Little Wins State Title In 12 and 20 Gauge
Spencer Little 2018 ISSA 12 and 20 gauge state champion. (submitted photo)
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Spencer Little was a long time member of the Oskaloosa Shooting Team, where he and the team won many awards for their skill.
This past weekend, Spencer took his skills and won the 2018 Open State Skeet Championship in both 20 gauge and 12 gauge divisions. The competition was open to anyone who wanted to shoot.
Spencer nailed 100 out of 100 targets in the 12 gauge, and 100 straight in 20 gauge back to back.
Being perfect wasn’t enough, Spencer then had a shoot-off in both classes. In the 12 gauge class, it only took four more targets to claim the championship. In 20 gauge, it took six more targets to seal the deal.
For the shoot-off, participants shoot pairs of targets versus a single target.
The nine years on the shooting team, and lots of time practicing with his dad, Mark Little, helped prepare Spencer for the day.
The weekend before was Spencer’s last time with the high school shooting team at the state SCTP, Scholastic Clay Target Program, where he and the team won 2nd place.
Spencer says he sees himself shooting clay targets recreationally now in his spare time versus competitively because he is starting his new career learning a trade.
“It was a long journey, and it was very rewarding”, Spencer said of his time on the Oskaloosa Shooting Team.
Spencer says the shooting sports are filled “with a lot of great people, and a lot of people that would do anything for you. They are always there to support you.”
“It builds a lot of character,” says Spencer of the shooting sports. “Starting out on the shooting team in the 4th Grade. “Hard work, [and] determination. Just keep your nose down and work hard.”
“The shooting team has taught a lot more than just shooting,” says Mark Little, referencing the respect and responsibility that’s required of all shooters to participate.
Just like any other sport, shooting team participants have to maintain their grades and their conduct in school in order to participate.
Spencer believes that his time participating in the shooting team has helped to prepare him for his next stage in life. Determination and hard work is also needed in the trades, and those lessons learned will play a role as life moves on.
