I don't have any shooting related news this month so I am going to use this column to talk about some exciting news dealing with the Illinois Hall of Fame (HOF). Earlier this year, I told you about the Illinois Board of Directors voting to raise funds to build a new, bigger and better building for the HOF. We found out about a company that makes bricks with the name of a donor that are used to make a walkway leading into the building. This may sound strange to you, but trust me, the effect is actually quite impressive. We used this method to raise money to build an all-weather track at the high school in my home town. My eyes are always drawn to it when I walk in to watch an athletic event.
We are setting up a link on the ISTA webpage (click here for details) that you can click on to look at the bricks and donate money. If you have already donated money, we have a record of it and you will also have a brick on the walk of fame. Illinois Director Bill Huhn has generously agreed to run this program and he can be reached at 708-408-8286 or
I know money is tight, but please consider giving some money. This walkway will only enhance the HOF and make it something we can all be proud of through the years.
I will not be traveling to shoot this winter, so all my friends in Florida and Arizona, shoot well and stay safe.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate
I want to start this month talking about the Illinois All-American team. We don't have as many members as we usually do in a normal shooting year. COVID-19 totally messed up an Illinois shooter's ability to make the team. In spite of this, we still had shooters persevere to get the job done. Chase Horton made the Open First Team. Hannah Martin made the Lady I Second Team. Janice Rigler made the Lady II Second Team. Ian Lawrence is the Captain of the Junior Team. Garrett Helms made the Junior Gold Second Team. Dan Staker and Dave Dressler both made the Sub-Veteran Second Team. Mike Dennis and Frank Payne are on the Veteran First Team. Charlie Bickle made the Senior Veteran First Team. Finally, Ziggy Thaczenko is on the Chairshooter Team. Congratulations to all of you! You showed us how its done in tough circumstances.
I was looking at results of the Autumn Satellite Grand and saw several Illinois shooters shot very well. Something jumped out at me that I want to talk about now. We all like to shoot and win but we also really enjoy hanging out with our friends. It has got to be fantastic to be able to do this with someone who is your friend that you also love. Illinois is blessed with many couples, such as Brenda & Mike Dennis, Sue & Dan Staker and Valerie & Paul Rogers who shot at Tucson. We also have many parent/child teams, such as Harvey and Jeremiah Schultz, who also shot at Tucson. Sharing this great sport with each other has got to be the ultimate shooting experience and I enjoy watching and rooting for all of you.
Sadly I have to talk about the passing of another Illinois shooter. John Engal was a linchpin shooter here in Illinois. What I mean by that is he was seldom the best shooter at a shoot, although he did break a 100 straight in Handicap at the Peoria Skeet & Trap Club years ago. John was the guy that thinking about seeing him as you loaded up your car to go shoot, made you smile and look forward to getting to the club. His friendship was contagious and not having him at shoots leaves a hole that will be hard to fill. My condolences go out to all the family and friends of John.
Get your guns cleaned and your ammo ready to go because Spring is right around the corner. Until next time.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate
As another sign the 2020 target year has been crazy, just as shoots were starting to happen again in Illinois, we are winding down because of old man winter. 2021 can't get here soon enough.
The US Open took place in Missouri this year and several Illinois shooters shot well. Mike Dennis, Steve Dinkelman, Leland Hassler, Frank Payne, Ian Lawrence and Ziggy Tkaczenko represented Illinois well with their usual fine shooting. I was particularly happy to see Leland shooting well again. Good job, Leland! I'll see you this spring.
Bruce Waide has reached 25,000 Handicap targets and Jerry Frieders has shot 75,000 Singles targets. I always say, dedication is something we should admire in our fellow shooters. Good job, gentlemen!
In October, the Board of Directors met face-to-face for the first time in almost a year. I am pleased to announce the election of Pete Von Burg to the ISTA Hall of Fame. Pete has done it all. Along with being a great shot, he has run the KVS Gun Club and helped youth shooting for years in southern Illinois. He is also the reason I got on the board years ago. Congratulations, Pete! I can't think of anyone who deserves this more.
Next month, I'll talk about the Illinois All-Americans for the 2020 target year.
If my figuring is correct, you are reading this in December. I want to wish all shooters a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate
We are in a new target year and shooting is picking up in Illinois again. Over the Labor Day weekend, Brittany Shooting Park held the Illini Indian/Silver Dollar shoot. On Saturday, Steven Margherio won Doubles. Logan Hawkins won Singles and Stephen Chen won Handicap. On Sunday, Landon Sievers won Doubles, Leland Hassler won Singles, and Logan Hawkins won Handicap. On Monday, Brandy Cox won Doubles, Randy Miller won Singles and Ty Leach won Handicap.
The following weekend Downers Grove hosted the Illinois Northern Zone shoot. On Saturday, in miserable weather, Chase Horton won the In-Zone Singles and Mike Westjohn won the Out-of-Zone award. In much better weather on Sunday, Frank Bentley Jr. won the In-Zone Doubles and Brad Bomkamp won the Handicap. Randy Miller won the Out-of-Zone Doubles and Steve Carver won the Handicap. Frank Bentley Jr. won the In-Zone HAA and Randy Miller won the Out-of-Zone HAA. Good shooting all of you! Keep it up to show the quality of Illinois shooting.
I want to mention a couple of noteworthy milestones reached by Illinois shooters. Brenda Dennis, wife of All American and ISTA Board member, Mike Dennis, has shot 25,000 Handicap targets. Keep it up, Brenda and kick Mike's butt in the future. Chase Horton achieved his Grand Slam at the Kentucky State Shoot with a 100 in Handicap. Chase never fails to impress any more! Great shooting!
One thing I hate to do is talk about shooters who have passed and sadly Illinois has lost three lately. Karen Vanderveen was a long time trap shooter and was a long time Secretary of the Illini Indians. Alan Portzen was a fixture at the Illinois State shoot for years and a wonderful woodworker. You have a treasure if you have a stock he worked on. I did not know Jim Fish but I'm sorry he has passed. Condolences to the family and friends of these three people. Your passing has diminished us all.
Finally, I want to give a shoutout to two random acts of kindness I have seen lately. Judy Wegner, Illinois ATA Hall of Famer, graciously gave a leather bag she won to a young lady who came in second to her and Landon Sievers gave money he won to the Illinois Hall of Fame. These two acts show the character of both these individuals. Thanks, Judy and Landon. People like you are the reason I enjoy this sport so much.
Let's get out and shoot nice fall weather targets before winter sets in.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate
What an interesting Grand it was. The first Grand not in Vandalia or Sparta in about 100 years and the first Grand shot in the middle of a pandemic in 100 years. First, I want to again thank the ATA and the MTA for putting together the shoot on such short notice. We had some machine and trap help issues here and there, but all in all, it was a great shoot.
Illinois All American and All State Shooters continued to shoot well and placed in the events of the Grand. No big winners, just continued excellence. Other Illinois shooters shot really good scores above their averages and had a good time.
I want to highlight two sub-junior shooters who had a tremendous Grand. Ty Leach and Boedy Baker both shot lights out and placed in several events. They are both from my home town too. I feel like a proud Grandpa as I have watched these two young men develop as shooters and persons. The sky is the limit for them and I am looking forward to watching them in the future. Finally, a big shout out to Dagen Voigtman for his 400 x 400 in the HAA. What incredible shooting! It is amazing how many great young shooters we have in the sport anymore. I know I feel older by the minute watching them all.
Several Illinois shooters are about ready to reach milestones in target numbers. Bill Huhn, Richard Drennen and Ian Lawrence have almost reached 100,000 total targets. Todd Whitaker almost has 50,000 Handicap targets. Thomas Clark has 25,000 Single targets. Dan Schocke has 25,000 Handicap targets. Finally, Lawrence Gillum, Glenn Simpson and Kenneth Mitchell have shot 25,000 Doubles targets. As I have said in the past, the first step to excellence is commitment. These guys are showing us the way.
I was asked to drive down and certify the Cumberland County Sportsman Club so they could start to shoot registered birds. My wife and I drove down there in early July and man, was I impressed. As I came up to the club, it reminded me of some little clubs I shot at with my Dad years ago when I first started to shoot trap. A nice clubhouse, a lake, nice shade trees and two brand new trap fields, one of which is also set up for skeet. I also met several club members who were eager to make my wife and I feel at home. These are the clubs that are the backbone of our sport and we need to support. If you find yourself in Greenup, IL, give Kelly Sutherland a call at 217-728-8388, Extension 303 and check out Cumberland County. You will not be disappointed.
A new target year has started. Let's get out as much as we can and shoot and put the 2020 target year in the past.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate