GSDS takes 1st and 2nd Place at Youth Hunter Education Skills
Tournament
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission hosted
the 41st annual Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament state championship April 28 at the John F. Lentz Hunter Education
Complex in Ellerbe in Richmond County.
Gray Stone
Day School sent two marksmanship teams and placed 1st and 2nd in the competition. The Graystone Garnette team took 1st place
with an overall score of 3627. The Gray Stone Grey team finished 2nd with 2572 points. The team was also well represented
in individual skills divisions as well. Denton native, Louisa Parrish, scored 194 out of 200 in Archery, 187 out of 200 in
Rifle, and 190 out of 200 in Shotgun.
The Commission
conducted nine district competitions in March (which served as qualifiers for the state competition) with more than 4,500
middle and high school students participating. Sixty-two teams moved on to compete at the state level in rifle, shotgun and
archery marksmanship, compass orienteering and a hunter responsibility exam.
Competition was conducted on senior (high school) and junior (middle and elementary schools) divisional levels,
with overall team and individual awards based on aggregate scores in all events. This year saw 330 teams participating from
209 public and private schools, homeschool associations and 4-H clubs.
“All year long,
these kids have been honing their skills and promoting hunting heritage while keeping safety at the forefront,” said
Josh Jernigan, the Commission’s shooting sports coordinator. “Win or lose, they have a lot to be proud of.”
The championship represents an opportunity for competitors who
advanced from district events to showcase shooting and outdoor skills as well as knowledge learned through the Commission’s
Hunter Education Program.
While the competition
is for students 18 years and younger, the Commission offers free hunter education courses and advanced hunter education on
a regular schedule for all ages. For more information, go to www.ncwildlife.org/huntered.
