Team spirit, diligent practice sessions, coaches and parents who give of their time freely, and a “friends and family” atmosphere amongst the young competitors, equated to winning results at the 2016 4-H State Rifle Competition for the Hernando Sportsman’s Club 4-H rifle team members, for a fifth year in a row.
The 2016 4-H State Rifle Competition was held on March 5 at the Hernando Sportsman’s Club in Brooksville.
Hernando Sportsman’s 4-H Club “Small Bore Senior” rifle team members, Madison Prack, Miguel Reyes, Victor Hili, and Marie Aguele jointly won 1st place in the 2016 4-H State Senior Rifle Team Competition (ages 14-18), competing against other teams from across the state of Florida.
They also competed as individuals in the senior age group of the 2016 4-H State Rifle “Individual Overall” competitions, where Madison Prack, age 18, won 1st place overall, with Miguel Reyes, age 17, winning 2nd place, Hannah Prack, age 16, winning 3rd place, Victor Hili, age 15, winning 4th place, and Marie Aguele, age 17, winning 7th place.
For the intermediate age group (ages 11-13), Hernando Sportsman’s 4-H Club “Small Bore Intermediate” rifle team members, Tyler Crossley, Alec Prack, Brenna McCaffrey, and Faith Hughes jointly won 1st place in the 2016 4-H State Intermediate Rifle Team Competition. They too, competed as individuals, where Tyler Crossley, age 13, won 1st place overall, Alec Prack, age 12, won 3rd place, Brenna McCaffrey, age 13, won 7th place, and Faith Hughes, age 14, winning 8th place.
Coach Bob Bacon of the Hernando Sportsman’s 4-H rifle team expressed how rewarding it is to see the kids progress, grow, and mature.
“It’s great to see them do well at something they can be proud of, proud of themselves of what they are accomplishing, and find out how hard work pays off,” said Bacon.
About a year and half ago, Jim Prack, father of the “Prack Pack”, collectively made of his children, Madison, Hannah, and Alec, started rifle shooting with his kids as a family hobby. They first attended a Project Appleseed rifle marksmanship clinic at the Hernando Sportsman’s Club in November 2014.
“It was something we could do as a family, instead of separate,” said Prack about rifle shooting.
But, what began has something to do as an occasional family interest, became much more.
Madison Prack, age 18, won 1st place, both in the 2016 4-H State senior rifle team and individual overall competitions, in her age division.
“It’s fun to watch the progression of your accuracy. I am competing with myself. I just want to do my best. I know my current level. I want to keep going up a level,” explained Madison Prack.
Hannah Prack added, “Coming to competitions is fun because you are automatically friends with everyone, because you have something in common with each other.”
Miguel Reyes, age 17, and member of the 1st place senior rifle team, also started rifle shooting because of his dad’s interest in rifle shooting.
“I started shooting with my dad around age 8 and grew up around shooting competitions since then,” said Reyes.
Reyes explained that he too is competing not just for his own goals, but also for the love of his father and their joint hobby.
“It’s always been about me and him. It’s a friendly competition. I have been trying to beat him at his own game. He has years ahead of me. I’m just trying to catch up to him. I want to see if I can go beyond what he can do,” said Miguel Reyes with a mischievous smile.
Miguel Reyes’ father, Gerald Reyes, quietly added with pride for his son, “Shooting for us is bonding together as a family.”
As a parent also, Lenny Aguele starting teaching his daughter, Marie, to shoot rifles around age 6 as a family hobby. He involved his daughter at the Hernando Sportsman’s 4-H Club to learn to set goals and shoot various rifle disciplines. Now at age 17, Marie Aguele, is ready to mentor younger shooters.
“When she turns 18, she wants to be a coach next year,” said Lenny Aguele.
Marie Aguele said, “It’s a good place to be with friends. It’s not the normal team sport, but it’s nice to do something out of the ordinary. I want to come back and be a 4-H coach. I already learned about leadership, and now it’s time to apply those leadership skills, and teach about showing good sportsmanship and how to interact with other 4-H members and range officers.”
Brenna McCaffrey, age 13, and member of the 1st place intermediate rifle team, summarized, “4-H is like a big family.”
It is a big family of winners at the Hernando Sportsman’s 4-H Club.
