Georgia Natives Hancock And Simonton Medal In International Skeet

(From left) Derrick Mein, Caitlin Connor, and Georgia natives Sam Simonton and Vincent Hancock with the medals they earned at the 2022 ISSF President’s Cup in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 28 – Dec. 4. Photo by Thaddius Bedford.

USA Shooting athletes earned a total of six medals at the 2022 ISSF President’s Cup in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 28 – Dec. 4, and two of those athletes are Georgia natives with ties to GON.

Vincent Hancock, who is ranked No. 1 in the world for Men’s Skeet, earned bronze after competing in the semifinals in the International Shooting Sport Federation event. Vincent, 33, grew up in Eatonton and was a member of the Lake Oconee Shotgun Team when GON was a team sponsor. Vincent graduated from Gatewood High School and went on to represent Team USA as a four-time Olympian, earning three gold medals in skeet. 

2005: 16-Year-Old Vincent Hancock With World Skeet Title

Sam Simonton, ranked 12th in the world for Women’s Skeet, placed third in Egypt, earning a bronze medal. Sam also grew up in Georgia competing in high school shooting sports. When she was 16 years old in 2016, Sam had an Oconee County buck that was entered in the Truck-Buck Contest. 

Sam Simonton 2016 Truck-Buck Entry

Sam Simonton when she was 16 years old with her Oconee County 8-point buck.

Other American athletes competing in Egypt last week included Caitlin Connor, of Louisiana, who earned a gold medal after beating Martina Bartolomei, of Italy, in the gold medal match. Caitlin also took home the Golden Target Award for her victory in Cairo. Caitlin is ranked fourth in the world for Women’s Skeet.

Derrick Mein, of Kansas, ranked first in the world for Men’s Trap, earned a silver medal after facing Josip Glasnovic of Croatia in the gold medal match.

Alison Weisz, who grew up in Montana and attended Ole Miss, ranked second in the world for Women’s 10m Air Rifle, and Sagan Maddalena, of California, ranked tenth in the world for Women’s 10m Air Rifle. Both Alison and Sagan earned bronze medals in their event.

In addition to being members of the USA Shooting national team, Sam Simonton, Alison Weisz and Sagan Maddalena are all soldiers in the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit.

Only athletes with a world ranking of 12 or higher were invited to the prestigious 2022 ISSF President’s Cup in Cairo, Egypt to compete for cash prizes and the Golden Target award.

Caitlin Connor, center, earned gold in Women’s Skeet at the 2022 ISSF President’s Cup. Sam Simonton (right) earned bronze in the event. Photo by Thaddius Bedford.