4-H rifle champ aims for nationals

Yuma young gun Megan Wren was aiming to come away from the Arizona 4-H Shooting Sports Education State Match with a championship.

Wren, 15 and a sophomore at Yuma Catholic High School, didn't miss, eventually taking first place in the small-bore rifle senior division, "O" class sights in the statewide competition.

"There were a lot of good shooters there," Wren said. "I would go look at my targets after each round and most of my shots were in the black. I was surprised I shot well enough to win."

As the state champion, Wren, who shoots for the Yuma Valley Achievers 4-H Club, will represent the state of Arizona at the 2010 National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational in Kerrville, Texas, June 28-July 3.

"I'm pretty excited. Nationals are in Texas, which isn't very far, so I may be able to go. I don't know how good any of the other shooters are. I just want to do my best."

Wren also competed in the state air pistol, senior division, and the 3P air rifle, senior division, taking fifth place in each. The 4-H Shooting Sports Education State Match was held Dec. 5-6 at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson.

Last year, Wren was the state champion in air rifle silhouette, junior division. Because her birthday falls in the early part of the year, Wren can compete in the senior division for up to three more years.

In winning the small-bore rifle competition, Wren had to fire her gun from three different positions - standing, kneeling and prone - as well in rapid and normal fire.

"I had never shot rapid fire before so I didn't know what to expect. It was something new."

In rapid fire, shooters must fire five shots in 30 seconds, whereas in normal fire, shooters have 10 minutes to shoot 10 rounds. Target distances during the competition were 25 yards for the standing position and 50 yards for the kneeling and prone positions.

Wren said she spent several hours a week practicing for the competition.  

"When you register for 4-H, they give you a list of projects to participate in and I chose shooting sports."

Her other projects include quilting, rabbit, dog obedience training, entomology and cake decorating. She is also a 4-H youth leader in shooting sports and is a certified instructor on black powder and air rifle guns.

"It is teaching people how to handle their gun safely, about their stance and sight picture," Wren said.

Shooting sports isn't the only activity that keeps Wren busy and very involved. In addition to attending honor classes and maintaining an A average, Wren is on the school's varsity volleyball, softball and basketball teams.

She is also a Girl Scout Senior Level and working to earn her Gold Award (equivalent to the Boy Scout Eagle Award) by making bookshelves and doing a book drive to provide books for the Crossroads Mission Family Center Library.

Wren has already earned her Bronze Award, which is the highest award for a Brownie Girl Scout, and Silver Award, which is the highest award for Junior Girl Scouts. This busy and involved teen also graduated from Yuma Lutheran School last year as class valedictorian.

She admits it is hard finding time to keep up with her busy schedule but wouldn't have it any other way.

"It is such a good way to meet new friends. It is also fun being on sports team, traveling and playing in the games."

Wren's father, attorney Dale Wren, got her interested in shooting, taking her out with him sometimes when he went.

"One time I got this gun with a big kick and it gave me a big bruise," she said.

With her passion for pulling a trigger growing every day, Wren said she plans on continuing to shoot competitively for the foreseeable future.