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Mackenzie, Burrows have future clear in sights

CENTREVILLE - Matt Mackenzie and Robbie Burrows' aim and focus have brought many titles to the Queen Anne's County 4-H Marksmanship Club, and gained college scholarships for both Queen Anne's County High School seniors.

Both Burrows and Mackenzie have signed national letters of intent to join the rifle teams at two NCAA colleges. Burrows received a scholarship from University of Tennessee-Martin, while Mackenzie was awarded a scholarship to Jacksonville State University in Alabama. "It's pretty cool," said Burrows. "It's a lot of hard work, and it all paid off." Burrows is the son of Charles Burrows of Queen Anne and Jill Brannock of Ruthsburg. He said he chose Tennessee-Martin, because he liked the coaching staff and the college is not too far away from home. Burrows plans to study mechanical engineering. Mackenzie intends to study criminal justice. He is the son of Lou and April MacKenzie of Centreville.

The boys are the only two members of the marksmanship club to be awarded scholarships since Bill Dodd received one nearly 20 years ago.

"I know if I go down there I'll progress as a shooter," said Mackenzie. He chose Jacksonville University because the school's marksmanship team won the NCAA Championship this year, and two members of the team are on the Olympic Development team, he said. Mackenzie wants to make the Olympic team in 2008 or 2012.

Mackenzie and Burrows have been shooting competitively for five years and have been members of 4-H for 10 years. The pair set national records in 2005 for outdoor smallbore rifles. Mackenzie has taken top honors in Maryland 4-H, National 4-H, and two NRA National Postal Championships. He is the 2004 and 2005 NRA 4-H 3-position smallbore champion and the 2006 Maryland state three-position air rifle champion. MacKenzie has been to the Junior Olympics in Colorado Springs, Colo., twice, qualifying both times to shoot against the best in the nation. Burrows is the 2005 Maryland State smallbore outdoor champion and placed second in the 2004 and 2005 NRA 4-H Smallbore Rifle Postal Championships.

Burrows and Mackenzie, along with teammates Cody Morris and Taylor Ciotola, are also 2004 and 2005 NRA 3-Position Smallbore Rifle Postal match intermediate junior champions.

"The competitions are awesome. That's what I live to do," said Mackenzie.

It's all about focus, controlling your breathing, and shooting straight down the middle, said Mackenzie. They used to complain about the jackets they had to wear, but now they are wearing 50 pounds of equipment, he said.

Throughout the year, they travel to matches along the East Coast. They also have participated in the U.S. Junior National Championship at Fort Benning, Ga.; NRA Nationals at Camp Perry, Ohio; and several colleges, including, Xavier (Ohio), Jacksonville State, Murray State, Kentucky and Tennessee-Martin.

They compete against 20 to 25 people in state matches. The number increases to 45 to 50 people in national competitions. At the 4-H matches, more than 100 boys and girls compete. The 4-H Marksmanship Club is seeking members. Parents of young men and women ages 8 to 18 can call the Queen Anne's County Extension Office.

Queen Anne's County teams swept the Maryland State 4-H Competition in 2005 in junior, intermediate and senior teams.

Phillip Schwarz - Balancing Act

He listens to country music, wears cowboy boots and drives a 1962 Bel Air, even though his dad wants him to get a different vehicle.

"I can't get rid of that car, no sir," Phillip explains adamantly. For $800, he brought the car home on his 16th birthday, fixed it up in the farm shop and made it a "daily driver." Nothing fancy, but something to take him back and forth to school. Read more.....

This young shooter beating the best shooters who are over twice his age is really no surprise since Travis has shot competitively since he was nine. "I started shooting when I was about nine. Mostly at a local club and 4-H shoots" he said. Travis's father, Lonnie Mears has been a driving force in the 4-H shooting program in Texas and says the 4-H shoots that Travis has shot in over the years has been a big part of helping Travis be one of the best shooters in the country today. Mr. Mears also coaches the Johnson County 4-H shooting club that has grown to 25 young men and women.

In front of a cheering crowd and ESPN viewing audience, defending Gold Medal Champion and fellow Beretta shooter, Scott Robertson awarded Travis a Beretta 391 Teknys for the win. The shoot was televised on ESPN in late July.

A great win for Travis, but it didn't stop there. From the Great Outdoor Games Travis went to the Scholastic Shotgun National Championship in San Antonio, with his Johnson County 4-H Shooting Club team. 

Travis and his teammates Mark Billings, Jon Wheat and Jake Montgomery took the gold medal in sporting clays breaking 1102 of 1100 targets. The Johnson County 4-H Shooting Club also won gold in the senior skeet with another team that consisted of Mears, Billings, Montgomery, Wheat and John Hubbard. Travis, an honor student, is looking toward college and to continue to shoot for the Beretta team. His goals are to finish college and some day shoot for the U.S. Olympic Team. The 4-H Shooting Foundation would like to congratulate Travis for the win and is proud to support young shooters in the shooting sports. For more information go to espn.com or visit the 4-H Shooting Sports web site.