Three Bracken County Athletes headed to Michigan over the weekend to take part within the USA Excessive Faculty Clay Goal Nationals match.
Sixth Grader Levi Bowling, junior Victoria Reed and sophomore Cody Earlywine every earned a spot to compete within the nationwide match based mostly on their scores all through the spring season. They then every certified within the 2023 Kentucky state championship in Berea on June 10. On the state meet, Bowling scored a 90, Earlywine a 78 and Reed an 88.
Kentucky has 21 whole entice groups throughout the state, break up into 4 conferences. Bracken County competes within the 1A convention 1 division, in opposition to Estill County, Carroll County, Muhlenberg County, Hickman County and Lakeside Christian Academy. The spring entice season consists of 5 shoots, during which Bracken County totaled 338.50 factors, landind them within the fourth place spot as a staff of their convention.
The Polar Bears scored 414 within the state meet at Berea, rating the staff 17/19 within the state.
Bowling, Reed and Earlywine shot properly at every meet, their scores all through the season cemented them as three of the highest entice shooters within the nation at the highschool stage.
The USA Clay Goal League is the one 100% school-approved clay goal capturing sport program within the nation.
They host every state match on the conclusion of the spring season, and invite the highest athletes and groups from every state to compete within the nationwide match every year within the first week of July.
On the nationwide meet, Bowling, Reed and Earlywine cometed alongside 34,626 different scholar athletes representing 1,625 completely different highschool groups throughout the nation. Colleges from 34 completely different states travelled to Michigan to compete within the match, every eager to show they’re the perfect.
On Saturday, July 8, the three competed within the particular person qualifying spherical of the match. Every gave it their all and shot expertly, regardless of the nerves of performing on the nationwide stage.
Bowling ended the qualifying spherical properly forward of his two teammates, rating 1,165 with a ultimate whole rating of 88 and an 11 reverse run. Earlywine then ranked 1449, with a ultimate whole rating of 84, and a reverse run of 4. Reed got here in simply behind Earlywine, with a complete rating of 83, and a reverse run of two.
Though the Polar Bears didn’t make it out of the qualifying spherical, they earned their proper to compete alongside their friends, and have each intention of returning to the stage subsequent yr, to carry out even higher. Bowling’s efficiency as a sixth-grade varsity member is nothing in need of spectacular, and he can be one in every of Bracken County’s finest shooters for years to return. Every athlete carried out properly, and have confirmed surely that they’re a number of the finest within the state of Kentucky, and among the many finest within the nation.