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WESTMINSTER — Lee Fricke, 15, and his brother, Noah Fricke, 13, have joined a shooting club with a twist. They are the sons of Dan and Kate Fricke, of Westminster. Lee will be a sophomore at Allen East High School and Noah will be in the eighth grade.
The Fricke boys belong to a shooting club in Piqua and have gained fame by winning and placing second in shooting competitions.
“A guy I work with saw a sign east of Bowling Green and he looked up SASS [Single Action Shooting Society] and told me that this might be something my boys might be interested in,” Dan Fricke said.
According to the website, the Single Action Shooting Society is an international organization created to preserve and promote the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting. SASS endorses regional matches conducted by affiliated clubs, stages END of TRAIL The World Championship of Cowboy Action Shooting, promulgates rules and procedures to ensure safety and consistency in Cowboy Action Shooting matches, and seeks to protect its members’ Second Amendment rights. SASS members share a common interest in preserving the history of the Old West and competitive shooting.
Fricke himself was raised around guns, going hunting with his dad since he was 6 and 7 years of age. It was important to him that his sons knew about guns, especially what to do if they ever came upon a gun. He wanted to make sure his boys knew how to be safe around guns.
“I have been around guns all my life and I was teaching them when they were young because I wanted them to know about them,” Fricke said. “They learned a lot of responsibility, it’s more than just shooting, you have to take care of the gun,” he said.
Fricke visited the website and found a club closest to them in Piqua. There are about 22 shooting clubs in Ohio.
“Last March we went down to Piqua to watch a match. I left Kate and the boys standing outside, while I went inside to talk to someone. When I came out, my family was surrounded by people. Everyone was friendly, they were introducing themselves. We started shooting the next month,” Fricke said.
One of the unique aspects of SASS approved Cowboy Action Shooting is the requirement placed on costuming. Each participant is required to adopt a shooting alias appropriate to a character or profession of the late 19th century, a Hollywood Western star, or an appropriate character from fiction. Their costume is then developed accordingly. Many event participants gain more enjoyment from the costuming aspect of the sport than from the shooting competition, itself. Regardless of a SASS member’s individual area of interest, SASS events provide regular opportunities for fellowship and fun with like-minded folks and families.
Fricke himself has an alias, Dead Eye Dan Fricke, Lee goes by the name Skeeter Lee and Noah is Choctaw Kid.
“This is a good family time,” Fricke said. “If you experience it, you will be addicted. You wouldn’t want your children to be around any better people. They are just wonderful.”
Cowboy Action Shooting is a multifaceted shooting sport in which contestants compete with firearms typical of those used in the taming of the Old West: single-action revolvers, pistol-caliber lever-action rifles, and old-time shotguns. The shooting competition is staged in a unique, characterized, “Old West” style. It is a timed sport in which shooters compete for prestige on a course of different shooting stages.
The Fricke boys have gained skill and attention, as Noah placed first at the Ohio State Buckaroo competition and Lee placed second in the Young Guns competition. Each boy received a trophy.
In addition, both Fricke boys participated in the Cimarron Firearms Annual Young Guns competition. Cimarron’s Annual Young Guns program selected a combination of six young men and women in SASS for the calendar year 2015. Each participant received a pair of Pietta revolvers. The Cimarron company was looking for young men and women who aimed high in shooting sports, in academics, and in preserving our country’s history. These “Young Guns” aren’t necessarily the top of their class, but are able to demonstrate the drive and determination to be their personal best. Those that become a Cimarron Young Gun will not only have assistance in acquiring the tools of the trade, but will become part of the family of Cimarron Champions.
Both boys had to submit an application, produce a video detailing their life and shooting history, their grades from school were considered and community service. Each applicant received an interview via a phone call from the president of Cimarron Firearms. Their videos can be seen on YouTube under Lee Fricke and Noah Fricke.
“This was good training, like applying for a job,” Fricke said. “The company wanted well-rounded kids.”
Fricke was hoping at least one of his sons would win, and was very proud when both of his sons were two of the six chosen to win the competition.
Dan Fricke summed it up, “It’s not about the competition, it’s about pride and doing better for yourself.”
Dairy Beef Queen applicants sought
HARDIN COUNTY — The OSU Hardin County Extension Office announces the Dairy Beef Feeder queen contest.
This contest is open to all girls 14 years and older that are enrolled in 4-H or FFA with a dairy beef feeder project. To be eligible, a members must fill out the application, complete the essay and participate in an interview. Applicants will also be tested over breeds, body parts and general questions that pertain to the project.
The winner will represent the dairy beef feeder youth and also be recognized at the crowning of the Hardin County Fair King and Queen Ceremony at the Hardin County Fair. It is also the responsibility of the Dairy Beef Feeder Queen to attend the Dairy Beef Feeder show and assist with passing out awards at the fair and be at the sale.
Applications are available at the Extension office or online at http://hardin.osu.edu. If there are questions, contact Jolene Buchenroth at 419-673-9805. Once the applications are in, applicants will be notified of the interview date. The Dairy Beef Feeder Queen application and essay deadline is June 21. Mail completed application and essay to Jolene Buchenroth, 11740 township Road 180, Kenton, OH 43326.
