Delta Huskies outshoot Moose at rifle range

MAT-SU Delta Junction, the Region IV .22-caliber small-bore rifle defending champions, outshot the Palmer Mooses competitive rifle team Friday night at the Matanuska Valley Sportsmen rifle range, 2033-1845.

Palmers top shooter, Scott Foxley, scored 523 out o a possible perfect score of 600 for the Moose in only the second competitive high school match ever for any Valley team.

Mike Shetler scored 560 points to lead the Huskies, who have been a dominant power in high school riflery, winning Region VI competition 14 times in the last 16 years.

Mike Burkholder, who scored 480 against the Huskies, was Palmers most improved shooter over the last match and shows promise of breaking the 500-point barrier on the teams Fairbanks road trip this weekend, according to Greg Foxley.

Palmer has been sending shooters to compete at the state level for the last four years.

And for at least the last two years, the Moose have been speaking with Larry Shetler about formulating a high school team to compete at the Region VI level.

I'm really impressed with the way Palmer is coming along, Huskies coach Larry Shetler said. They have some people that are showing some real promise.

Many of Alaskas best shooters will compete at the State Junior Olympics Rifle Championships, which determines the state champions, who are then invited to go to Colorado Springs to compete in the National Junior Olympic tournament.

Only the top two girls and the top two boys from the national meet are invited to compete on the U.S. Development team, which trains riflery athletes to compete at the international level.

We normally have a good representation at the national level, Larry Shetler said. Its an extremely difficult sport. Most Olympians have been competitive shooters for 20 years or more. Alaska has produced some competitive Olympians. [University of Alaska Fairbanks senior] Melissa Mulloy finished eighth in the world at Sydney.

Except for Tok High School, the Region IV riflery programs have been shooting competitively for 20 to 40 years. Teams Palmer will face this year are West Valley, Lathrop, Delta Junction, and Tok, which is in its sixth year of competition.

Palmer shooting results

Palmer 1845

Prone: Mike Burkholder 173, Adam Carter 189, Shane Harapat 173, Scott Foxley 190; standing: Burkholder 145, Carter 106, Harapat 91, Foxley 157. kneeling: Burkholder 162, Carter 149, Harapat 134, Foxley 176. total: Burkholder 480, Carter 444, Harapat 398, Foxley 523.

Delta Junction 2033

Prone: Mike Coulter 189, Mike Shetler 195, Chris Collins 188, Ryan Dixon 189; standing: Coulter 164, Shetler 174, Collins 132, Dixon 118, kneeling: Coulter 172, Shetler 191, Collins 159, Dixon 162; total: Coulter 525, Shetler 560, Collins 479, Dixon 469.

Photo: Amanda Summitt shoots against Delta Junction Friday. She scored a 313 for Palmers JV squad.

Photos by GENE JANSEN/Frontiersman.