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Joseph Hodges hasn’t been a skeet shooter for very long, but in his short career he’s made what experience he has count.
The 18-year-old Frederica resident and 2009 Lake Forest High School grad only has been shooting for two years, but recently returned from the 2009 Junior World Skeet Championships with a host of medals.
Joseph received four honors in the tournament, which was held in Blue Springs, Miss., including first place in the 20-gauge and fifth place in the .410-gauge for Junior Class Division Three, and third place in the 28-gauge for Junior Class Division II.
He also was named the runner-up for the Highest Overall Award for Junior Division Class III.
It was the first time Joseph had been in a tournament of that size, competing against some of the top young shooters in the world, so naturally he was shocked with the performance he put together.
“I was really surprised,” he said. “I didn’t know what to expect. I was nervous, but I went out there and did my best.”
Getting set for his first year at Delaware Technical & Community College to major in architectural engineering, Joseph started shooting two years ago after his father, Jerry, got him interested.
Initially, shooting skeet was something Jerry said he thought would be a good outlet for his son, and something that could help him relieve the stresses in his life.
“I decided we needed to spend more time together and I took him over to shoot skeet,” Jerry said. “He really liked it and he picked it up quick.”
At first, Joseph had to borrow guns of other shooters at the range, and when he shot competitively he used a range gun — and won the tournament.
Jerry then decided it was worth investing in a gun for his son, so bought a Browning Over Under shotgun and began to coach Joseph in what he knew.
Under his father’s tutelage, Joseph quickly started to pick up different aspects of the sport, and added that by asking other shooters for tips he advanced much quicker than most.
“I have a natural ability I guess,” he said.
Jerry said that “natural ability” showed at the worlds, as his son looked way overmatched by some of the other competition, but came away with hardware that proved he had earned his place among them.
“A lot of the bigger clubs from other states, they’re there and have their shooting coaches and all, and poor Joey just has a box of shells and a gun,” he said. “But he hung in there with them pretty good and he was near the top of his category.”
Joseph Hodges hasn’t been a skeet shooter for very long, but in his short career he’s made what experience he has count.
The 18-year-old Frederica resident and 2009 Lake Forest High School grad only has been shooting for two years, but recently returned from the 2009 Junior World Skeet Championships with a host of medals.
Joseph received four honors in the tournament, which was held in Blue Springs, Miss., including first place in the 20-gauge and fifth place in the .410-gauge for Junior Class Division Three, and third place in the 28-gauge for Junior Class Division II.
He also was named the runner-up for the Highest Overall Award for Junior Division Class III.
It was the first time Joseph had been in a tournament of that size, competing against some of the top young shooters in the world, so naturally he was shocked with the performance he put together.
“I was really surprised,” he said. “I didn’t know what to expect. I was nervous, but I went out there and did my best.”
Getting set for his first year at Delaware Technical & Community College to major in architectural engineering, Joseph started shooting two years ago after his father, Jerry, got him interested.
Initially, shooting skeet was something Jerry said he thought would be a good outlet for his son, and something that could help him relieve the stresses in his life.
“I decided we needed to spend more time together and I took him over to shoot skeet,” Jerry said. “He really liked it and he picked it up quick.”
At first, Joseph had to borrow guns of other shooters at the range, and when he shot competitively he used a range gun — and won the tournament.
Jerry then decided it was worth investing in a gun for his son, so bought a Browning Over Under shotgun and began to coach Joseph in what he knew.
Under his father’s tutelage, Joseph quickly started to pick up different aspects of the sport, and added that by asking other shooters for tips he advanced much quicker than most.
“I have a natural ability I guess,” he said.
Jerry said that “natural ability” showed at the worlds, as his son looked way overmatched by some of the other competition, but came away with hardware that proved he had earned his place among them.
“A lot of the bigger clubs from other states, they’re there and have their shooting coaches and all, and poor Joey just has a box of shells and a gun,” he said. “But he hung in there with them pretty good and he was near the top of his category.”
Joseph now is preparing for the Delaware Skeet Shooting Championships from Monday, Aug. 21, to Wednesday, Aug. 23, at Eagle Wing Skeet and Sporting, Dover Air Force Base.
After the competition he faced at worlds, Joseph feels much more confident about his chances in the Delaware championships.
“Out on the East Coast this isn’t as big as a sport,” he said. “There’ll be a lot less competition then what I just saw.”
He sees no end in sight for his participation in skeet shooting, and hopes to turn it into a profitable hobby as he progresses in his young career.
Jerry feels the work and concentration his son has put into skeet shooting has paid off in ways he hadn’t foreseen.
“It’s been amazing,” he said. “He is able to focus better and he’s an honor roll student now. It allows him to focus on something other than what problems he has. He’s used it to his best advantage and it’s made a difference in him.”
Email Brian Citino at brian.citino@doverpost.com
