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Shooting Sports
Advocate of the Year
The Iowa SCTP, SASP, and DNR are deeply grateful for the dedicated adult volunteers who make Iowa shooting sports successful. This season, we invite you to join us in launching a new annual tradition—recognizing and celebrating outstanding Iowa coaches.
We are seeking your nominations for coaches and adult volunteers who have made a meaningful impact on your team, fellow coaches, student-athletes, and/or the broader community.
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Application Period: January through July (annually)
Award Announcement: Presented at the annual Shooting Sports - SCTP / SASP Coaches Conference
Eligibility & Selection Criteria: See the latest application for details.
If you have questions about the application process, reach out to the Iowa DNR State of Iowa Shooting Sports advisor Jonathan Jones Jonathan.Jones1@dnr.iowa.gov or Iowa SCTP Tina Elwood Gehrke at elwoodgehrke@gmail.com.
2026 Shooting Sports Advocate of the Year
Coach Dave Giese
Beyond the team, Coach Giese inspires a culture of service. He encourages athletes to seek sponsorships to make the sport more accessible, helping reduce financial barriers for families. He also leads by example, volunteering his time to assist with tasks such as counting and checking awards after state shoots and supporting conservation and community events, including NGO banquets. Through these efforts, he teaches athletes the importance of giving back and being responsible stewards of the shooting sports.
Coach Giese has been with the program 15 years after his own student athletes completed the program in high school and has been with the program as a coach for 20 years,
Please help me to congratulate this person, who is more than a coach - he is a mentor, leader, and role model. His patience, generosity, and unwavering commitment to youth development make him exceptionally deserving of being the glue that holds the Iowa City Trap team together!
Presnted by
Iowa SCTP Lifetime Achievement Award 2025
Denny Bigelow was a true Friend of the Shooting Sports, remembered for his quiet leadership, steady support, and deep commitment to people over accolades. He believed the sport stood for safety, discipline, mentorship, and community—not just competition. By encouraging youth programs, volunteers, coaches, and local organizations, Denny helped ensure the shooting sports grew responsibly and with purpose. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the strong foundation he helped build for future generations of shooters.
*Accepted on his behalf by his daughter, Kara Bigelow-Baker, and grandson, Camryn Grubic.
2025 Shooting Sports Advocates of the Year
During the 2025 Annual Iowa SCTP/SASP Coaches Conference, the Iowa SCTP, Inc. presented two awards on behalf of the organization.
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2025 Shooting Sports Advocate of the Year
Iowa DNR Communications, Outreach, and Marketing Bureau
