Pistol Prodigies perform well in regional competition; head to nationals

The Manchester Pistol Prodigies

submitted by Scott & Lisa Poet, Pistol Prodigies advisers

The Pistol Prodigies competed in the Michigan Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) State Match in Sturgis, Michigan on Saturday June 26. The team, represented by 17 athletes, were among more than 220 student athletes from three different states—including Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

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 6 grade and up can shoot any of the above firearms. Fifth grade and under can only shoot the rifle disciplines.

Here are the results:

1st Place Rookie PCC with Drey, Caleb & CJ

1st Place Rookie Optic Rifle with Drey, Caleb, Kayley & CJ

1st Place Rookie Iron Rifle with Drey, Caleb, Kayley & CJ

1st Place Intermediate Pistol with Owen, Ashley, Lydia & Maya

1st Place Intermediate Optic Rifle with Owen, Ashley, Maya & Lydia

1st Place Senior PCC with Hunter, Dalton, Connor & Matt

3rd Place Senior Pistol with Hunter, Dalton, Connor & Matt

3rd Place Senior Optic Rifle with Connor, Hunter, Rhea & Emma

4th Place Senior Iron Rifle with Hunter, Connor, Wesley & Rhea

7th Place Senior Pistol with Wesley, Rhea, Emma & Tessa

2nd Place Open (all ages on squad) Iron Rifle with Owen, Lincoln, Ashley & Maya

The All-State Pistol Team is comprised of the two best times in each Rimfire Pistol and Centerfire Pistol Disciplines of Michigan athletes. The All-State Rifle Team is similar with the two fastest rimfire rifle shooters and two fastest PCC athletes.

The Pistol Prodigies will have Dalton on the All-State Teams for Rifle with his Iron Rifle time of 32.84 and for Rimfire Pistol with 40.74. Congrats, Dalton! Dalton will represent Michigan at the SASP National Championships in Marengo, Ohio, along with Wyatt (Sherman Hills Straight Shooters) with Optic Rifle and Rimfire Pistol, Mia (WWCCA) with PCC and Centerfire, Larissa (WWCCA) with PCC and Alistair (WWCCA) with Centerfire Pistol. We wish all the All-State athletes well as they represent Michigan at the National Championships.

The Prodigies will be shooting in Marengo, Ohio at the SASP Nationals July 10-17. The SASP Nationals will again set world records as the largest “action” shooting match as well as the largest “steel” matches in history, with nearly 2,000 entries.

The Pistol Prodigies are a Varsity lettered sport at Manchester High School. For more information about the team, please visit our website www.pistolprodigies.org or FaceBook page. We are also a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. The Prodigies will be starting their new season in September 2021.

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!

Thank you to our team sponsors, national SASP sponsors, friends and family, the Manchester Sportsman Club, program volunteers, and all our team family for allowing us to do what we love. We could not do this without all of you!

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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.