The 2025-2026 shooting sports season was one to remember for Paulding County 4-H, as youth competitors earned numerous honors at local and state competitions while developing valuable life skills through the Georgia 4-H Project SAFE program.
Project SAFE (Shooting Awareness, Fun, and Education) uses shooting sports as a vehicle to teach responsibility, teamwork, concentration, discipline, and sportsmanship in a safe and supportive environment. The success of the program would not be possible without the dedicated volunteers and certified coaches who lead Paulding County's BB, Shotgun, and Archery teams.
The Paulding County 4-H Archery Team, led by Head Coach Darrin Dickerson, competed in two statewide events during the season: the 2026 Georgia 4-H State Indoor Match in Perry and the 2026 Georgia 4-H State Outdoor Match at Rock Eagle.
At the State Indoor Match, Paulding County archers earned four individual medals. John White placed second in Cloverleaf Recurve, John Gorrell placed third in Cloverleaf Recurve, Adalynn Jaacks earned third place in Junior Female Recurve, and Graycee Goswick placed third in Junior Female Compound. The team's success continued at the State Outdoor Match, where John Gorrell earned a third-place finish in Cloverleaf Recurve. Paulding County also captured second place in the Cloverleaf Recurve Team competition with team members Mardell Davis, John White, Benn Pitts, and Reed Heaton.
The Paulding County 4-H BB Team, led by Head Coach Tony Black, enjoyed an outstanding season while competing in matches across Georgia. The team earned third place at both the Jaycee BB 4-H Match and the Northwest District 4-H BB Match, as well as a second-place finish at the Lamar Dyar Memorial Match. One of the team's greatest accomplishments was qualifying for the 2026 Daisy National BB Gun Championship Match. Held annually in Rogers, Arkansas, the prestigious competition brings together top BB shooters from across the nation in a 5-meter, four-position shooting event for youth ages 8-15. The Paulding County 4-H Shotgun Team, led by Head Coach Stacy Young, competed at the 2026 Georgia 4-H State Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays Competition held at Forest City Gun Club in Savannah.
Team members delivered impressive performances, highlighted by Xavier Mendes earning third place in Junior Trap Individual and third place in Junior Overall Individual. The Junior Team Overall squad of Xavier Mendes, Casen Shuman, Emmit White, and Rylee McClellan also earned a second-place finish. Paulding County 4-H is proud of all its shooting sports participants for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence throughout the season. These young athletes represented their community with integrity, sportsmanship, and determination.
A special thank-you goes to the coaches, volunteers, parents, and sponsors whose support makes the program possible. Their investment in Paulding County youth continues to create opportunities for growth, leadership, and success both on and off the range.
To learn more about Paulding County 4-H and its youth development programs, visit ugaextension.org/paulding or contact the UGA Extension Office in Paulding County at 770-443-7616.