CHAMPS: Rock Crushers reclaim national title
SAN ANTONIO, TX
- The Nebraska One Box Rock Crushers shotgun team claimed their second consecutive National Title and the bragging rights to “Back-to-Back National Champions” after competing in the USAYESS (USA Youth Education in Shooting Sports) Junior Clay Target National Championships in San Antonio, Texas June 16 - 19. The Rock Crushers won the team title in 2021 and 2016, took runner-up honors in 2017 and 2018 and brought home a thirdplace finish in 2019.
Out of 1,500 possible targets, the Rock Crushers put up a team score of 1,388, eight targets ahead of the second-place Carroll Clay Target Team from Lewisville, Texas. The Marcus High School Target Team of Texas came in third with a score of 1,363.
The team posted an impressive team American Skeet score of 483/500, missing only 17 targets. Team members contributing to that score were Jacob Uphoff, Zach Smith and Cody Nelson, who all shot 98/100, along with Blane Frizzell putting up a 95 and Zach Hinze chipping in a 94.
Jacob Uphoff, Zach Smith and Cody Nelson ended up with one of the highlights of the weekend in a four-way tie for first in Senior Men division. After an exciting shoot-off, Uphoff claimed the Gold, Smith the Silver and Nelson the Bronze medals for a 1-2-3 Rock Crusher finish.
Zach Smith returned to San Antonio this year to defend his individual high overall title from 2021 and ended up in a close race with teammate, Jacob Uphoff, battling for the title. In the end, Uphoff claimed the 2022 Senior Men’s individual title, breaking 286 of 300 targets and Smith right behind with a score of 285.
In other individual final standings, Max Werner finished third in the Collegiate division with a 268, Zach Hinze finished one spot out of the medals in Junior Varsity in fourth with a 265; and Blaine Frizzell, Elijah Smith and Teagan Woodward finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively in the Intermediate division. Woodward, Hudson Werkmeister, Witten Painter, Eli Smith and Frizzell were the only Rock Crusher squad to medal in the event, taking home Silver medals for second place.
On Thursday, June 23, the team competed at Kerrville, Texas in the International Skeet and Trap events. In International Bunker Trap, Blaine Frizzell was Champion and Eli Smith third in Intermediate, Zach Hinze was second in the Junior Varsity and Jacob Uphoff tied for first but lost in a shoo-off to settle for the Silver medal.
This year marked the nineteenth year of the Rock Crushers competing on a national level under head coach Dave Stunkel. Thirty-two teams were represented from across the country in the competition including teams from Nebraska, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, Florida and Texas.
The 2022 USAYESS Championship continued Coach Stunkel’s string of the Rock Crushers taking home at least one award every year in national competition in which they have competed. As has become common for his teams, this year, Coach Stunkel’s boys placed in numerous team, squad and individual events.
It was the final competition for Cody Nelson, the lone senior on the team. Coach Stunkel stated that the team looks to be very competitive again going into next year and, with another year of experience under their belts, the Rock Crushers should be able to make a strong run towards another title next year if things go well.
The Rock Crushers thank all of their supporters in the community, Dick Phillips and especially to the Nebraska One Box Pheasant Hunt organization for all that they do to contribute to the team’s success.
The Rock Crushers are coached by Dave Stunkel and assistant coach Jim Duncan.