior Division winners included Dustin Wurm (189/200), who finished second in JV and Devin Wurm (189/200), who took third in Young Adult.
In the skeet squad awards, the Ducks were the first place Rookie squad, second place JV squad, and then were third in the two intermediate categories.
Following the skeet competition, the Ducks took aim in sporting clays and were equally as successful.
Manhart (80/100) and Shadley (89/100) both turned in repeat performances by winning the Rookie and Intermediate Entry groupings, respectively.
Chase Carrere (92/100) was second at the varsity level while Devin Wurm earned another third place finish in YA, and Dustin Wurm (87/100) edged teammate Tanner Hansen (86/100) for fourth in JV.
Colusa was the first place JV sporting clays squad, second in Intermediate Advanced, and third in Varsity.
Rounding out the events at the championships was the trap competition.
Devin Wurm (198/200) turned in his best score to take the second spot in YA, as did the rookie Manhart (181/200), who also placed second.
Ayden Hunt (194/200) had a good outing, which was good for second place, then led the IA squad to a third place finish, while Hansen (189/200) claimed third in JV.
Carrere (195/200) captured the fourth spot among the varsity trap shooters.
When it was all said and done, the Ducks stood as the third place team overall, a result that head coach Bruce Hardwick found to be a fitting culmination.
“You really couldn’t ask for a better end to the season,“ said Hardwick. “The national tournament has always brought out the best in our team, and this year was no exception.” ■
