Hi everyone. Here is the 2023 Illinois All State team. OPEN: Randy Miller 94.6; Bradley Bomkamp 93.17; Lynn Hamlin 93.1; Kent Kruse 92.6; Bruce Bennett 92.02; Ron Wolf 91.81; Kent Temple 91.8; Mike Ruebhausen 91.32; Kevin Wunder 91.29; Richard Drennen 90.17. SUB VETERAN: Mark Fielder 92.64; Ron Fearheiley 92.54; Brian Cox 92.14; Ken Mitchell 91.82; Pat Murphy 91.36. VETERAN: Frank Haynes 94.75; Dan Staker 94.28; Brian Hezel 94; Dave Dressler 92.59; John Kravanek 91.62. SENIOR VETERAN: Tim Marucco 94.75; Mike Westjohn 93.4; Frank Payne 92.7; Ken Rigler 91.18; Charlie Bickle 90.93. LADY 1: Lauren Dunn 93.2; Olivia Rainey 89.78; Jade Short 87.64. LADY 2: Janice Rigler 88.75; Joan Maiden 88.02; Denise Dressler 82.88; Sue Staker 81.74; Brenda Dennis 81.72. JUNIOR GOLD: Wyatt Williams 95.99; Ryan Lewis 95.23; Ian Freeman 90.95; Lucas Mcvaigh 89.46. JUNIOR: Landon Sievers 96.85; Steve Margherio 95.91; Wyatt Sibley 94.49; Evan Maple 93.4; Wyatt Baine 91.52. SUB JUNIOR: Carson Sievers 93.39; Mason Bartlow 92.88, Drake Lawler 92.79; Payton Wottowa 92.28; Coltyn Schutte 92.16. CHAIR SHOOTER: Larry Norton 89.07. Not only are these men and women fine shooters, but they are also just as good of people. You all make Illinois Trapshooting proud.
Last month I told you about the Illinois Northern Zone Shoot at St Charles Sportsmen's Club. This month I want to tell you about the club. A few years ago, the Board of the club decided to update the facility and boy did they do a good job. The clubhouse is large, modern and as nice as you will find anywhere in the country. They have six new trap fields as well as skeet, sporting clays and rifle/pistol. The place is immaculate and reeks first class all the way. To give you an idea how nice it is, they have two sixty team leagues during the year. They could have more teams, but they don't have room for them. Obviously, Chicago shooters think a lot of the club. If you are in Northern Illinois, check this club out, you will not regret it.
I received a call last night that I have been dreading for the last year. One of the giants of Illinois and USA trapshooting has passed. Mike Jordan died peacefully on October 19, 2023. It falls upon me to try to incapsulate his life for this column. You could write whole books about Mike and his accomplishments. I am no author so I will not even try. What I will do is tell you about the man I knew and loved. Mike was a rare blend of talent; he was a superb shoot, a fierce competitor and a true gentleman. God just doesn't make many like Mike. He was a quiet, unassuming man, not given to bragging about himself, and he preferred to let his guns do the talking for him and believe me they spoke volumes. He was the best all-around shot I have ever seen. He was a champion at trap because he liked trap, but he could have won at anything that involved pulling a trigger. His specialty was Singles in my mind. Many times, I watched him turn 200 targets into soot balls. It was an awe-inspiring example of the precision shooting that Mike was capable of again and again in his career. He was also a great teacher. He was always willing to help someone if they asked for it. Those of us that took advantage of this learned to listen because the man knew what he was talking about. I could go on and on, but to sum it all up, he was a friend to all, a mentor to many and my personal hero. Trapshooting will go on without him, but it will never be the same for all of the people who knew Mike. Rest well my friend. You have earned it. I'll see you soon enough on the other side.
I have several milestones reached by Illinois shooters. Mike Ruebhausen and Kim Schaefer have shot 25,000 Singles and Jay West, Chris Deterding and Tom Coley have shot the same number of Handicap targets. David Peace has shot 50,000 Doubles targets. Brenda Dennis has shot 100,000 combined targets and Pete Vonberg has shot the same number of Handicap targets. Johnny Piscone reached the 27 yard line for the first time. Finally, Rodney Johnson won the Singles Championship at the Missouri Fall Handicap and Leah Tedrick won the Handicap Championship at the same shoot. Congratulations to all of you.
By the time you read this the holidays will be upon us. Everyone have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate