Sure Shots Magazine

ARCHIVE - ISSUE ELEVEN - MARCH 2015 COVER - FEATURED PICTORIAL - TRAINING - LIFESTYLE - REVIEWS ARCHIVE - ISSUE ELEVEN - MARCH 2015

Niki Jones
Editor-in-chief

Carrin Welch
Associate Editor
Web Designer

Jenna Johnson
Copy Editor

Nikki Raye
West Coast Correspondent

On the Cover,
Our "Littlest Sure Shot" Vanessa always puts safety first when it comes to handling her firearms... See more pics from the cover photo shoot!
See more pics from the cover photo shoot!

Mini Sure Shots on ABC News Nightline

World News Videos | US News Videos

She answers to ‘Prime’
by Holly Gaylor

After an exciting September day at Cypress Valley Preserve, I walked into the bathroom and ended up congratulating a grinning 15-year-old shooter. Her words to me were, “I had to use the restroom so bad.” Just minutes earlier Meagan Harrington went head to head with Andres Fanjul Jr., and won ‘Top Shooter’ at The Remington Great American Shoot for The Special Forces Charitable Trust.

That day, several Sure Shots were asked to participate as trappers—throwing clays and scoring each team as they shot the course. Shooters ranged from team “Top Secret” (made up of Special Forces operators) to NRA President Jim Porter. At the end of the day, over $1.2 million was raised for The Special Forces Charitable trust – an organization that helps the Special Forces community and its families.

But one shooter stood out among the auspicious crowd: Meagan Harrington. I stood with Niki Jones and said, “She looks 20, but I bet she is 17.” Turns out this striking, poised, graceful young woman was 15. She captivated those at the shoot and left us wanting to know more about her.

I started by calling her mom, Melanie Harrington, a working, single mother of two and shooter herself. Meagan, a native Texan, is the youngest child with a brother who was a competitive shooter as well. I quickly gleaned that while Meagan is a regular teenager, she has always had a purposeful drive with all things and lives life to the fullest. At age five, she started playing the piano and is a classical pianist who has studied with the masters in Europe. She rides the bus to school every day, is an AP honor student, dates occasionally, and “just to try something new” participates (and has placed) in pageants. This aspiring doctor is not privileged nor a princess. She is a grounded teenager who knows the value of hard work and doesn’t expect anything for free.

When I spoke with Meagan, I was impressed by her fearlessness (I am not even sure she knows this about herself). Just as retired New York Yankee Derek Jeter yearned to hit the game winning run, Meagan creates big moments by placing herself in clutch situations, and then rises to the challenge. For instance, several years ago, she walked into a high-end gun store in New York to ‘window shop’. After being told not to touch the merchandise, she engaged the store manager for several hours, which set the wheels in motion leading to a sponsorship from Beretta. It was an unscripted occurrence which led to a life-changing opportunity.

In her quiet, gracious, unassuming way, she wants to push the bounds, and live in the moment. As a result, she has traveled the world, competed against some of the best in both piano and shooting, won sponsorships and is currently in the process of qualifying for the United States Olympic shooting team… all before her 16th birthday.

Talking with Meagan was a real treat. She is humble, demure and you never see her coming, but once she zeroes in, everyone takes note.

Q/A with Meagan Harrington

How did you start in the shooting sports?
I started shooting at age eight when my brother was competing with 4H. (She chuckles saying the shot gun was taller than her). Most people don’t know about 4H Shooting Sports. It is a wonderful way to get into the sport. I train and travel with 4H. It has been a platform for me in the sport, and helped propel me in my journey.

What was your hardware during the Remington Great American Shoot?
Beretta 692: 12 gauge over/under with a custom stock.

How do you ready yourself for a competition?
I usually calm my adrenaline rush by listening to music. I don’t usually think too much when I am getting ready. I just imagine possible targets and I go over some of the basic principles in my mind and what I have been working on for that particular day and how I can improve.

How has this sport matured you?
I am growing in the sport mentally and physically. I am able to endure more shooting in a day, having the capability to go through 2-3 flats a day. Mentally, I have learned to be calm without emotion on hits or misses.

What highlights did you take away from the Remington Great American Shoot?
Meeting so many amazing men and women who served our country was really emotional, especially when I was able to meet Captain Ivan Castro. He is an amazing inspiration to me and I was floored when he said he was waiting to meet me … I also met Major Kent Solheim, who was the 6th man of my team – Lady Laura and the smoking Hot BB’s. I met so many people and it was a great experience to be around a positive environment.

You know you inspire the younger generation. What advice do you have for them?
It is an honor to even be thought of as an inspiration. To any young shooters: Do not listen to the negative people telling you that you can’t achieve a goal. Work for it. Prove them wrong. To all the young girl shooters – you can shoot just as well as a boy – even better! Don’t let the stereotype bring you down. Most importantly, respect the gun. While shooting, safety should be your main concern.

So your older brother shoots?
There is always a bit of sibling rivalry while my brother and I compete, but he is in college now and doesn’t have time to practice, so we don’t take it too seriously. While my brother competed at National 4H as Team Captain, everyone knew who Texas was. I think it has to do with how big our 4H program is and how it’s typical that Texas will usually have great shooters. (Side note: when I spoke with Melanie about this, she said Texas garners a lot of outside attention during out-of-state competitions … go figure).

What were your Winter shoots for 2014?
Olympic Qualifier, St. Jude Shoot and then training for bunker.

What is your proudest moment?
My proudest achievement is winning a $10,000 scholarship at the 2nd Annual S.A.L.E. Jr Shootout. My mother and Mammaw started crying, which made me tear up. It was a great finals round.

What other hobby do you have?
Reading and playing the piano. It is rare that I have a day that I relax, but appreciate those days.

What is your favorite subject?
Pre-AP Spanish 3, and Pre-AP pre-Calculus, or AP Biology 2. Each subject has a great teacher and some of my closest friends are in there.

What is your favorite movie?
I love Steel Magnolias, the Fast and Furious series, and Charlie’s Angels.

Favorite food?
Steak and potatoes.

Favorite book?
I love the Harry Potter series. The Fault In Our Stars because it helps you realize to love your friends today because they can be gone tomorrow.

Favorite TV Show?
“The Vampire Diaries” and “The Originals”.

Where do you want to be in four years?
In college for Pre-Med and on the USA [Shooting] Team.

Favorite Composer?
Chopin. He has a variety of nocturnes and polonaises that I enjoy.

What are people’s reactions about you before and after you shoot?
If people don’t know me, I get the look that suggests, “Oh, this girl has nice gear but she probably doesn’t even know how to shoot.” By the time I get done shooting, they seem to think otherwise and they usually ask me how long I’ve been shooting, and then they are genuinely interested and supportive of a girl shooting.

What is the best advice you’ve received?
No matter what I accomplish in life, or what goes wrong, to remember all the people who believe in me and to remember to stay humble.

You seem really balanced and poised. How do you do it?
I think just wanting to succeed and to make my dreams come true has kept me grounded and determined.

You may be wondering why Meagan answers to “Prime”… The story is: Meagan had the opportunity to visit London, but it conflicted with the S.A.L.E. Shootout. She chose the competition (and won), but lost the opportunity to participate in a meet and greet with the Prime Minister of England. It was then that she was nicknamed Prime. But think of it as an adjective, not a noun for this burgeoning competitive shooter.

A Youth Shooter in America
By Eric Saperstein

Shyanne hit her target to enter professional 3-Gun competitions in 2014 at the age of nine; a milestone in a shooting career that began when she was only seven years old. Deemed the “Shooting World’s Youngest Female Rising Star” by ABC News she is pursuing an activity previously deemed only appropriate for adults. Shyanne is not alone, she is among a trend of young ladies and men who are actively and successfully engaging in not only traditional youth rimfire sports, but picking up and mastering the AR’s, 9mm’s, and shotguns.

This buck in conformity is a blessing for America’s shooting sports, the future of our liberty, and for the safety of our nation’s children. It is education, acquired knowledge, which offers an individual the empowerment to contribute to society in a productive and proactive manner. Youth shooters are impressioned with discipline, values, and equip for success.

Competition is healthy! Shyanne’s last place finish at the Brownell’s Lady 3-Gun ProAm in Georgia last October included a relentless performance; she was awarded the “Tough as Nails” award. Although participation is rewarding, this isn’t just a bogus common core everyone gets a trophy for showing up award. Geissele Automatics contributed a custom built AR15 to acknowledge the lady who persevered and demonstrated the spirit of competition without submitting to defeat. Geissele, notably, but entirely without relation to the award selection, is one of Shyanne’s sponsors. The message is clear, competition separates winners and losers but shooting world encourages champions of the future. Shy’s finish was a ranking among the top 180 women shooters in the nation competing by invitation in the first all lady national 3 Gun match.

The women of the ProAm adopted Shyanne and sister youth shooter Maddie Stewart into their family as they have with the ladies just a few years ahead such as Katie Francis, Cheyenne Dalton, and Reanna Kadic whom are already beginning to rise in the ranks as teens. The shooting world nurtures their young, they bring them into the fold with inspiration, hands on training, and direct support for career development.

OK enough with the bragging and background, let’s focus on our girl. Shyanne is now one of the feature faces of Youth Shooting in America. Her, and her father Dan Roberts, are frequently asked for advice by parents and her peers about how they can begin their participation in the shooting sports at either professional or recreational levels. Shyanne offers some advice and encouragement in the following Q&A session with her Social Media / PR Director Eric M. Saperstein.

Of course have to ask the obvious question: What age do you think it is appropriate for kids to start shooting?
It really depends on when they can show they are safe and respectful around firearms, for some kids that could be 6 or 7, for others it might be 10 or 11, for others it might even be older.

For a first time shooter, let’s say 4-8 years old, what firearm would you recommend?
A single shot Bolt Action .22, (Like the Henry Repeating Arms Mini Bolt as an example.)

You have actually begun to learn how to teach shooting, what is it like to teach an adult to shoot?
I like teaching how to shoot safely no matter whether it’s a kid like me or an adult like Jillian from Chasing NJ or when I showed my friend Tac Tissy how to run the "Van Stage" at the Brownells Lady Three Gun Pro Am. It’s a little bit strange if I’m showing an adult, because I’m a kid and usually I’m the one learning from an adult, but it’s a lot of fun and I really like how they have confidence in me and my ability to show them the right way and that they trust me that much.

How do your friends’ parents react when you explain you are a professional shooter?
They think it’s really cool and usually ask me for free stuff from my sponsors or for an autographed picture or something. All of my friends parents follow my Fan Page and a few have even said they want to come out to a match and watch.

Out of all the guns you have ever shot what was the one that you enjoyed shooting the most?
So far my AR15, but I really can’t wait to try some full auto, if my Dad would ever take me to the Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot in Kentucky! LOL!

Being a youth shooter do you feel like people judge you in a bad light?
Sometimes ignorant people can, but they usually have no idea what they are talking about and just don’t like guns no matter what.

When you first shot a gun did it scare you?
No, it didn’t scare me because I was with my Dad and I knew he would never let me do something that he didn’t think I could do. I was a little bit nervous I guess because I had never done it before, but I wasn’t scared.

What is the best advice you could give to someone your age or maybe a little younger if they wanted to get into the shooting sports?
Try it! Don’t be scared or intimidated, as long as you learn the safety rules and always follow them no matter what, shooting is a lot of fun! And if you get frustrated, just take a deep breath and keep trying. It takes a whole lot of practice to get really good, but if you want to bad enough, you will have the determination to do it.

If someone was to ask you why you don't do "normal" girl stuff like play with Barbies instead of guns what would you say?
I AM a “normal" girl!! Girls can do anything boys can do, right? I’m a little too old for Barbies now, but even when I was younger I always liked playing outside, riding my quad, going fishing with my Dad, playing in the sandbox and stuff like that, and I love beating the boys at their own games!

Eric Saperstein is a lifetime shooter, Second Amendment advocate, county coordinator for NJ2AS, and a life member of the NRA, and author. He is the Social Media/PR Director for Shyanne Roberts and General Defense Outfitters. Eric brings nearly three decades of firearms, small business, corporate, and marketing experience to the board of YSA. Eric will be on the range as one of the photographers for the Country Girl Shoot. He is also a Master Craftsman, owning one of the nation’s premier handcrafted studios, as well as a photographer and filmmaker.

The 13-Year-Old Huntress
by Kyleigh Hayworth

Hello, my name is Kyleigh Hayworth and I’m a 13-year-old hunter. When I was in second grade my grand-pa bought a ranch. My family and I started going up there almost every other weekend. That was around the same time I got into archery. I got a nice compound bow for Christmas, and started practicing, hoping that someday I could use it to hunt with. When I was in third or fourth grade I asked my Dad if I could shoot, and turned out I was pretty good. After a while my Dada bought me my first pistol, a .22 Sig Mosquito. We practiced with rifles and pistols to make sure I could hit the right targets when necessary. I got pretty good at banging the 4-inch steel target at 100 yards, so my Dad figured I was ready to become a hunter. We practiced weapons handling to make sure I could be safe with either the rifle or pistol. The GOLDEN Rule – Finger OFF the trigger until your sights are on the target.

When I was 10 years old I went hunting with my Dad. At first, I didn’t have a gun; I just sat in the deer blind and used binoculars to help my Dad find the deer. My Dad wanted to see what I thought about the whole hunting experience – a LOT of sitting patiently, and a little bit of shooting. When I was in fifth grade I took a hunter safety/education class and got my hunters license, with my Dad. We learned how to judge the ages of deer to help pick a mature buck when hunting. I learned how to be a safe and ethical hunter. During spring turkey season of my sixth grade year I shot my first turkey using a suppressed 300 Blackout. I went deer hunting for the first time this past year. I almost had a very nice buck, but he didn’t stand still long enough for me to make a shot. Maybe I’ll see him next year.

The thing I love the most about hunting is not only the preparation, adrenaline, or my heart beating out of my chest. I love spending time with my Dad! I mean, sure its super fun training, but there’s something about sitting in the tree all relaxed watching the birds come and go, seeing the dang squirrels try to eat all the corn out of our feeder, and doing that all with my Dad that I love.

So no matter who you are, what you are, or how old you are, don’t let anyone/anything stop you from doing what you want to do. Dreams without action just stay dreams, so the next time someone say you can’t – remind them that you can. Who knows, you’re probably better than you thought!

Mini Sure Shot Kyleigh Hayworth is an active seventh-grader who has been featured with the Sure Shots on ABC News’ Nightline. When she isn’t on the range, Kyleigh enjoys playing volleyball, skateboarding, riding her 4-wheeler and hanging out with her friends.

A Young Lady With A Mission
by Carrin Welch

Meet Alison Thalacker, a very driven young lady putting shooting sports high on her priority list. At 14 years old she stays very busy, balancing a full schedule, which currently includes soccer, dance lessons, drum lessons, volunteer work at Elgin Pet Welfare… and, of course, shooting.

Alison grew up with guns in her life, pulling her first trigger when she was just three (her father, Walt, was holding it). Walt noticed Alison’s interest in shooting at a young age and wanted to teach her safely early on. He knew it was more than just curiosity and had her start with .22lr firearms, like her cousin’s Chipmunk Youth Rifle. As she got older and more skilled she advanced to 10/22, and then to a 10/22WMR. He even had her shoot a 30-cal carbine before getting her an AR15.

She hadn’t considered competition until she watched a 3-gun match on TV. It got her excited about the possibilities and her parents started looking for competitive shooting clubs in her area. They were unable to find 3-gun clubs near them, but did find the 2012 GAP Grind (an annual precision rifle competition) hosted by K&M Shooting Center in Baker, FL. Through that search they contacted K&M Precision Rifle Training and Alison took some classes with them. In 2014 she participated in the Big Dog Steel Challenge and the GAP Grind; which is where she met Regina Milkovich, an established precision rifle competitive shooter. By this point, Alison was definitely hooked!

Craig Kierstead of PDC Custom offered to build her a light chassis, which is the platform she is shooting now. Having since become a PRS member, she shot in her first PRS match, The Bushnell Brawl, at Rifles Only in Kingsville, TX. It was a tough match full of many new obstacles and experiences, including 20+mph winds. Alison felt that it was fun and frustrating all at the same time, but as a bonus she got to meet new folks and spend time with some shooting friends.

With this much drive and passion, Alison is someone to watch. We certainly look forward to seeing her progress into other shooting sports!