Craig Daily Press / 4-H shooters collect state ribbons

The Moffat County 4-H shooting team and coaches returned from the state shooting tournament with more than a handful of ribbons. The team is: front row, from left, coach Steve Sloan, Curtis Tuck, Wes Chapman, Natasha Sloan, Parker Hagins, Miranda Blomquist, Austin Lee and coach Jody Lee; back row, from left, coach Dee Dejong, coach Bob Aaberg, Mark Tuck, coach Don Dejong, Justin Willems, Derek WIllshire, Austin Blomquist, Kody Fox, Lindsey Yoast and Red Lee. Enlarge photo — Photo by David Pressgrove

By David Pressgrove

August 25, 2007

Junior division

.22 rifle

hunt individual results

1st Curtis Tuck 312 points

2nd Mark Tuck 306 points

3rd Miranda Blomquist 303 points

5th Parker Hagins 288 points

9th Justin Willems 283 points

11th Austin Lee 270 points

Team: first place with 1171 points, 199 points better than second-place team.

4-P sporter – individual results

3rd Curtis Tuck 324 points

4th Justin Willems 322 points

5th Mark Tuck 316 points

7th Wes Capman 309 points

11th Natasha Sloan 295 points

12th Parker Hagins 278 points

Team: first place with 1250 points — 130 points better than second-place team.

3-P international

1st Curtis Tuck 228 points

3rd Justin Willems 212 points

6th Parker Hagins 203 points

6th Wes Chapman 203 points

8th Miranda Blomquist 197 points

11th Austin Lee 159 points

Team: first place with 840 points – 467 points ahead of second-place team.

Senior division

.22 rifle

Hunt individual results (top 20 finishers)

6th Derek Willshire 296 points

10th Austin Blomquist 291 points

19th Kody Fox 276 points

Team: fifth out of 14 teams with 1038 points

4-P sporter – individual results (top 20 finishers)

1st Austin Blomquist 352 points

10th Miranda Blomquist 308 points

Team: fourth out of 11 teams with 1168 points, just 10 points from first.

3-P international

1st Austin Blomquist 241 points

6th Mark Tuck 200 points

9th Kody Fox 194 points

11th Derek Willshire 183 points

16th Lindsey Yoast 166 points

17th Natasha Sloan 162 points

Team: first place with 784 points.

The Moffat County 4-H shooting team and coaches returned from the state shooting tournament with more than a handful of ribbons. The team is: front row, from left, coach Steve Sloan, Curtis Tuck, Wes Chapman, Natasha Sloan, Parker Hagins, Miranda Blomquist, Austin Lee and coach Jody Lee; back row, from left, coach Dee Dejong, coach Bob Aaberg, Mark Tuck, coach Don Dejong, Justin Willems, Derek WIllshire, Austin Blomquist, Kody Fox, Lindsey Yoast and Red Lee.

Photo by David Pressgrove

Craig — Moffat County’s 4-H shooting team is traditionally one of the most accurate in the state.

After the Colorado 4-H Shooting Sports Contest last week, the only thing more impressive than their accuracy was the number of ribbons the team brought home.

“We did have a pretty good weekend,” coach Jody Lee said after taking a team picture with the ribbons. “I told the kids that while I was pleased with how they shot, I was more pleased with how they conducted themselves throughout the weekend.”

The team started getting together in March to prepare for this year’s state tournament. Once the weather warmed up enough to use the Bears Ears Sportsman Club, the team practiced twice a week for the competition.

“I thought everybody peaked at the right time,” Lee said.

The Moffat County juniors swept all three team competitions, winning the Hunt, 4-P sporter and 3-P international titles.

Curtis Tuck was the best all-around shooter in the junior division, earning two first-place finishes and one third-place finish. The team took the top three — and four of the top five — spots in the Hunt shoot.

Mark Tuck was second followed by Miranda Blomquist in third and Parker Hagins in fifth.

In the senior division, Moffat County took home a first-place team ribbon in the 3-p international competition.

Austin Blomquist took home two individual titles, with one in the 3-P and the other in the 4-P sporter class.

“I thought I shot really well,” Blomquist said. “I think most of us were happy with how we did.”

On Thursday evening, the team had its final meeting, which was highlighted by a fun shoot. Coaches and team members brought some of their own unique guns to tryout.

“Our practices were usually pretty structured,” Lee said. “But tonight, we’re just having fun to celebrate our good season.”