USA Shooting To Be Featured in CMT’s Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

USA Shooting Team members pose with 10 members of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders after their dance routine atop the international bunker in WillaWalla Creek Shooting Center. The Cheerleaders took part in shooting instruction and a team competition. Photos courtesy of Lynne Green // GreenGirl Photos.

Before shotgun shooters Vincent Hancock and Kim Rhode made history with their gold-medal performances in London earlier this summer, they stood alongside their teammates training the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders for an episode of the CMT hit show Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.  The results of that effort not only helped raise $95,000 for USA Shooting but will be broadcast as part of episode three this Friday, Sept. 21, at 9 p.m. ET.

The mix of Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, shooting and Olympic fever proved to be a great combination June 15-16 at The Shoot for Gold Fundraiser in Saint Jo, Texas.  Sponsors and contributors got the opportunity to meet and shoot with Olympic athletes at the event and during the auction dinner on at the WillaWalla Creek Shooting Center. Special guests for the evening included 12 members of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, who participated in a day-long shooting competition.  The episode will feature USA Shooting athletes instructing the cheerleaders on how to shoot and then supporting them in a team competition.  As part of the event, the cheerleaders signed autographs and performed a dance routine on the bunker to the delight of all in attendance.

Josh Richmond provides shotgun shooting tips to Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Colleen Meghan during the squad’s spirited team shooting competition. Photos courtesy of Lynne Green // GreenGirl Photos.

“We are known throughout the world,” said Meagan McVay, one of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders in attendance.  “But these guys [the shooters] are the real superstars.  They are the best at what they do and it was truly an honor to be with them and see what they do.”

To hear more from Meagan about her shooting opportunity, click here.

“It was great working with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders,” said Hancock, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in skeet. “These ladies know what it takes to be at the top of their game.  I’m excited to watch the upcoming show!”

Conversations which began simply enough as a shooting opportunity to give back to employees and contractors spiraled into one of the top USA Shooting fundraisers in many years.  Brett Creeser, a drilling superintendent with Pioneer Natural Resources, began the discussion earlier this spring with former USA Shooting National Team member Dwayne Weger, who served as the U.S. Olympic Team Leader for Shooting for the second consecutive Games.  The two quickly spawned an idea to get greater involvement both locally and nationally and create an extensive fundraising opportunity for the USA Shooting Team that would be fulfilling to all shooting sports enthusiasts.

Pioneer Natural Resources, the independent exploration and production company, based in Irving, Texas, alongside Fayez Sarofim & Co., formed the foundation of support that by events end would include many local companies.  The Sporting Clays Fundraiser event featured six 2012 Olympians, including three Olympic medalists, as well as two other USA Shooting athletes.

Athletes participating in the fundraiser included 2012 Olympians Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.), Glenn Eller (USAMU/Katy, Texas), Vincent Hancock(USAMU/Eatonton, Ga.), Daryl Szarenski(WCAP/Seale, Ala.) and Josh Richmond(USAMU/Hillsgrove, Pa.) along with USA Shooting athletes Mark Weeks (shotgun/Clinton Township, Mich.), Amy Sowash (rifle/Richland, Ky.) and long-time National Team athlete Haley Dunn.

Event participants also competed in a 100-bird Sporting Clays shoot at the Fossil Pointe Sporting Grounds in Slidell, Texas. USA Shooting athletes participating were auctioned off prior to the day’s festivities to join the highest bidding team in support of the event.