Young Lions and More

Last spring I wrote a column about "young lions" who are becoming dedicated sportsmen. In that column I mentioned two teenagers from my church who have been successful in their outdoor pursuits. During this past deer season, they "struck" again.

Kara Lansberry is among Williamsburg High School's most remarkable athletes. She is a terrific softball player who has dedicated much time and energy to her favorite athletic activity. She is also a successful sportsperson. This past fall during archery deer season, she downed what was probably the most beautiful buck harvested by a Williamsburg-area hunter this past year. Probably the only thing she did "wrong" was to kill a buck that she is unlikely to ever top. Still, with her dedication to hunting, you never know.

Justin Brubaker was not to be outdone. Rifle deer season opened the day after his last football game. During the opening day Justin killed a big eight-point buck, one he may never top.

I'm beginning to think that game animals (and gamefish, too) do not have a chance when these two young sportspeople are pursuing them.

Zack Knab is only a few years older than Kara and Justin. He, too, attends my church, and he has proved to be a fine young sportsman. He is especially proficient at catching and releasing large fish of several varieties. He does not confine himself to one type of fishing. While he may enjoy wading to fish, he also fishes from a boat. His friend Emily Detwiler often accompanies him, and she has become quite an angler herself. She once displayed a photo of herself holding a huge wild brown trout that she had landed. It was a fish any trout fisherman would have been proud to catch.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention our young minister, Matt Roberts', two oldest children. Haley is 16; her brother Lain is only a couple years younger. Haley is particularly interested in bowhunting. When her family moved to Williamsburg not quite two years ago, she hoped to find a competitive archery league for teens, something I don't think exists around the Cove. Lain is becoming a diehard fisherman. (I owe him a fly-fishing adventure.) I've seen Lain heading off to fish, and he looks like a fisherman, which is an important part of being one. Both Haley and Lain have harvested admirable bucks while hunting.

It is reassuring to see that young lions and lionesses are out there to replace those of us who are gradually hanging up our rods and rifles.