Reprint from the Progress Times - March 28, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

2008 Olympic dream becomes reality for Sharyland graduate

 

By Pikey Rodriguez

During the long storied history of sports in the Rio Grande Valley, only a handful of athletes have ever participated in the Olympics.

Mission resident and 2004 Sharyland High School graduate Sean McLelland will get that opportunity to represent the Valley and the United States at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China this summer.

McLelland, a 22-year-old senior at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., is back in the Valley this semester training with longtime coach Steve Schultz of McAllen. A marketing major, McLelland took up skeet shooting at the age of 13. His dad Randy got him interested in the sport. He was awarded a scholarship through Mission resident Ben Lopez, who recruits athletes for Lindenwood.

"I feel Sean’s well within reach of winning a gold medal," Schultz said. "He is one of the top five shooters in the world. Any one of those five could win gold on a given day.

"I remember telling Sean four years ago he’d be in the Olympics. He’s dedicated himself to achieving that goal."

Wearing his USA Shooting Olympic jacket sporting No. 299, McLelland took time off from training for media members Tuesday afternoon at the Mission Skeet and Trap Club.  

"I feel confident entering the Olympics," Sean said before his exhibition. "I’m taking time off from school to concentrate totally on training."

Sharyland ISD Athletics Director Richard Thompson was also in attendance and said he has followed Sean’s career in college. McLelland was a collegiate All-American in 2007 and helped Lindenwood capture four consecutive national championships.

"Everyone at Sharyland is proud of Sean," Thompson said. "Being an Olympic athlete is an outstanding accomplishment."

At the Olympics, Sean’s toughest competition will come from shooters representing Italy and Germany. Teammate Vince Hancock of Georgia, who won the event earlier this year by hitting 511 of 550 shots during the two qualifying events, is another favorite.

"When I was in high school I shot for the 4-H club," said McLelland. "It led to a college scholarship, and now I’m going to the Olympics."

The Olympic Training facility is located in Kerrville. McLelland will also spend time in Georgia working out with Hancock.

"Besides shooting, I do a lot of physical traning," McLelland said. "Once the competition starts, you spend a lot of time on the range."

Before his arrival in Beijing, McLelland and Hancock will train in Korea. They will be in China for 2 weeks during the month of August.

"I’m very proud of him," said Ben Lopez. "Sean’s my first athlete to reach the Olympics. I feel proud I had some part in it."

Now you can list the name of Sean McLelland with the likes of Bobby Morrow and Billy Gene Pemelton, both Valley high school alums who participated in the Olympics. Luke Jackson represented Pan American College (now the University of Texas-Pan American) in the 1964 Olympics. Morrow attended San Benito High School, while Pemelton is a schoolboy alum from Mercedes.