Last month, 94 4-H youth ages 9-19 participated in University of Nevada Cooperative Extension's 2018 Nevada State 4-H Shooting Sports Match. The match, held at the Clark County Shooting Complex, featured competitions in .22 rifle, air rifle, shotgun, archery, muzzleloader and air pistol.

Youth participating in Nevada's 4-H Shooting Sports Program learn marksmanship, safety and responsible equipment use, as well as planning, teamwork, problem-solving and other life skills. The program provides youth hands-on experience safely handling and competing with firearms under the guidance of volunteer instructors, whom the program trains and certifies.

"The State Contest is the end-of-the-season culmination of their activities all year," said Carrie Stark, Cooperative Extension's statewide 4-H director. "This is their chance to show what they've learned."

Youth earn the right to compete in the State Contest by reaching standards set by the Nevada State Shooting Sports Advisory Committee. The standards vary for each discipline and age bracket.

At the match, youth may participate in up to four disciplines. Competitors who accumulate a minimum number of points determined by both their chosen discipline and their age division - junior, intermediate or senior - earn a blue ribbon. The top three blue ribbon winners in each competition also earn bronze, silver or gold awards. In addition, each age division has a single overall winner, determined by the combined number of points earned from across all disciplines.

Lindsay Carr, from Douglas County, placed first overall for the Senior level, competing in .22 rifle, air rifle, archery and air pistol. Kodi Syme and Mason Sharp, both from Elko County, shared the top position overall for the Intermediate level. Both Syme and Sharp competed in .22 rifle, shotgun, archery and air pistol. Blake Sharp, from Elko County, placed first overall for the Junior level, competing in .22 rifle, archery, muzzleloader and air pistol. Gold, silver and bronze winners for the individual competitions are:

For the .22 Rifle:

• Juniors: Ty Glover, Douglas County - Silver; Blake Sharp, Elko County - Gold.
• Intermediates: Kodi Syme, Elko County - Bronze; Juliet Guerra, Douglas County - Silver; Mason Sharp, Elko County - Gold.
• Seniors: Christopher Leon Mangum, Lincoln County - Bronze; Charlotte Guerra, Douglas County - Silver; Michelle Grower, Douglas County - Gold.
• Unlimited Seniors: Lindsay Carr, Douglas County - Gold.

For Air Rifle:

• Juniors: Jordyn Casas, Douglas County - Gold.
• Intermediates: Malia Burke, Douglas County - Bronze; Juliet Guerra, Douglas County - Silver; Conner James, Washoe County - Gold.
• Seniors: Griffin Allen, Douglas County - Bronze; Natalie Hearn, Douglas County - Silver; Charlotte Guerra, Douglas County - Gold.
• Unlimited Seniors: Christopher Leon Mangum, Lincoln County - Bronze; Michelle Grower, Douglas County - Silver; Lindsay Carr, Douglas County - Gold.

For Shotgun:

• Juniors: Nicholas Loundsbery, Elko County - Gold.
• Intermediates: Chas Hollingsworth, White Pine County - Bronze; Kodi Syme, Elko County - Silver; Tanner Wilken, Lincoln County - Gold.
• Seniors: Brendon Keely, Douglas County - Bronze; Joey Herring, Clark County - Silver; Kaden Syme, Elko County - Gold.

For Archery Barebow:

• Juniors: Alyssa Lincoln, Clark County - Bronze; Aiden Ecret, Clark County - Silver; Braelynn Hudson, Carson City - Gold.
• Intermediates: Dylan Brown, Clark County - Bronze; Juliet Guerra, Douglas County - Silver; Alex Guerra, Douglas County - Gold.
• Seniors: William Allen, Douglas County - Bronze; Natalie Hearn, Douglas County - Silver; Brendon Keely, Douglas County - Gold.

For Archery Freestyle:

• Juniors: Blake Sharp, Elko County - Bronze; Ty Glover, Douglas County - Silver; Logan Payne, Elko County - Gold.
• Intermediates: Jori Wright, Elko County - Bronze; Augustes Domina, Southern Nye County - Silver; Dillon Payne, Elko County - Gold.
• Seniors: Randolph Rego, Douglas County - Bronze; Julianne Wright, Elko County - Silver; Hudson Jensen, White Pine County - Gold.

For Muzzleloader:

• Juniors: Trent Whiteley, Elko County - Silver; Blake Sharp, Elko County - Gold.

For Air Pistol:

• Juniors: Nicholas Loundsbery, Elko County - Bronze; Blake Sharp, Elko County - Silver; Braelynn Hudson, Carson City - Gold.
• Intermediate: Riley Smith, Elko County - Bronze; Mason Sharp, Elko County - Silver; Morgan Noorda, Elko County - Gold.
• Seniors: Katie Boogman, Douglas County - Silver; Kaden Syme, Elko County - Gold.
• Unlimited Intermediate: Case Utter - Carson City/Storey County - Gold.