FFA/4-H Spotlight

A Future of Sharpshooting in Oklahoma

Scroggins Animal Hospital 1259 S Eastern, Moore (405) 895-6638 scrogginsanimalhospital.com

This 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!

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

• Cleveland County 4-H Shooting Sports - Amie Whitehead, 405-321-4774, $20/year, restarts in August

• 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.

SPORTS BY ROB MORRIS

A Family Legacy: Tallen Edwards Keeps the Bar Set High

In 2013, Southmoore senior Tre Edwards and his younger sister, Trenity, were big names in the Sabercat athletic world. But both Edwards siblings insisted the best athlete in the family wasn't even in junior high at that point.

That grade school star-in-waiting was Tallen Edwards, who is making good on her proud siblings' assessment of her abilities. Edwards will begin her collegiate career at Oklahoma State this fall after graduating from high school a year early.

"It definitely pushed me to reach the standard they played at," said Edwards. "I was always competing against them, to be honest. I was just doing whatever they were doing and trying to do it better. So having them to look up to and to, you know, try to compare me with as I'm growing up, it made me a better ballplayer."

Edwards says there's an even deeper foundation for that passion for excellence she shares with Tre and Trenity. It's built on parents who loved, supported, and challenged them on and off the field.

"My dad and mom both did everything they could to help us become great," said Edwards. "My dad really invested time and love in each of us, and my mom was at every single one of my games. Travel ball. School Ball. It was always awesome to look up in the stands and see them."

Part of that journey has been painful. Her father, Larry, passed away following a long battle with COVID-19.

Edwards said she's glad he could watch her, and her Southmoore teammates win their second straight 6A fast pitch title before he was hospitalized.

It also prepared her for the difficult task of finishing high school a year early, which meant she had to take seven online classes.

"The beginning of the summer was tough," said Edwards. "It felt like I was just staring at a screen for 23 hours out of the day. But now I just have to finish the two college classes that I attend on Mondays and Wednesdays."

Edwards is on track to complete those courses in July. Then she'll head off to Oklahoma State University to begin her freshman year in August. She says the recruiting process was crazy, but there was something about

OSU that just felt like home to her.

"I didn't plan on staying in-state, to be honest," said, "But I had to sit down and think about where I was going to be happy for five years and possibly be able to win a college World Series?

OSU checked every box for me when it came to the environment, the team, the coaches, how well people interacted with my family and me."

As she prepares to take on the challenge of top-shelf DI softball, Edwards says she greatly appreciates her time at Southmoore.

"The coaching staff here has meant so much to me," said Edwards. "Small and both Lingos gave us the freedom to be ourselves and have fun with the sport. And the teammates were just awesome. We had our moments, for sure. But we were so well-bonded."

In addition to her talent and dedication to excellence, another thing Cowboy softball fans will discover about Edwards is her passion for the game. She says it's something that flamed to life before she hit high school.

"I was usually the laidback kid," said Edwards. "But around 11 or 12, I started playing with those eight new girls, and it all just got real for me. I began to understand that I could really be great at this, and that's where a lot of my emotion comes from."

Along the way, Edwards says one of her goals will be to add another couple of rings to the state championship collection from high school.

"I'm hoping to pick up some Big 12 and College World Series rings for sure," Edwards said.