Gaston Young Guns Shooting Sports

Gaston Young Guns operates three distinct skeet shooting programs in Gastonia, Gaston County, North Carolina: a Recreation Skeet Shooting Team for casual shooters, a Tournament Skeet Shooting Team for competitive athletes, and a Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) Team for younger participants. The club focuses on developing marksmanship, safety, and competitive excellence in youth shooters.

The Tournament Team meets Thursdays 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Gastonia Skeet and Trap Range (1670 Tulip Drive, Gastonia NC 28052 | 704-866-6065). Team athletes must:

• •Hold NSSA membership
• •Complete NRA First Steps Shotgun Safety certification
• •Provide their own firearm
• •Maintain satisfactory school grades and conduct
• •Participate in weekly practice and mandatory team meetings
• •Compete in charity and fundraising events

Coaching staff includes Don Wise (Head Coach), Allen Kirby (Tournament Head Coach), Sydney Duncan, and Mary Beth Faris.

Multiple Gaston Young Guns athletes have achieved NC Junior All-State Skeet Team status. The 2016 Junior All-State Team featured five GYGSS members, including captain Riley Dellinger.

Shooting milestones are celebrated club-wide. Notable achievements include:

Gaston Young Guns hosts five major tournaments annually at the Gastonia facility:

• •Gaston Young Gun's Junior Open (April) – 12 gauge competition
• •Bull Dog Open (June) – 28 gauge and .410 bore
• •NC Junior Championship (July) – Premier state-level event
• •Dove Hunters Open (August) – 12 and 20 gauge
• •Bob & Pat Boyd Memorial (September) – 12 gauge

The club also competes in regional and national tournaments throughout the Southeast, including the Junior World Championship (San Antonio), NC State Open, SC State Championship, and specialized events like the Krieghoff Masters and President's Open.

NRA FIRST Steps Shotgun – 3+ hour course covering safe handling, shotgun operation, ammunition, shooting fundamentals, cleaning, and safety rules. Includes moving target range time with completion certificate.

NRA FIRST Steps Rifle – 3+ hour hands-on rifle safety course (groups of 4 or fewer) with classroom and range instruction on specific rifle actions, operation, cleaning, and marksmanship fundamentals.

NC Hunter Education Course – Free 6+ hour certification recognized in all 50 states and Canadian provinces. Covers firearm safety, hunting ethics, conservation, wildlife ID, survival, and tree stand safety.

The Gaston Young Guns Scholarship awards $500 annually to high school seniors or current college students who: - Have been club members in good standing for 2+ years - Plan to attend an accredited college or university - Meet program eligibility requirements

Scholarships are renewable for up to 4 years. The club also volunteers for community events including PAWS Youth Day, Quail Forever, and Community Night Out.

The club is led by a Board of Directors including President Phil Digh ([email protected]), Assistant President Kevin Ezell, Vice-President Don Wise, Secretary Allison Liscum, and Treasurer Rebecca Cloninger. Board meetings are held the first Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at either Gastonia Police Department or Fire Department Station 1.

Located on Rankin Lake Park property and accessed via Tulip Drive, the facility has operated since Mayor Harrelson Yancey established the first range in 1951. Originally run by the Gastonia Police Department, Parks & Recreation now manages the facility. The range sits at the end of Bob & Pat Boyd Drive, named for the longtime operators who built it into a regional shooting destination.

Directions from I-85: Take Exit 17 to Hwy 321 North (Chester Street), proceed 0.3 miles to Tulip Drive, turn left 0.7 miles, then right onto Bob & Pat Boyd Drive.