LAHS NJROTC Precision Air Rifle Team took first place for Navy in the National JROTC Championships March 20-23 at Camp Perry, Ohio. From left, JoAnna O’Neill , David Murphy, Noah Marriott and Tessa Snyder. Courtesy/ CMP
NJROTC News:
The Los Alamos High School NJROTC Precision Air Rifle Team took first place for Navy in the National JROTC Championships March 20-23 at Camp Perry, Ohio. Shooters Tessa Snyder, Noah Marriott, David Murphy and JoAnna O’Neill, along with their coach LCDR Wes Shumaker, placed ninth overall in the three-day event.
On the first day, the team checked in and practiced. The following two days were record fire with a 3 x 20 (20 shots record fire in the prone, standing and kneeling positions). After the first practice session, it was determined that the rifle belonging to Snyder needed a rebuild as the air seals were wearing out.
The rifle was brought to the firing line the next morning just as the preparation for the first day record firing period began. Snyder shot an outstanding 580 the first day and followed up with a 581 the second day for the team high scorer with overall score of 1161.
After the first day, the team trailed the high Navy team by a few points. Los Alamos picked up the pace on day two and finished as the high Navy team and ninth overall. Marriott hit the groove with a personal best 579 on day two and an 1149 total, followed closely by O’Neill with an 1148. With Murphy improving on day two for an 1128 total, the team pulled ahead of New Albany, Ind., to take over the high Navy team position.
Shumaker congratulated the team on their performance at the Camp Perry event. He also congratulated Snyder for becoming the second Los Alamos shooter in the history of the program to achieve the prestigious Junior Distinguished Shooter Badge, which will be presented at the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Regional Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah, in a couple of weeks. The CMP competition is a qualifier for the National Air Rifle Championships to be held in Anniston, Ala. in June.
O’Neill is set to become the youngest Los Alamos shooter to achieve the Junior Distinguished Shooter Badge, which she is expected to earn and receive at the Salt Lake City event, Shumaker said.
The Junior Distinguished Badge is awarded to school-age junior three-position air rifle shooters who distinguish themselves by attaining a series of high rankings in designated major junior air rifle championships that include State Junior Olympic Qualifiers, CMP Cup Matches, the National Junior Olympic Championships and other National Council Three-Position Air Rifle Championships.
To receive the badge, junior shooters must earn 30 EIC credit points in designated competitions. At least 10 of the 30 points must be won in National Championship competition. Alternatively, up to 10 of the 30 points may be won by earning gold EIC points (top one-sixth of the competitors in that match who earned EIC points).
“Both precision and sporter teams will next to travel to Salt Lake City for the regional qualifier hosted by the Civilian Marksmanship Program,” Shumaker said. “This is a qualifier for the National Air Rifle Championships to be held in Anniston, Ala. in June.”
