Today, the image of children with guns can be a disturbing one, but for Coach Bill Weyda and his team of Junior Shooters, it is an image that represents responsibility and skill. "People always talk about kids with guns and all the bad things that happen," says Coach Bill Weyda. "These kids do everything right, are extremely safe, and they win." The team uses air pistols in most of their competitions but also are called on to use .22's in some contests.

Three members of the team, Billy Harrison, Cole Beatenbaugh and Brandon Weyda all got a chance to travel to Colorado and compete in the National Junior Invitational. To get one of the 32 invitations, you must be a state qualifier scoring a minimum of 533 points out of 600. Beatenbaugh qualified with a 539, Weyda took third place with a score of 542 and Billy Harrison finished in second place with 550 points. Harrison actually finished tied with a boy from Texas, forcing a shoot off. Harrison scored 129 points out of a possible 142.

After qualifying, the boys headed out with Coach Weyda to Colorado for the National Invitational Tournament. The air match was spread out throught two days. Billy Harrison finished with 1079 points at the end of two days and a ranking of 10th. Brandon Weyda took 11th place with 1076 points and Cole Beatenbaugh finished with 1058 points and an 18th place finish. The next part of the tournament consisted of firing a ..22 Brandon Weyda finished in second place overall and first in his age group with 556 points. Cole BeatenBaugh finished in ninth place with 533 points.