BY CLARISA CRUMP
POWERED BY
1259 S Eastern, Moore (405) 895-6638 scrogginsanimalhospital.com
Scroggins Animal Hospital
A Future of Sharpshooting in Oklahoma
T
his June, I had a chance to speak with a highly accomplished sharpshooter, Elisa Boozer. I also had the opportunity to talk with her father, Brandon Boozer, and learn more about the Olympic-level sport known as sharpshooting. Elisa, as her dad explained, has been participating in the recreational sport-shooting program since she was 11 years old. With four years of experience under her belt, she has consistently excelled in the competitions she has entered. Among her accomplishments: taking 2nd overall in the Air Rifle, Air Pistol, Rifle, and pistol competitions when she was only 15 years old. As I spoke with him, Mr. Boozer explained that the main goal he and his daughter wanted to achieve was simply promoting the sport. They are both very passionate about sharpshooting and want to share that passion with the other Moore residents in hopes of gaining more traction for the sport. To understand and appreciate sharpshooting, one must know that it is much different than a “normal” shooting experience or even a “normal” sport. In Elisa’s words, “it’s more of a process” than just going to the range and shooting with a parent or guardian by your side. Also, unlike other sports like soccer, where you can acquire new tricks to score a goal or help your team, sharpshooting is more of a “mental game.” The sport requires discipline and focus, so when a shooter learns how to shoot “a 10,” they then must keep that same technique and discipline as they try to achieve that same goal 60 times. Mr. Boozer also highlighted this to me, explaining that even your heartbeat can cause a rifle to move “just a couple of millimeters down range.” He also briefly explained that shooters are their own “vise,” keeping their rifles still for a clean shot. To achieve this level of balance, a shooter can take anywhere from “45 to 60 seconds per shot,” as Mr. Boozer pointed out. Add that up for 60 shots, and it can nearly take an hour for one shooter to complete their round, talk about focus!
44 | MOORE MONTHLY | JULY 2022
Other aspects that set sharpshooting apart from other team sports include low costs, free time, and a multitude of scholarship opportunities that come with the sport. Mr. Boozer was adamant that a new shooter could pick up the sport for no cost, or at least a meager price. Most sports, such as soccer and softball, do not offer much help with the cost of equipment, but sharpshooting is a different story. As Mr. Boozer pointed out, many facilities, such as Tri-City
and H&H, offer a practically free shooting program. H&H even offers the coaching services of Olympic-level sharpshooter Charles Meloy so that beginners can get the guidance and experience needed to compete. In addition, there are dozens of volunteers and involved sharpshooters willing to loan equipment to beginners, all for the sake of getting new athletes interested and participating in the sport. As both Elisa and her father point out, sharpshooting is not a time-consuming sport in the slightest. “Most of the competitions,” Eliza explains, “are at the end of the week or on weekends. Unless you’re competing at the national level.” If an athlete does reach that level, Moore High School and other schools offer a program where they will be excused from classes to compete. With Elisa becoming class president Freshman year, the sport seems to be a perfect fit for families who want their child to do well in academics but also have fun within their sport. As for scholarship opportunities, around 30 universities offer coed collegiate scholarships for those who choose to pursue sharpshooting after high school. That makes sharpshooting an excellent way to fund college for those who have not quite figured out how to. It is important to note, however, that most athletes who get accepted must have at least a 3.5 GPA to receive one, but with the optimal balance that sharpshooting offers for students, it will be easier for them to focus on their studies if need be. Mr. Boozer agrees that Elisa has come far, but he and his daughter both credit a chunk of that success to her coach of three years, Charles Meloy. Elisa gives her thanks, saying, “without him, I would not be where I am.” She also thanks her teams, The Cleveland County 4H team and the Oklahoma Sharpshooters, for “keeping her sane” during her competitions. If your child or someone that you know would like to try sharpshooting, Mr. Boozer was kind enough to provide me with information for those wanting to get started: •
H&H Shooting Sports (OKC) - Charles Meloy, 405-8343020, $35/year, meets Mondays @ 6pm
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Cleveland County 4-H Shooting Sports - Amie Whitehead, 405-321-4774, $20/year, restarts in August
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Tri-City Gun Club - FREE Youth Shooting Sports Night, Jamie Schmidt, youth@tcgc, meets the 2nd and the 4th Tuesdays of the Month, also include archery and shotgun.
