Considering the Goodrich Skeet Club is brand-new, the students in the group have accomplished quite a bit.
Approximately 24 students have signed up for the club this year, and the team took part in its first competition Saturday, Mar. 25 at the Genesee Sportsman Club in Flushing.
A total of 11 Goodrich students participated, and several placed, with students competing in groups of three. The Goodrich team of Brian Grzecki, Mike Swan and Matt Barker finished second with a score of 148 out of 300.
In addition, Jessica York scored 61 out of 100, notching the top individual score for Goodrich.
Barth York, a Goodrich parent who helps coach the team, said the club’s performance at the Flushing meet was very good, considering it was their first meet and they had to deal with less than stellar conditions.
‘The weather was definitely a factor,? he said. ‘There was rain, sleet and snow throughout the day.?
Dan Compeau, a Goodrich parent and operations manager at Williams Gunsight Company, is the team’s head coach.
York said he first had to go to the Goodrich school board to seek their approval for skeet shooting to become a club at Goodrich High School. Once that happened, they issued an open invitation for any GHS students to join the club.
Before the club took part in the Mar. 25 meet, York said the students needed to learn about gun safety and range rules. Compeau gave a presentation to teach them those rules.
‘Responsibility is paramount,? he said. ‘There’s only one way to do it (skeet shooting), and that’s to do it safely.?
According to the National Skeet Shooting Association Web site (www.mynssa.com), skeet shooting was founded in 1920 in the town of Andover, Massachusetts, when a small group of upland game hunters took to shooting clay targets as a means of practicing wing shooting. A uniform series of shots were developed to keep the competition fair and even for all.
Standard targets used in skeet shooting must be no more than 4-5/16 inches in diameter or 1-1/8 inches in height. Competition takes place using four gauges of shotguns (12, 20, 28 and .410), although many people never use more than one.
In addition, guns must be capable of firing two shots, since four sets of doubles are included in a regulation 25-shot round.