Merit Academy crowned its first trio of shooting champions.

The Merit Academy Shooting Sports Club first Club Championship was held May 18 and 20 with Reese Mitchel winning both the girls’ air rifle and pistol competitions.

Theron Vonderhar won in boys’ rifle and Colton Waggoner won in boys’ pistol.

Since September, club members have put over 20,000 pellets downrange.

Nova Von Bach and Marley Goins came in second and third place respectively in the girls’ rifle competition, while Everett Swan and Nate Peters came in second and third in boys’ rifle.

Remington Mitchell and Marley Goins came in second and third place respectively in the girls pistol competition. Theron Vonderhar and Everett Swan came in second and third in the boys’ pistol.

The club’s students range in age from 7 to 13 years old.

“With Merit Academy adding 11th grade next school year, we hope to start up a first ever varsity rifle team next school year to be coached by Mike Theimer a ’76 Olympian,” the club said in a press release.

Electronic targets will be added in September, which will almost double the practice capacity, eliminating target changing time and providing immediate shot by shot feedback. Big screen monitors will give spectators live action, shot by shot view of each athlete’s target in real time.