Shooting Sports Club to host first-ever Red Wolves Shoot-Out Nov. 3-4 in Harrisburg
JONESBORO, AR – Arkansas State’s Shooting Sports Club will host the inaugural 2012 Red Wolves Shoot Out, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 3-4, at the Harrisburg Trap Club, 7359 Bay Lane, Harrisburg, AR. The shoot starts at 9 a.m. and admission is free.
Joining ASU’s two squads in competition are the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville (three squads), University of the Ozarks (two squads), Ecclesia College of Springdale (one squad) and the University of Arkansas Community College-Hope (one squad).
Each squad consists of five students. The overall winning squad will be awarded the rotating Red Wolves Champion trophy which will be displayed in the ASU Carl R. Reng Student Union Center after the winning school’s name is engraved upon it. The winner will take home a smaller replica trophy.
The tournament will involve three shooting disciplines: American Singles Trap, International Wobble and Doubles. Individual winners in each discipline will receive medals. Teams will arrive on Friday, Nov. 2 for registration and practice. The schedule sets 100 singles and 50 international wobble for Saturday and 100 singles and 25 pair doubles for Sunday. Wobble targets are much faster and allow the altitude to vary unpredictably.
A concession stand will be set up where spectators may purchase hamburgers and hot dogs at the Saturday competition and barbeque dinners on Sunday for $10.
“This is the first time such a collegiate competition is being held in Arkansas,” said Dr. Gauri Shankar Guha who serves as the program’s faculty advisor and manager. “It’s unique. I am hoping that this competition will increase ASU’s visibility in the game, help recruitment and attract resources. We hope folks will come out and watch these very talented teams compete.”
Ten students comprise the two ASU teams including Seth Pinkston of Jonesboro, James Wray of Payneway, Fletcher Dowell of North Little Rock, Blake Leslie of Greenbrier, Forrest Jones of Marion, Jacob Powell of Mt. Vernon, Jared Williams of Jonesboro, Dalton Dilldine of Blytheville, Danyel Nobles of Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Jordan Harper of Harrisburg.
“We are ready,” said team member James Wray, who said the ASU squads are confident. “We have worked very hard and we’re anxious to show what we are capable of doing. We want to see how we stack up against the other schools. It only helps to motivate us. Also, we want to be the trailblazer program.”
Team member Seth Pinkston agrees, “We have a good variety of shooters. I haven’t been shooting that long, but some of these guys have been shooting since they were six or seven years old. We want to see the program grow and get our name out there. It’s a great way to get students involved.”
ASU’s trapshooting program is new, having been in existence for less than a year. Dr. Guha and coach Pat Turnage took two teams to the Grand American World Championship in Sparta, Ill., in late summer and captured numerous individual honors as well as finishing third overall in the championship.
Dr. Guha said that, because the program is so young, he got a late start in scheduling this event and hopes to increase the field next year and make the shoot-out an annual scheduled event. He did note that the ASU program acquired three shooters who transferred from other universities in order to be a part of the Red Wolf trapshooting club. He has also received calls from high school students who are interested in attending Arkansas State and participating in the shooting program.
“I think this tournament will be great,” said team member and club vice president Forrest Jones. “It will give us ties to other colleges that have a shooting sports team and it will show the younger kids that they don't have to give up shooting just because they are going to college.”
