Column: Gulf Coast Sport Shooting Festival Oct. 25

The festival, the shooting component of Florida’s 2014 Sunshine State Games, will be held Oct. 25 at the Hernando Sportsman’s Club in Brooksville, and is expected to draw hundreds of shooters of all ages and abilities.

This year marks the competition’s 35th year.

Organizers say it will be the best ever because of a new Olympic-style focus and many new shooting disciplines that were recently added to the competition.

Stephen Rodriguez, senior vice president of the Florida Sports Foundation, the nonprofit that organizes the Sunshine State Games, said in past competitions the shooting disciplines were more hunting oriented.

This year, they will be more Olympic and international in scope.

“We’re making our sport shooting more well-rounded,” Rodriguez said. “They’re definitely more in line with the goals of the Sunshine State Games — amateur development of Olympic sports.”

The key to the success of the shooting competition, and the reason it’s lasted so long, is because it offers something for all ages and skill levels — while emphasizing the benefits of responsible and positive gun ownership.

It’s open to all Florida residents who have lived here for at least 30 days prior to the date of competition.

Non-resident guest athletes and/or teams may participate upon approval by the Florida Sports Foundation.

The festival includes the following disciplines: International Style Pistol, Standard Pistol, Air Pistol, Centerfire and Sport Pistol, Smallbore Rifle Prone and 3-Position, International Style Rifle and Sporter Rifle.

The number of competitors has grown every year, Rodriguez said.

Last year’s competition drew 360 shooters.

“Our goal for this year is to get 500 shooters overall, in all disciplines,” Rodriguez said. “I think we’ll easily meet this goal.”

One young shooter to watch will be 13-year-old Victor Hili Jr., of Spring Hill.

Victor is Florida’s 2014 4-H state rifle champion for smallbore 3-position shooting, which he won in March during his first-ever shooting competition.

His father, Victor Hili Sr., said his son began shooting around 9 with his uncle, the vice president of the Hernando Sportsman’s Club.

Young Victor progressed through the National Rifle Association’s youth programs and Project Appleseed.

“He scored rifleman 10 times, and got a patch each time,” the elder Victor said. “He loves the competition. He thrives on doing well. Every time he shoots he learns something new.”

The young shooter also is learning life lessons from the sport.

“Discipline is a big part of it,” his father said. He’s learned to maintain a teachable attitude. He’s not the type of kid who thinks he knows everything. He’s always willing to learn something new,” his father said. “I’m very proud of him.”

Unlike his uncle, Victor’s father was not a shooter, at least not until his son started competing.

“Since then, I’ve gotten into the sport with Victor,” he said. “We now experience things and learn together.”

If we don’t run into each other at the range, you can reach me at (941) 361-4975, by email at lee.williams@heraldtribune.com or by regular mail, 1741 Main St., Sarasota, FL 34236. You can also follow me on social media at www.facebook.com/TheGunWriter or www.Twitter.com/

IF YOU GO BOX

The Gulf Coast Sport Shooting Festival, the shooting competition of the 2014 Sunshine State Games, will be held on October 25 at the Hernando Sportsman’s Club, 16121 Commercial Way (U.S. Hwy 19) in Brooksville, just 9.5 miles north of the intersection of U.S. Hwy 19 and S.R. 50 in Weeki Wachee.

Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. and closes at 8 a.m.

For more info, please visit: http://www.flasports.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107%3Asports-shooting-championships&catid=42%3Asport-event&Itemid=60#gulf

www.hernandosportsmansclub.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hernando-Sportsmans-Club/181824431850883 For further info, contact Sarah Kirchberg at (727) 724-3082 or skirchberg@flasports.com.