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I first met Jake in July of 2001 at my first match here in Newton.
He let me borrow his rifle and shotgun so I could shoot, my first experience of what the "Cowboy way" is.
Over the years I watched Jake become a "serious" competitor - his natural speed, focus and conservation of movement took him to the top of the pile in New England.
In two years he consistently became the state champion (pretty much) in whichever state he lived in and in 2006 became the first New England Regional men's champion.
The thing about Jake was he didn't take himself too seriously, no really - he was serious about competing but he loved to goof around as much as the worst of us.
And when he would screw up - it was always in a big way.
Whether it was realizing he forgot his shotgun belt in the middle of a stage, ripping the lever off his new Codymatic '73 or dealing with little Angus during the Regional he would usually laugh it off.
He knew there'd be another time.
He may be a Mountain to most but he'll always be a dipstick to me…
-- Wild BIll
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