Fayette County resident Zack Akins, 15, a sophomore at Grace Christian Academy, competed in the Scholastic Clay Target Program National Skeet Championship over the summer. The team placed fourth overall but Akins won the Senior Novice National Championship by shooting his first career 100 and finishing with a score of 198 out of 200.

Akins recently won the GA/NC/SC Junior Championship at the Sportsmans Gun Club in Bowman, Ga. an also won the Junior Champion title at the Beretta World and Georgia Games event at the Tom Lowe Shotting Grounds in College Park.

Akins practices at the Griffin Gun Club in Spalding County where he and his family are members. In 2006, he will be competing for a spot at the U.S. Junior Olympic Camp in Colorado Springs, Colo.