Luke Mattox gave it his best shot this summer and as a result was crowned one of the best young shooters in the history of Grenada County.
Mattox recently won Mississippi’s Overall Shotgun Championship at the 4-H State Invitational Competition in Starkville after placing first in the skeet shoot as well as tops in the five-stand. He represented Grenada County 4-H.
Mattox later travelled to the National Competition in Grand Island, Neb., where he placed 12th in the nation. He was just under two points from the first-place winner. The Mississippi 4-H Shotgun Team, which Mattox is a member of, finished seventh overall in the nation.
Last Monday, Mattox expressed his gratitude to the Grenada County Board of Supervisors for their support.
“I’m beyond blessed and there are so many things that got me to this point,” Mattox said. “One of them is 4-H.”
MSU Extension Agent Jan Gray Walton said Mattox is self-driven and extremely competitive. She informed Mattox before the 4-H State Invitational that he had a very strong possibility of winning the state championship.
“Watching Luke compete is so enjoyable,” Walton said. “He is so humble. Occasionally, Luke might express a unique gesture to his mom when he hits 49 of 50 clays. After all, his parents have been so supportive, and they deserve the respect that Luke gives them both on and off of the shooting range.”
At the state competition, Walton said certified coaches from other counties had their younger participants watching Luke compete.
“They were quietly making note of Luke’s position in which he leans into his shotgun,” Walton said. “After each of the three phases of competition, participants were surrounding Luke to congratulate him.”
A senior at Grenada High School, Mattox is the son of Chris and Amy Mattox of Grenada. Upon graduation, he will attend Mississippi State University to major in engineering with a goal to be a member of the MSU Shooting Sports Shotgun Team.
“I’ve had tremendous support,” Mattox concluded. “My parents getting me out of bed to practice, Mrs. Jan Walton, Mrs. Lori Chavis and the list goes on. Through 4-H, I’ve gained so many friends throughout Mississippi and even in the nation.”
