Post by shoreman on May 22, 2006 18:23:19 GMT -5
While violence in schools has gotten a lot of attention in the media in the past decade, Harwell felt a responsibility to teach students about guns and gun safety, he said.
Hooray for common sense!
Are the majority of North Carolina residents this smart?
Aiming for excellence
Gaston Day School starts state's 1st scholastic skeet shooting team
SONYA T. GORDON
Special Correspondent
www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/states/north_carolina/counties/gaston/14616043.htm
Often, school athletes use footballs, basketballs or baseballs to train for their sports. In a new club at Gaston Day School, the 18 student-athletes use guns.
The Spartan Sport Shooters is an athletic club dedicated to the sport of skeet shooting, a clay shooting discipline. It is the only scholastic youth skeet team in the state, said team director Rocky Harwell.
He said it took more than two years of persuasion to make it a reality.
Harwell, a mechanical/project engineer, is also a Gaston Day graduate and the parent of a Gaston Day student. He said a presentation and Q&A was held for interested students and parents in January.
"Since then, we've operated safely with a clean bill of health, and the kids are having a ball," said Harwell, who volunteers his time to the team.
While violence in schools has gotten a lot of attention in the media in the past decade, Harwell felt a responsibility to teach students about guns and gun safety, he said.
"I'd rather give them good knowledge in a controlled environment," Harwell said. "Skeet shooting teaches camaraderie, discipline, respect for others and for firearms, trust and skill in the clays discipline."
The 18 team members are divided into three age divisions, with students from the fourth through 11th grades.
William Farmer, a 13-year-old eighth-grader, said he signed up for the team "because I like shooting and have never done anything like this before. It seemed pretty cool."
His mother, Meg Farmer, supports William's involvement.
"I think it's a neat opportunity because it teaches gun safety and discipline, not only in skeet shooting but also in the way they conduct themselves," she said. "There is no room for error. Also, it is unique -- a little different than anything else."
William has a little more experience with guns than some team members, however. He has hunted, and his family has held skeet shooting events at their farm. William's father used to skeet shoot as a young man, and a great-aunt was a national skeet shooting champion.
"I hope I have her talent, but I still haven't shot 25 out of 25 yet, although I hope to in the near future," William said.
Harwell said 50 percent of the Spartan Sport Shooters members had never held a real gun before. Of those who had, only two or three had done any skeet shooting. So the coaching staff had to fit guns according to student height, strength and gun recoil. Getting the "fit" right is a fundamental part of successful shooting, Harwell said.
Now their shooting has improved, and the team is looking forward to the state championship competition in early June, Harwell said. Since the team is the only youth skeet team in North Carolina, the students have had to compete in events that are primarily for adults. The team has been competing against out-of-state teams to get ready for the national championship.
The team has five coaches -- volunteers who are nationally recognized and champion skeet shooters. Head coach Doug Thompson is a past world champion and an All American Skeet Team member.
"He has won numerous state and zone championships and is a gifted instructor who loves working with kids," Harwell said.
Thompson's wife, Susan, is another coach. She recently was appointed to the 10-member National Skeet Shooting Association Women's Honor Squad. The other three coaches -- Joe Reid, Ken Riddle and Austin Williams -- are regionally competitive skeet shooters.
Hooray for common sense!
Are the majority of North Carolina residents this smart?
Aiming for excellence
Gaston Day School starts state's 1st scholastic skeet shooting team
SONYA T. GORDON
Special Correspondent
www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/states/north_carolina/counties/gaston/14616043.htm
Often, school athletes use footballs, basketballs or baseballs to train for their sports. In a new club at Gaston Day School, the 18 student-athletes use guns.
The Spartan Sport Shooters is an athletic club dedicated to the sport of skeet shooting, a clay shooting discipline. It is the only scholastic youth skeet team in the state, said team director Rocky Harwell.
He said it took more than two years of persuasion to make it a reality.
Harwell, a mechanical/project engineer, is also a Gaston Day graduate and the parent of a Gaston Day student. He said a presentation and Q&A was held for interested students and parents in January.
"Since then, we've operated safely with a clean bill of health, and the kids are having a ball," said Harwell, who volunteers his time to the team.
While violence in schools has gotten a lot of attention in the media in the past decade, Harwell felt a responsibility to teach students about guns and gun safety, he said.
"I'd rather give them good knowledge in a controlled environment," Harwell said. "Skeet shooting teaches camaraderie, discipline, respect for others and for firearms, trust and skill in the clays discipline."
The 18 team members are divided into three age divisions, with students from the fourth through 11th grades.
William Farmer, a 13-year-old eighth-grader, said he signed up for the team "because I like shooting and have never done anything like this before. It seemed pretty cool."
His mother, Meg Farmer, supports William's involvement.
"I think it's a neat opportunity because it teaches gun safety and discipline, not only in skeet shooting but also in the way they conduct themselves," she said. "There is no room for error. Also, it is unique -- a little different than anything else."
William has a little more experience with guns than some team members, however. He has hunted, and his family has held skeet shooting events at their farm. William's father used to skeet shoot as a young man, and a great-aunt was a national skeet shooting champion.
"I hope I have her talent, but I still haven't shot 25 out of 25 yet, although I hope to in the near future," William said.
Harwell said 50 percent of the Spartan Sport Shooters members had never held a real gun before. Of those who had, only two or three had done any skeet shooting. So the coaching staff had to fit guns according to student height, strength and gun recoil. Getting the "fit" right is a fundamental part of successful shooting, Harwell said.
Now their shooting has improved, and the team is looking forward to the state championship competition in early June, Harwell said. Since the team is the only youth skeet team in North Carolina, the students have had to compete in events that are primarily for adults. The team has been competing against out-of-state teams to get ready for the national championship.
The team has five coaches -- volunteers who are nationally recognized and champion skeet shooters. Head coach Doug Thompson is a past world champion and an All American Skeet Team member.
"He has won numerous state and zone championships and is a gifted instructor who loves working with kids," Harwell said.
Thompson's wife, Susan, is another coach. She recently was appointed to the 10-member National Skeet Shooting Association Women's Honor Squad. The other three coaches -- Joe Reid, Ken Riddle and Austin Williams -- are regionally competitive skeet shooters.