Pistol Prodigies Compete at Multiple SASP State Championships

Submitted by Scott Poet, Pistol Prodigies

Manchester’s own Pistol Prodigies Youth Pistol and Rifle Team competed at the Wisconsin Scholastic Action Shooting Program’s (SASP) State Championships in Racine, WI June 15-16, and the Michigan SASP State Match June 22-23. For the fourth consecutive year, the Michigan match was held at the St. Joseph County Conservation and Sportsman Club in Sturgis.

Team competition is action (speed) shooting on steel targets. Each match has student athletes shoot four different stages, each five times. The four fastest runs by each athlete, from each of the four stages, are added together, along with the scores of their three squad-mates. Then the aggregate scores are put in order from fastest to slowest to determine the winners. Athletes can shoot the following firearms: Centerfire or Rimfire Pistol, 1911 Pistol (as an additional pistol), Iron Sight Rimfire Rifle, Optic Sight Rimfire Rifle, and Pistol Caliber Carbine. Athletes from 6th grade and up can shoot any of the above firearms. Fifth grade and under can only shoot the rifle disciplines.

Racine is only a six hour drive from Manchester, and they hosted the third largest state match in 2019. Teams from around the Midwest competed on the banks of Lake Michigan. The Pistol Prodigies each shot four guns, and won medals in the Intermediate division in every discipline that they competed: Optic Rifle – 3^rd, Pistol Caliber Carbine – 2^nd, Iron Rifle – 1^st, Rimfire Pistol – 1^st. Awesome shooting Connor, Drake, Matthew, and Robbie!

This year’s Michigan match participation was up 40% from 2018, with 310 entries, making it the fourth largest match in 2019. Thirteen teams from Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana competed. Michigan currently has the third largest SASP program nationally. SASP is growing very quickly around the country, but especially in Michigan. Today there are 11 teams, with approximately 175 athletes in Michigan, with a couple more teams coming soon.

The Pistol Prodigies had 11 athletes compete in Sturgis with everyone shooting at least two guns, and some shooting up to four. When the smoke cleared, the team earned the following awards: Intermediate Optic Rifle – third, Senior Iron Rifle – third, Open Division Pistol Caliber Carbine – second, Intermediate Pistol Caliber Carbine – first, Open Division Optic Rifle first, and Intermediate Iron Rifle – first.

The team all shot great in Michigan. Congratulations to Bodi, Bryce, CJ, Connor, Drake, Drey, Eli, Josh, Kody, Matt, and Robbie! Eli also shot his way onto the Michigan All-State Rifle Team, where he will represent Michigan at the SASP National Championships in July!

Our next match is the SASP National Championships in Marengo, Ohio July 13-20. Wish us luck!

We are excited to also be shooting at the first ever SASP Great Lakes Regional Match at Brooklyn Sportsman Club in Brooklyn August 17-18. Admission is always free for spectators. Come visit us at a match and see what the excitement is all about. Remember to bring your eye and ear protection for all.

Thank  you to our Team Sponsors, National SASP Sponsors, friends and family, the Manchester Sportsman Club, program volunteers, and all of our team family for allowing us to do what we love. We couldn’t do this without you!

SASP is a youth development program that uses the shooting sports to teach life skills such as: SAFETY, sportsmanship, teamwork, and fun. The program is open to all student athletes from fifth grade and under to full-time college students. If you would like more information about SASP, please visit www.michigansasp.net or contact Michigan’s SASP State Advisors, Scott and Lisa Poet, 734-323-5293 or email thepoets@yahoo.com. Shoot Safe, everyone!

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.