STOCKTON, CA (MPG) – Members of the Traveling Circus Skeet Team brought home numerous state championships and top finishes during the California State Skeet Championship, held May 29-31 at Stockton Trap and Skeet Club.
The annual competition attracted 245 entries competing in five championship events. Favorable weather conditions helped produce strong scores throughout the tournament.
Several former Colusa Ducks shooters delivered standout performances. Gus Armstrong, a multiple-time national champion, posted a score of 95 out of 100 in the 12-gauge event. Anthony Feliz, returning after a four-year break from competition, shot 94 out of 100 and tied for second place in his division.
Gage Locatelli earned third-place honors in the sub-junior division with a score of 92 out of 100.
Amelia Wilder placed third among junior shooters in the 12-gauge competition. James DeKay shot 94 out of 100 to capture the Class D state championship and tied for second place in the rookie division. Gavin Hubert also scored 94 out of 100 and tied for second place among rookie competitors.
Former Sutter High School shooter James Cooley claimed state championships in the college division for both the 12-gauge and 20-gauge events.
Peter Reese, a member of several youth shooting teams, joined the Traveling Circus squad and turned in one of the tournament’s strongest performances. Reese shot 92 out of 100 in the 12-gauge event to place third among sub-juniors. He followed with a score of 98 out of 100 in the 28-gauge competition, earning third place in AA Class and the sub-junior championship. Reese added another sub-junior state title in the .410 event and finished with an overall score of 377 out of 400 to earn the High Overall Sub-Junior State Champion title.
Father-and-son competitors Pavel and Yegor Zhdanock also posted strong results. Pavel Zhdanock scored 81 out of 100, while Yegor Zhdanock shot 94 out of 100 to earn sub-junior runner-up state champion honors in the 12-gauge event and tie for second place in the rookie division.
Summer Anderson made her National Skeet Shooting Association tournament debut, scoring 74 out of 100.
Brothers Devin and Dustin Wurm continued their success in competitive shooting. Devin Wurm, returning after a three-year hiatus, posted scores of 94 out of 100 in both the 12-gauge and 20-gauge events, earning third place in Class C.
Dustin Wurm answered with a score of 95 out of 100 in the 12-gauge event to win the sub-junior championship. He also shot 94 out of 100 in the 20-gauge competition to capture the Class D championship and sub-junior runner-up title.
Colusa rice farmer Mark Andreotti recorded a personal-best score of 96 out of 100, earning the Class E state championship and veteran runner-up championship honors.
The Maisano family also turned in strong performances. Madilyn Maisano, who recently signed a scholarship letter of intent with Midland University’s shooting team, shot 92 out of 100 in the 12-gauge event to place third in Class E and earn junior runner-up champion honors.
Her father, John Maisano, shot 90 out of 100, while son Jacob Maisano delivered one of the tournament’s top performances with a perfect 100 out of 100 score. Jacob Maisano earned the Class C championship and TS runner-up champion title in the 12-gauge event.
According to team officials, 16 of the Traveling Circus Skeet Team’s 18 competitors earned state championship titles or placement awards during the three-day event.