This is a gang that CAN shoot straight.

A group of Oak Harbor High School shooters, sponsored by the Central Whidbey Sportsmen’s Association and coached by David Goodman, finished first among club teams and third overall at the Civilian Marksmanship Program Regionals in Salt Lake City April 9-11.

In addition to the team’s success, member Colton Baumgardner was awarded a Junior Distinguished Air Rife Badge, one of fewer than 900 issued nationally over the past 10 years.

Baumgardner is joined on the team, called S-Cubed, by Hailey Hahn, Abby Holt, Austin McBride and Micah Moss.

“Shooting against the best air rifle shooters in the country can be very intimidating,” Goodman said. “Not only is the competition fierce, shooting on an Olympic-level range can be unnerving.”

Before heading off to Salt Lake City, S-Cubed won its third consecutive Washington state title Jan. 17 and 18.

The latest success follows several other outstanding performances by the local shooters this year.

Competing for the Oak Harbor High School Navy Junior Reserver Officer Corps rifle team, Baumgardner, Holt, Hahn and Marjorie Rouse placed second in the Western Regional in Phoenix in February. Baumgardner placed second individually.

That performance earned a trip to the ROTC nationals in Ohio in March. There, the Baumgardner, Holt, Hahn and McBride placed third among Navy teams and 14th overall.

The performance was even “more impressive,” coach Goodman said, because Hahn’s rifle “malfunctioned during the match and had to be repaired while the clock was running.” Hahn was forced to complete her remaining shots during the prone segment in only half the time.

The team, which Goodman calls “an amazing group of athletes,” is preparing to go  to the U.S. Civilian Marksmanship Program nationals and Junior Olympics in June.