The Pistol Prodigies Season 2019-2020 recap
submitted by Scott & Lisa Poet, Pistol Prodigies Youth Pistol and Rifle Team
The Pistol Prodigies held their season-end banquet on Sunday September 20 to reflect on their shooting season. The season began on September 1, 2019. We had 19 athletes registered with the team, ranging from 3rd grade through a high school senior.
2019-2020 was our sixth season competing in the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP). SASP is a national youth development program that uses the shooting sports to teach life skills. Athletes from fifth grade and under, through full-time college students compete at the Local, State, Regional, and National levels.
Our first match of the season was the Ohio Fall Regional in Marengo, OH October 19, 2019. We took five athletes that competed in Rimfire Pistol, Iron & Optic Rifle, and Pistol Caliber Carbine. When the gun smoke cleared, our team earned 2 Silver and 2 Gold medals.
Wintertime is a slow time for the Prodigies. But the team realizes that practicing is still important. Ann Arbor Arms, one of our longest-supporting sponsors, was kind enough to allow us to shoot there several times. Not only did the kids enjoy shooting in a world class facility, they liked staying out of the snow. Thank you A3!
Also, over the winter, the team worked on the ssecond National SASP Fundraising Banquet in Michigan. It was held on February 22 at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds in Ann Arbor. Almost 200 people won guns, gear, collectibles, and most importantly, had great time! This year’s banquet beat the previous Michigan banquet for money raised. These funds help support the SASP around the country. Thank you banquet sponsors and attendees!
Mid-March is when the team usually resumes practicing to prepare for the summer shooting season. Unfortunately, that was when Covid-19 reared its ugly head. This put the team, and the whole country, on hold. As Governor Whitmer’s restrictions started to ease, the team was finally able to start shooting again.
The Michigan SASP State Championships were the first match to come along. June 27 and 28 found the team at the St. Joseph County Conservation and Sportsman Club in Sturgis, MI. This match is especially hectic, as our Head Coaches, Lisa and Scott Poet, are also the SASP State Advisors for Michigan, and serve as the Match Directors for the state match. With the help of Jeff, our Assistant Coach, and Cristie, our Adult Volunteer, the match came off without a hitch, and our 11 kids shot great. The team earned 3 Bronze, 2 Silver and 2 Gold medals. Another highlight was that our own Dalton shot so well that he earned a spot on the Michigan SASP All-State Pistol Team and All-State Rifle Team. The All-State teams then compete for additional awards at Nationa Championships.
Due to Covid-19, and various restrictions across the country, the 2020 SASP National Championships were held virtually. Each team shot from their “home” range and sent the scores to our National Headquarters. Every year Nationals breaks records. 2020 was no different. This year there were nearly 1,700 entries making the match the largest youth shooting program, largest steel match, and the largest action shooting match in history. The Manchester Sportsman Club is our “home” club for practicing. Unfortunately, that range does not have enough room to shoot our competition stages. The Brooklyn Sportsman’s Club in Brooklyn invited us to claim them as our “home” range and shoot there.
Nationals is where the best of the best compete. Every year the Pistol Prodigies shoot well, but this year they shot amazing! When the dust settled, we had seven Top 10 squad placings, four of those were Top 5. We also had eight Top 10 individual placings with five Top 5. Audrey came in first among all the Intermediate Entry Females in the Optic Rifle Division. And our Rookie squad of CJ, Drey and Owen won a Silver medal, coming in second in the country with their Pistol Caliber Carbine (9mm) Rifle shooting. These young guys are only 9 and 10 years old.
Our final match of the year was the Wisconsin Regional in Saukville, WI. The Pistol Prodigies had 4 of our athletes travel to compete, and walked away with four Silver medals. The team had an amazing season!
The Pistol Prodigies are a Varsity lettering sport at Manchester High School and are working to add other area high schools via co-op agreements. The team is already hard at work for the 2020-2021 season, practicing and competing at the Manchester Sportsman’s Club and at Brooklyn Sportsman’s Club. Thank you to both clubs for supporting The Pistol Prodigies. We would like to thank our sponsors: Ann Arbor Arms, Betsy’s Photography, Boersma Travel, Fletchers Inspections, Friends of NRA, Huron Gun Collectors, J. Proctor Company, L & B Excavating, Linda’s Diner, MidwayUSA Foundation, The NRA Foundation, Rare Tool Inc., Sidearm Defense, LLC, and T & N Service, Inc. for their continuing support of youth shooting sports and The Pistol Prodigies. We could not do it without you. You are Awesome!
The Pistol Prodigies are a 501(c)(3) non-profit and are looking for sponsors for the 2020-2021 season. As a sponsor, your business is displayed on our team jerseys and team website, with links to your website and/or Facebook page. Each sponsor is also invited to our season end team banquet where we recognize the efforts of each athlete and acknowledge each sponsor for their team support as well. Please contact us at thepoets@yahoo.com if you would like to sponsor and become part of the team. Donations to the team are tax deductible. Coach Scott and Coach Lisa can also help you start your own SASP pistol and rifle team.
On behalf of all the kids, coaches and parents, Thank You to everyone for your support!
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