AMES, Iowa -- Young Jacob Vsetecka stepped to the line, drew back his compound bow and shot his arrow straight into the target’s center. Then, Robin Hood style, he three-stacked succeeding arrows, sending a ripple of “wows” through the crowd at the 4-H Safety and Education in Shooting Sports (SESS) state match at the Keokuk County Izaak Walton League near Sigourney on June 9.
SESS is offered through Iowa State University Extension 4-H Youth Development. Certified volunteers lead shooting programs in more than half of Iowa’s counties. Leaders are certified in one of four disciplines — rifle, shotgun, archery or muzzle loading. The program purpose is to help youth become more disciplined and thoughtful before they act, more responsible and step up to leadership.
Jacob, the 11-year-old son of Dave and Robin Vsetecka of Chickasaw County, broke into a big grin after a moment of disbelief at his three shots.
“I knew what a Robin Hood was, but I was sure surprised,” Jacob said. He has been attending the Chickasaw County Shooting Sports club meetings once a month and is a first-year 4-H member of the Utica Lucky 4’s 4-H club.
An avid bow fan, Jacob has had a bow since he was four years old, but has had his compound bow for under a year, according to his mother Robin Vsetecka.
He didn’t win his match, but secured a strong second in the junior division of the compound bow discipline with his rare feat of skill. Other standings in the competition include:
Air rifle
(Senior)
First: Brandi Cooper, Worth County (250)
Second: Aaron Hill, Worth County (234)
Third: Nathan Cox, Pottawattamie County (206)
Fourth: Alex Kaufman, Pottawattamie County (200)
(Intermediate)
First: Tyler Laubenthal, Kossuth County (202)
Second: Ashly Mitchell, Madison County (201)
Third: Katey Havens, Adair County (147)
Fourth: Steven Clubb, Keokuk County (144)
(Junior)
First: Brett Laubenthal, Kossuth County (199)
Second: Kyle Hanson, Pottawattamie County (152)
Third: Adam Poeppe, Kossuth County (138)
Fourth: Caleb Hill, Worth County (130)
Archery – compound
(Senior)
First: Zach McCarthy, Montgomery County (385)
Second: Bryant Luers, Keokuk County (375)
Third: Aaron Meiners, Keokuk County (355)
Fourth: Andrea Henchal, Poweshiek County (342)
(Intermediate)
First: Brian Blakewell, Chickasaw County (284)
Second: Dan Waechter, Keokuk County (277)
Third: Tyler Denny, Keokuk County (274)
Fourth: Ryan Adam, Keokuk County (272)
(Junior)
First: Cody Schwarck, Poweshiek County (194)
Second: Jacob Vsetecka, Chickasaw County (190)
Third: Ason Santosus, Poweshiek County (182)
Fourth: Wyatt Hensley, Adair County (178)
Archery – recurve
(Senior)
First: Kale Hoadley, Adair County (76)
Second: Zach McCarthy, Montgomery County (50)
(Intermediate)
First: Katey Havens, Adair County (46)
(Junior)
First: Jerome Farrier, Washington County (127)
Muzzleloader
(Senior)
First: Ryan Weber, Keokuk County (83)
(Intermediate)
First: Peyton Strupp, Keokuk (91)
Second: Isaac Hill, Worth (90)
Third: Tyler Denny, Keokuk (89)
Shotgun
(Senior)
First: Ryan Mueller, Worth County (46)
Second: Bryant Luers, Keokuk County (45)
Third: Brad Heinrich, Grundy County (45)
Fourth: Brett Lage, Grundy County (45)
(Intermediate)
First: Nick Arthur, Poweshiek County (44)
Second: Mitchell Phillips, Chickasaw County (41)
Third: Brian Blakewell, Chickasaw County (32)
Fourth: Adam King, Worth County (29)
Smallbore
(Senior)
First: Aaron Hill, Worth County (260)
Second: Nick Hanson, Pottawattamie County (234)
Third: Brandi Cooper, Worth County (219)
Fourth: Brittney Tremmel, Keokuk County (201)
(Intermediate)
First: Eric Osborn, Poweshiek County (159)
Second: Marshall Lynch, Madison County (134)
Third: Grant West, Webster County (114)
Fourth: Kara Phillips, Webster County (107)
(Junior)
First: Caleb Hill, Worth (124)
Second: Jason Hiebner, Pottawattamie County (121)
Third: Emily Selander, Pottawattamie County (114)
Fourth: Kelby Paus, Allamakee County (85)
Communication and Exhibits
(Exhibits – Senior)
First: Joe Walleser, Allamakee County (lamp)
Second: Jacob Estebo, Allamakee County (gun rack)
(Exhibits – Intermediate)
First: Trevor Kalahar, Webster County (shell mirror)
Second: Kara Phillips, Webster County (hunting bag)
Extemporaneous Speech
(Senior)
First: Jessie Phillips, Webster County
Educational Presentation
(Intermediate)
Daniel Waechter and Steven Clubb, Keokuk County
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