Lorentz Takes State

SEELEY LAKE – Last week the Hellgate Civilian Shooters Junior Team started their season in Colorado Springs, Colo. for the Winter Air Gun Tournament. Saturday, Dec. 12 Seeley Lake's Ibby Lorentz claimed the State CMP Air Gun Championship title at her home range in Bonner, Mont. while two other Seeley Lake shooters, Justin Thomas and Sam Weisenburger, finished in the top eight for the state match.

Winter Air Gun Tournament

Six of the Hellgate Civilian Shooters Junior Team Seeley Lake's Ibby Lorentz, Justin Thomas and Sam Weisenburger along with teammates Alex Weisenburger, Sarah Donald and Abby Donald competed for three days at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

"It took us four years of training to get them there," said Coach Chris Lorentz. "While they did not qualify for the Olympic [shooting] team [the Winter Air Gun Tournament is also 2016 Olympic Team qualifier], they were not too far behind the pace."

According to Coach Lorentz, the tournament attracts world-class shooters. The juniors were able to talk to the Air Force Academy shooters, from which Coach Trace Weisenburger graduated, met the Ohio State Shooting team where most of the shooters are attending on scholarships and talked with Lonie Miley, a gold medalist from the Olympic Shooting team.

"This is the most prestigious match in the US, a qualifier for the US Olympic team," said Coach Lorentz. "You have three days and 180 shots to prove you are good enough for the Olympics."

Shooting in the Olympic training facility gives shooters the experience of extreme stress shooting under pressure said Coach Lorentz.

Coach Lorentz explained that the Hellgate Civilian Shooters home range in Bonner is a 12-point range. The Olympic Training Facility has three ranges with 120 fire points going at once with an additional 10-point finals range. Thirty-five shooting points were being used at any given time on the ranges, so as 35 shooters were finishing, 35 more were ready to take their position.

"It was a huge lesson in being prepared – being on time, with all your gear and have all your equipment together to get on the line," said Coach Lorentz.

Out of 118 shooters in the men's' 10m Air Rifle competition, Justin took 78th and Sam took 115th.

Coach Lorentz talked about Justin shooting outside on his second to last shot. "He stepped it up and shot a perfect bull's eye for his last shot," said Coach Lorentz. "He's been making leaps and bounds."

Sam had a broken rear sight. After he got it fixed, he shot his personal best on the third day. "We just happen to have a spare sight," said Coach Lorentz. "It's always good to travel with parts."

Out of 157 shooters in the women's 10m Air Rifle competition, Ibby took 117th, Sarah was close behind her with 120th place, Alex placed 137th and Abby placed 151st.

Ibby shot a personal best on the second day and completely missed one of her shots. "She was so excited about how well she was doing, she completely missed the target," said Coach Lorentz. In the end, Ibby was only eight points below one of the collegiate shooters.

State CMP Air Gun Championship

There were 41 shooters from all over Montana in two classes, precision and sportier, at the State CMP Air Gun Championship, Dec. 12. The top eight shooters from each of the two classes advanced to the final round.

In the qualifier, Ibby Lorentz was tied for first with Circle, Mont. shooter Chase Breitbach. After shooting 101.2 out of 109 points in the final, Ibby took the state title, finishing two points ahead of Jarhet Reed of Gallatin Valley, Mont. Breitbach finished fifth.

"I'm extremely proud of Ibby," said Coach Weisenburger.

Justin qualified in fourth place and finished fourth in the finals with a score of 94.2.

Sam qualified in eighth place but finished sixth with a score of 91.6 more than five points ahead of the eighth place finisher, Alex.

"This was the first final they have ever shot under," said Coach Weisenburger. "The Seeley kids did extremely well."

Two other Seeley Lake shooters participated in the match, Eric Lorentz and Amber Springer. Coach Weisenburger said Eric did very well in the precision class after leaving the team to pursue other interests. This was Amber's first time participating in the sporter class at a state championship match. She has only shot competitively in 4-H before the state championship.

"It takes a lot of heart and soul for them to step up and participate," said Coach Weisenburger.

The Hellgate Civilian Shooters will be in Missoula this week and then travel for an invitational match the second weekend in January. If they qualify for the Regional Match based on their score from the State Championships, they will travel to Sandy, Utah in February.

While the club does receive some grants for various needs, they are usually raising funds to help defray travel and gear costs. Coach Lorentz said they are currently using 1950s equipment and would like to purchase rifles for members of the club to use.

The shooters just finished raffling off a hog from Deer Creek Pigs. Seeley Lake resident Gary Miller won one half and Cody Kowert from Missoula won the other half.

The club is now selling 300 raffle tickets at $10/ticket for a Winchester Model 70 Super Grade rifle, scope not included. It is chambered in .280 Remington. The gun was provided through the Midway Foundation.

They are expecting to draw the winner at their first practice next fall, the second Monday in September, unless the tickets are sold out sooner. To take ownership of the gun, the winner must be able to pass a background check. To purchase tickets talk to any one of the Hellgate Civilian Shooters or call Coach Lorentz at 677-6803.

"We are trying to grow the club and give more kids the opportunity to shoot," said Coach Lorentz. "It's good to see something positive and good in the gun world these days."