Eureka Springs schools were well represented in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Youth Shooting Sports Competition held April 28 and 29 in Jacksonville.

This is Eureka Springs’ third year to compete and the district fielded two senior teams and two junior teams.

The junior team of Logan Gay, Zach Young, Holden Nance, Jeraco Naumann and Tristin Choate finished fourth out of 79 teams of participants in their division to qualify for the state competition, which will be held June 2 in Jacksonville. The top 16 squads from each region qualify for the state tournament.

Senior Trevor Holmes led the senior high shooters, shooting 46 of 50 clays on the day.

“They really did well,” said Eureka Springs High School Principal David Gilmore, who also serves as the sponsor of the shooting sports teams. “I’m really proud of those kids.”

Gilmore said he was especially proud of Gay, who had recently broken a leg during a rodeo, but still competing using a cart-type walker.

“I’m just really proud of him,” Gilmore said. “He was determined to get out there and shoot and finish things out. He shot a 22 out of a 25 and that was really impressive.

“It’s kind of a knock-you-out tournament. They put you up against another team and whoever has the highest score moves on. You just keep shooting until there’s a final champion.”

Gilmore said he really stresses safety with the team members and coaches alongside Charlie Bryan, who has more experience on the shooting side of the competitions.

“I try to make sure they all know how to use the gun the correct way and Charlie has more of the experience with the shooting,” Gilmore said.