eleven shooters on the 7 different teams selected by the ATA. That was more than any state in the entire ATA. Actually "selected" is a bad word to use, because by the 1990's the teams were no longer selected by individuals or a committee but instead a shooter had to earn points towards his or her team selections. Points are awarded for major wins in ATA major shoots. The larger the shoot the more points a shooter can earn. This method continues to this day. The point system has been tweaked almost yearly until today when the system is almost perfect. The major shoots include the Grand American, the Satellite Grands, the State Shoots and the Zone Shoots plus any other shoot with large attendance figures.

All American Teams were first started back in 1927, when the famous sportswriter Grantland Rice (right) asked Jimmy Robinson (left) to select an All American Team. Jimmy Robinson sat down and selected the teams and captains for his syndicated column in Sports Afield. Jimmy did just that in 1927—and for the next 37 years he did it alone. His word was the law of the land. One year a famous shooter asked Jimmy why he didn't include him on the team and he just laughed and said you didn't shoot good enough. End of argument.

The year was 1927. The first state shooter to be selected by Robinson was Pennsylvania Hall of Famer Allen Heil (right) of Allentown. In 1929 Albert Meiss, a hot shot sub-junior from Hazleton, was the first sub-junior ever selected to the team. Since than 611 sub-juniors have been named to various sub-junior teams. In 1937 and 1938 Meiss went on to win back to back state doubles titles, cementing his reputation of one of our greatest shooters.  Back in 1916 Heil won the ATA Doubles title at the Grand American. He was the first of 414 Pennsylvania All Americans over the years. Sixteen of those selections were as captains. Frank Troeh was the first captain. In 1928 Robinson selected Steve Crothers to his first of eight selections. In 1933 he selected Walter Beaver for his first of nine selections. Caroylne Elliott and Frank Little have each been selected 14 times to lead the state. David George was selected twelve times. Little was selected to over thirty teams while living in New York, Pennsylvania and Indiana.

In 1927 Robinson selected only 14 shooters including 10 men, 1 women, 2 juniors and 1 industry rep. All were considered first team selections as there were no second teams. Just to compare, the 2009 team has 149 selections, including 32 men, 20 women, 20 juniors, 20 sub-juniors, 25 vets, 25 senior vets and 7 chair shooters.

In 2005 Pennsylvania placed 14 shooters on the All American team, which is still the state record. Recognition comes to those selected with a special All American patch and a gold filled All American pin (left). However, they all will tell you that the honor of the selection alone is reward enough. It last's a lifetime.

Quotation from Grantland Rice:

"For when the One Great Scorer comes 
To write against your name, 
He marks - not that you won or lost - 
But how you played the Game."