COLUMBUS — Local athlete and 4-H member Caden Dees made a impressive debut in shooting competitions this year, winning a gold medal at the State Games of Mississippi in Meridian as well as an Athlete of the Year award.
“It was fun,” Dees said of his trip to the State Games. “I really liked it and think this is something I’ll do for the rest of my life.”
Dees, who just turned 12, first realized he was good at shooting when he shot his first deer while hunting with his dad. Described by his mother, Hayley Dees, as a “true outdoorsman,” the sport came naturally for him, and he won his first-ever competition through his local 4-H club.
Dees worked with his 4-H coaches, Monica and David Grady, to hone his skills and entered into GTR Invitational as his first tournament, where he finished in first place by 68 points in the .22 rifle event.
The win encouraged him to enter into the State Games over the summer, where he won a gold medal and was named one of 31 Athletes of the Year across 5000 athletes who competed in the games.
Dees has played a number of other sports, but it seems he’s found his specialty and has set his sights on other shooting events, namely skeet shooting.
“I would definitely say that shooting sports is Caden’s niche and 4H has helped to raise his confidence in his abilities within this sport, as well as others,” Hayley Dees said. “He has done so well, especially in his first year and although we are so proud of him, we aren’t entirely shocked, since he was already a very strong shooter, having solely killed his first deer at age 7 and first turkey at age 10. It’s a running joke in our home that he can out-hunt his father any day!”
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