Area Youth Assemble to Prepare National Matches at Camp Perry

Many area youth assist in making sure the world-renowned National Pistol and Rifle Matches at Camp Perry go off with a bang.  Their countless hours on the Camp Perry ranges and pasting thousands of targets which make the Matches possible don't go unnoticed. The National Match partners, the National Rifle Association (NRA), the Ohio National Guard, and the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) are grateful to have hard-working, dedicated youth working the Camp Perry ranges.  

Recently praised by past and present employees for his dedication to the National Match summer crew, Joe DeCosta, now 81 years old, has run the NRA youth program for 30 years. Generally, he hires boys and girls around the ages of 14 or 15, who have the potential to return for years to come, which, more often than not, they do.

With around 60 area youth a year on average, he has seen many come and go. Though the work needs done, for DeCosta, there is much more to being a part of Camp Perry than that.

“I don’t just want a worker. I want a young man or woman to be proud to be here, to be building this range for the National Championship,” he said. “Loyalty is very important, and these kids have been very loyal to me over the years.”

One of his loyal employees is Steve Young, 20, of Oak Harbor, who has been working for the NRA for the past six years. Though the work could be overwhelming for some, he enjoys it and the benefits he receives.

“You can start at a really young age, and make a pretty good amount of money,” he said. “I like being able to sit back and watch the Matches. It’s fun with the guys out here too.”

Ralph Reichman, assistant range engineer for the NRA National Matches, has been working summers at Camp Perry for the last 8 years. During that time, he has witnessed first-hand the sort of loyalty that not only the youth have shown to the Matches, but the loyalty their families have shown as well.

“We get a different set of 4, 5, 6 kids from one family. Once one leaves, then the youngest one comes through. We even have some of the parents who used to work for us. We’re like a big family,” he said.

Two work crews begin around May to prepare for the Matches: the target crew that pastes approximately 250 highpower targets a day and 80,000 pistol targets a season, and the range crew that builds and tears down the ranges that are used for the events.

“It’s a really easy job for the most part and a lot of hours. The pay is pretty nice,” said Brian Sandwisch, 22, of Oak Harbor, who has been working for the NRA for nine years. “It’s easy to come back.”

Besides the range operations, the workers are also in charge of picking up the trash leftover from the competitors and many of the small, but necessary, jobs around Camp Perry.

“It can be tedious, but we have to do it,” said Dustin Macko, 27, of Oak Harbor. His seventh season with the NRA, Macko has worked his way up to supervisor and has been responsible for much of the maintenance around the range.

“We take care of a lot of the buildings the NRA leases out. If they need air conditioners put in windows or partitions built, we’ll build those – things of that nature,” he explained.

Though these kids generally give up their summers to take part in the “World Series of Shooting Sports,” their work doesn’t go unnoticed. Their countless hours are appreciated by both the competitors and those working the event.

“The Matches would not exist without these kids,” said Tommy Whitten, CMP logistics department manager. Whitten has been with the CMP since 1994, marking his 19th season of preparation for the events ahead.

Brad Reynolds, 21, of Elmore, has helped Whitten take care of the range operations for CMP for the last four years. Reynolds hauls targets, sets up the ranges and assists in any other area he is needed.

“It’s nice to have a little bit of a faster pace than what normally goes on around here,” he said. “I like meeting all the people that come through here.”

Brian Wyss, 18, of Oak Harbor, has also been helping CMP for the last three summers. After having spent a lot of time at the CMP Marksmanship Center and enjoying the organization, he wanted to become a part of the process as well.

“I shot a lot of air rifle, so I know most of the people, and it’s fun getting to meet other people from around the world,” he said. “The hardest part is working the matches instead of getting to shoot it. But at least you’re there.”

Between those of the NRA and the CMP, youth come together to put all of their energy and sweat into one of the most prestigious events in the area. Through the hard work and long hours, the kids still manage to take the time to smile and enjoy all that they’ve accomplished.

“I don’t know how it happens, but they always seem to make fun out of it,” said DeCosta, with a smile.

The National Matches run July 8-August 14, 2013 at Camp Perry in Port Clinton. More information on the National Match events can be found by logging on to http://www.thecmp.org/NM.htm.

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