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Raiders top Pioneers on the range

By Jim Downey, For The Greene County Messenger 4 min read
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West GreeneĢƵ Sheyann Watson (left) and Zach Frye sight in on the targets before a Section 1 match against Waynesburg Central at the Waynesburg SportsmenĢƵ Club on Jan. 22. (Photo by Jim Downey)

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Waynesburg CentralĢƵ Tristan Cole, Bryce Bedilion and Aidan Kern take aim in preparation for a Section 1 match against West Greene at the Waynesburg SportsmenĢƵ Club on Jan. 22. (Photo by Jim Downey)

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Jim Downey | ĢƵ

West GreeneĢƵ Zach Frye (left) and Sheyann Watson have the targets in sight in preparation for a Section 1 match against Waynesburg Central at the Waynesburg SportsmenĢƵ Club on Jan. 22.

FRANKLIN TWP. — The top two rifle teams in Section 1 met last Wednesday afternoon at the Waynesburg SportsmenĢƵ Association and the first round went to Waynesburg Central with a 798-69x-794-57x victory over West Greene.

The win left the Raiders alone in first place at 4-0, with the Pioneers at 4-1.

WaynesburgĢƵ Tristan Cole and Colby Simkovic were both on target with a perfect score of 100-10x. Bryce Bedilion, Talia Tuttle and Abby Ozohonish all shot 100-9x. RJ Wolen finished with 100-7x. Shelby Burkett (99-8x) and Taylor Burnfield (99-7x) closed out the scoring rounds.

Grace Kalsey “pulled one” to finish with a score of 99-6x. KalseyĢƵ and Taylor WassonĢƵ 99-7x weren’t used in the final tally.

“I had a perfect nine shots and halfway through the round I pulled one,” explained Kalsey. “ItĢƵ usually my breathing. ThatĢƵ my issue. Today, I definitely knew.”

KalseyĢƵ season average is around 100-8x, but she is searching for a 100-10x in section competition after hitting the perfect score in an earlier non-section match.

Kalsey hopes to hit the score when the two teams meet again this afternoon.

“I need to be more focused. We just know we’re the two best two teams,” said the junior.

The Raiders are also in transition with the graduation of two-time WPIAL gold medalist Selena Phillips and medalist Hunter Wasson.

“I just try my best,” said Kalsey, who looks for a return trip to the WPIAL finals.

Sheyann Watson once again led the way for the Pioneers with a perfect score of 100-10x. Her true aim kept her on pace to reach at least a couple of her goals.

“I’m in line right now for the Dave Cramer Award,” said Watson, given to shooters who score 100-10x in each match. “ItĢƵ gotten easier from doing it so long, but itĢƵ definitely a challenge.”

Watson did not receive the award last year, but did so two years ago.

Also on her to-do list is another berth into the WPIAL and PIAA individual championships. Watson placed fourth in the WPIAL and seventh in the state last year, and would like to have medals dangling from her neck this season.

The Pioneers are transitioning into a younger team with the senior now one of the elder statesman.

“ItĢƵ a little bit different. I’m more sentimental,” said Watson. “No, thereĢƵ not really any pressure. I just want to have a good time and make it a memorable senior year.

“We have a lot of new kids training. ItĢƵ extra work to figure things out. But, itĢƵ nice to have younger kids. It makes it a fun time.”

The two squared off in a rematch last Thursday and Waynesburg again won, 798-59x to 797-56x.

It was the third match in three days for West Greene.

“ItĢƵ more mental than physical,” said Watson going into the rematch. “Three in a row is nerve-racking wondering how you are going to do. Everyone has good days and bad days.

“Mentally, you just have to be really focused. If you had a stressful day, you just have to block it all out.”

In WednesdayĢƵ match, Zach Frye (99-5x), Emma Crouse (98-6x), Piper Whitlatch (99-8x), DJ Jones (99-7x), Ali Thomas (100-9x), Gavin Tuason (99-7x), and Ruby Rittenhouse (100-5x) rounded out the scoring for West Greene. Domonic Russo (97-2x) and Brooke Miller (97-3x) did not count in the final tally.

In ThursdayĢƵ match, Abby Ozohonish and Taylor Burnfield were the top shooters for Waynesburg with 100-9x. Bryce Bedilion, Colby Simkovic and Talia Tuttle all scored 100-8x. Shelby Burkett shot 100-5x. Grace Kalsey (99-5x) and RJ Wolen (99-7x) rounded out the scoring rounds for the Raiders.

Tristan Cole (98-8x) and Taylor Wasson (99-5x) did not factor in the final scoring.

Sheyann Watson and DJ Jones were perfect for the Pioneers (4-2) with a score of 100-10x. Brooke Miller and Ali Thomas both shot 100-6x. Piper Whitlatch finished with 100-5x and Dominic Russo scored 100-4x. Emma Crouse (98-6x) and Ruby Rittenhouse (99-9x) also counted in the final score.

Gavin Tuason (98-4x) and Zach Frye (94-2x) did not count in the final score.

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