By Nick Nahas
The Fishhawk Dynasty Club is shooting to win its third national championship in the last three years, but they can’t do it without some help. The club needs to raise funds to be able to take 30 kids to travel and compete in the national championship in Columbus Ohio, July 9-15.The money will be used to pay for registration, ammunition and golf cart rentals. It will be hosting a fundraising shooting sport tournament that will take place at Fishhawk Sporting Clays, 13505 Hobson Simmons Rd. in Lithia on Sunday, April 23 at 9 a.m.
Head Instructor Joe Mandracchia anticipates that it will cost around $500 for each kid to participate at nationals. The goal is to raise as much money as possible to try to cover the entire cost. The fundraising shooting sport tournament costs $75 per person to register, however, if a group of four people register together, they will only have to pay a total of $275 for the squad. If you don’t have a team, you will be paired up with one because there will be walk-ins the day of the tournament. The registration includes 75 targets plus a barbecue lunch donated by BubbaQue’s BBQ in Brandon.
Potential participants can register early for the tournament by calling 689-0490, or emailing layneot@hotmail.com, as well as signing up the day of the event at Fishhawk Sporting Clays. According to Mandracchia, the tournament is open to people at all shooting levels. Plaques will be given to the 1st-place team, 2nd-place team, 3rd-place team, the high female shooter, the high male shooter and the “I Gave it My Best Shot” award will be given out as well.
A $600 Mammoth 65-qt cooler, filled with 20 bottles of alcohol, will be raffled off at the event along with a Tampa Bay Lightning signed jersey and a Weatherby PA-08 shotgun. Raffle chances are $5 per ticket, 5 tickets for $20 or 40 tickets for $100.
“Fishhawk Dynasty is a program that encourages young people to get outside, get away from their computers and electronic devices and learn a sport that is probably one of the fastest growing sports in the country today,” said Mandracchia. “I love this sport and love seeing the kids light up when they hit their target.”
