Hi everyone. I want to start by introducing you to the Illinois 2023 All-American team. OPEN - 1st TEAM: Garrett Helms. LADY 2 - 2nd TEAM: Janice Rigler. SUB JUNIOR - 1st TEAM: Mason Bartlow, Payton Wottowa. SUB JUNIOR - 2nd TEAM: Carson Sievers, Coltyn Schutte. JUNIOR - 1st TEAM: Landon Sievers. JUNIOR - 2nd TEAM: Steve Margherio. JUNIOR GOLD - 1st TEAM: Ian Lawrence. JUNIOR GOLD - 2nd TEAM: Ryan Lewis, Wyatt Williams, Ian Freeman. SUB VETEREN - 2nd TEAM: Mike Hathaway. VETERAN - 1st TEAM: Brian Hezel, Mike Dennis, Frank Haynes. VETERAN - 2nd TEAM: Dan Staker. SENIOR VETERAN - 1st TEAM: Mike Westjohn, Frank Payne. CHAIR SHOOTER: Larry Norton. It's not easy being an All-American. It takes a lot of time, resources and talent to get there. I am always in awe of how many great shooters we have in Illinois.
I need to correct a few mistakes I made when I told you about the raffle for the Illinois HOF. First off, the drawing will be on Sunday of the Illinois State Shoot, not Friday at the annual meeting. The ticket price is $100 and only 400 tickets will be sold. Anybody who buys a ticket will have a 1 in 400 chance to win a $20,000 Kolar Trap Combo shotgun. That is the other correction, I told you $15,000 before. Please consider buying a ticket. The board and I would really appreciate it.
I just received word that another giant in Illinois trapshooting has passed. John Bull died on November 19, 2023, in Florida. John and his wife Pat shot all over the Midwest for years and did it well enough that they are both enshrined in the Illinois Hall of Fame. John was a Director for many years and also served as a Delegate representing Illinois with the ATA. John did not suffer fools and if you did something wrong, he could give you a glare that would freeze water, but he was also a very generous and kind man. The first time I was elected President of the ISTA, I really didn't know what I was doing. I asked John for help, and he graciously sat down with me and explained to me everything I needed to know and do. This might not seem like a lot, but it meant the world to me. Rest well John, you have earned it.
I have a couple of milestones to mention. William Anderson has shot 50,000 Singles targets and Randy Miller has shot 100,000 combined targets.
Get your guns cleaned and your 2024 shooting schedule set. It will be here before we know it. Support your local clubs.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate