Nampa, Idaho — After two wins by forfeit, Team Gotta encountered real competition in October,
Team Gotta in Nampa, Idaho
going head-to-head against the Nampa Juniors at the Idaho Steel Challenge Championship in Nampa, Idaho. Team Gotta’s varsity squad cruised to victory in the Iron Sight Rimfire category, helped along by a landmark performance by 16-year-old Jordon Castro. Strong performances by Nampa’s Jack Stinger and Kolby Pavlock pushed the Nampa team into second, ahead of Team Gotta’s JV crew (led by Jake Overstreet and Justin Nevins).
Given the reputations of Stinger and Pavlock, the Nampa group was expected to obliterate the younger shooters from Custer. Indeed, Stinger and Pavlock beat Overstreet and Nevins soundly, but Team Gotta’s newest members — Sarah Dealy and (returning) Ian Thomas beat their opponents by almost the same margin, pulling Team Gotta JV to within one half-second of second place!
In the end, both squads came away with their heads held high, and with healthy contributions to their teams’ endowment accounts pending. Team Gotta will receive $5,000 for first and $3,000 for third, while Nampa Juniors will receive $3,500 for second. Add to that $3,000 in “participation money” for showing up, and the two teams will earn $11,000 and $6,500 respectively.
Team Gotta’s “Four Horsemen,” varsity shooters Jordon Castro, Adam Rusling, Adam Thomas, and Keith Neher.
Not bad for a weekend’s work!
To learn more about youth teams participating in Steel Challenge competition, contact Tricia Gensman at USPSA at (360) 855-2245.