Aggie Shooting Team led by Shawn Barger and Rilee VanDonge

Aggie Shooting Team led by Shawn Barger and Rilee VanDonge

NCTA Aggie Shooting Sports team won third place overall team on Saturday in a match at Salina, Kansas. From left, are Jon Hertz, Allen Matejka, Stetson Youel, Shawn Barger, and Rilee VanDonge. (Taylor/NCTA Photo)
NCTA Aggie Shooting Sports team won third place overall team on Saturday in a match at Salina, Kansas. From left, are Jon Hertz, Allen Matejka, Stetson Youel, Shawn Barger, and Rilee VanDonge. (Taylor/NCTA Photo)

March 20, 2017

By Mary Crawford, NCTA News                                                                                                        

Gypsum, Kan. – Aggie students started their Spring Break by winning third place for the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture at a collegiate shooting sports contest in Kansas.

The NCTA team took third overall at the Post Rock Sporting Challenge hosted by Fort Hays State University and also won third place team in several categories, said NCTA Aggie Coach Alan Taylor.

Shawn Barger of Wahoo, Neb., led the Aggie men’s team in points and Rilee VanDonge of Holton, Kansas led the Aggie women’s team.

Other Nebraska shooters Allen Matejka of Loomis, Stetson Youel of Hay Springs, and Jon Hertz of Alma rounded out the 5-member Aggie team.

“Shawn Barger has really improved over the school year,” noted Taylor. “Shawn has always been a solid trap shooter. However early in the season he struggled with sporting clay events due to having little experience with these type of events. Shawn's improvement shows great focus and commitment.”

The collegiate match was held March 18 at Gypsum Valley Sporting Clays in Gypsum, Kansas.

In addition to taking the overall third-place team plaque, the NCTA team won third in 5-stand sporting clay, sporting clay and international sporting clay.

The next Aggie event will assisting with the Pheasants Forever Sporting Clay Fundraiser at Stockville, Nebraska on April 1, and the next collegiate contest is with Mount Marty College on April 22 in Grand Island.

For more details on NCTA Shooting Sports Club or other programs, see ncta.unl.edu or call 1-800-3CURTIS.

 Online article:  http://go.unl.edu/hvbp

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