Kevin Smith of Muncy and Adam Green, Warren Center, came away with respective senior and junior division Top Gun awards in Pennsylvania’s 1998 Youth Hunter Education Challenge held June 20, at the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Scotia Range near State College.

Smith repeated as Senior Division (ages 15-18) Top Gun. Green climbed atop the Junior Division (ages 11-14) overall standings.

In Senior Division team competition, the Rock Run Raiders defended a title won in 1997. Members of the squad included Jordan Myers, Hughesville; Kevin Smith, Muncy; Shawn Smith, Unityville; Josh Strausser, Millville, and Jeremy Stackhouse, Muncy. They are coached by Robert Myers.

The Sayre Blue squad captured Junior Division team honors. Team members were Cody Chapman, Milan; Adam Green, Warren Center; Edmond Rosenberger and Peter Rosenberger, Athens, and Christopher Rossiter, Athens. Their coach is David Hafer.

The Game Commission’s involvement in the National Rifle Association’s Youth Hunter Education Challenge program dates back more than a decade. The annual event was staged at a number of locations in the PGC’s Northeast Region before moving to the Scotia Range in 1994.

Pennsylvania will send 20 youngsters and coaches to the 1998 International YHEC event in Raton, New Mexico, July 26-31. The Keystone State delegation will be evenly split between senior and junior competitors. In each of the last three years individual Top Gun honors have been brought home to Pennsylvania following the International competition.

TEAMS: 1. Rock Run Raiders, Hughesville - Coach - Robert L. Myers, Hughesville. Members - Jordan Myers, Hughesville; Kevin Smith, Muncy; Shawn Smith, Unityville; Josh Strausser, Millville; Jeremy Stackhouse, Muncy.

2. Sayre Senior Blue - Coach - Blair Babcock, Rome. Members - Garth Babcock, Rome; David Chilson, Ulster; Ed Dawejko, Sayre; Timothy Gainous, Athens; Daniel Rossiter, Athens.

3. Troy Senior Red - Coach - John O’Donnell. Members - Jeremy Castle, Columbia Crossroads; Michael Bauman, Troy; Randy Calkins, Troy; Jeremy Estep and Nick Estep, Granville Summit.

RIFLE: 1. Garth Babcock; 2. Kevin Smith; 3. Jordan Myers.

SHOTGUN: 1. Kevin Smith; 2. Jordan Myers; 3. Josh Strausser. (Decided by tiebreaker).

MUZZLELOADER: 1. Garth Babcock; 2. Nick Estep; 3. David Chilson. (Decided by tiebreaker).

ARCHERY: 1. Ed Dawejko, Sayre; 2. Kevin Smith; 3. Garth Babcock. (Decided by tiebreaker).

HUNTER RESPONSIBILITY EXAM: 1.Kevin Smith; 2. Jordan Myers; 3. Garth Babcock. (Decided by tiebreaker).

SENIOR TOP GUN: 1.Kevin Smith; 2. Garth Babcock; 3. Jordan Myers.

2. Southern Clinton Sportsmen - Coach - Doug Desmond, Mill Hall. Members - Lance Wilt, Lamar; Matthew Rickert, Beech Creek; Joshua Day, Beech creek; Clayton Desmond, Mill Hall; Garrett Desmond, Mill Hall.

3. Troy Junior Blue - Coach - Claude Carman, Troy - Members - Chase Furman, Milan; Brett Carman, Troy; Jeff Campbell, Towanda; Erin Castle, Columbia Cross Roads; Matthew Williams, Troy.

RIFLE: 1. Adam Green; 2. Christopher Dibona; 3. Lance Wilt.

SHOTGUN: 1. Peter Rosenberger; 2. Joshua Day; 3. Edmond Rosenberger.

MUZZLELOADER: 1. Timothy Reichart; 2. Steven Haggerty; 3. Cody Chapman (Decided by tiebreaker).

ARCHERY: 1. Christopher Dibona; 2. Adam Green; 3. Peter Rosenberger. (Decided by tiebreaker).

HUNTER RESPONSIBILITY EXAM: 1. Lance Wilt, Lamar; 2. Edmond Rosenberger; 3. Timothy Reichart.

JUNIOR TOP GUN: 1. Adam Green; 2. Peter Rosenberger ; 3. Christopher Dibona.