By E. SMITH
Club Reporter
The Ellis County 4-H Shooting Sports program achieved top honors at the Kansas 4-H State Shotgun Championship, securing First Place Overall Team and earning multiple individual awards in both the Senior and Junior divisions.
The winning team was composed of Logan Schmidt, Cole McDonough, Zach McCall, Tanner Boxberger, and Barrett Pianalto, whose combined scores placed Ellis County at the top of the competition field.
In individual overall standings, Ellis County athletes excelled.
Highest Overall Shooter Results
In the Senior Division, Logan Schmidt finished 2nd overall, Tanner Boxberger placed 3rd, and Cole McDonough tied for 8th.In the Junior Division, Mason Zimmerman placed 4th, Jace Herbers 5th, Sean Ryan 7th, Eli Meis 9th, and Owen Bieker 11th.
Skeet Results
In Senior Division, Logan Schmidt earned 1st place, while Cole McDonough tied 6th. Bryce Boxberger and Tanner Boxberger tied for 12th.
Junior competitors also performed strongly, with Eli Meis and Sean Ryan tied for 6th, Jace Herbers in 9th, Owen Bieker in 10th, and Mason Zimmerman in 11th.
Trap Results
The Senior Division featured a five-way tie for second place, leading to a tense shootout. Ellis County’s Cole McDonough claimed 3rd place, followed by Jacob Taylor in 4th, Logan Schmidt in 5th, and Lane Wittman in 6th. Tanner Boxberger and Zach McCall tied for 8th.
In the Junior Division, another shootout determined the top positions. Mason Zimmerman secured 1st place, while Eli Meis earned 3rd. Jace Herbers tied for 7th.
Sporting Clays Results
In the Senior Division, Logan Schmidt and Tanner Boxberger tied for 7th place.
In the Junior Division, Mason Zimmerman placed 3rd, Owen Bieker tied for 4th and placed 6th after the tiebreaker, Sean Ryan placed 8th, and Jace Herbers 9th.These outstanding results reflect the hard work and dedication of Ellis County 4-H Shooting Sports participants, coaches (Eric Schmidt, Ben Hunsicker, Jared Wickham, Dominic Pianalto), and volunteers. Their performance at the state level highlights the strength of the local program and its commitment to safety, skill development, and sportsmanship.
For more information on the Ellis County 4-H Shooting Sports program and opportunities to get involved, community members are encouraged to contact the local Extension Office.