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Freelance Designer for USA Shooting and I designed the magazine layout for their magazine. (August 17 - September 20, 2010)
Citation preview
Volume 19, Number 5 ● September/October 2010The Official Publication of Olympic Shooting Sports
World ChampionshipsThe 50th
The Choice Of Champions.Winchester AA Target Loads
learn more // www.winchester.com
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Left to Right: Kim Rhode, Vincent Hancock, Corey Cogdell & Glenn Eller
In 2008, The USA Shooting Shotgun Team recorded the most medals won by any country—four—taking on the toughest competitors in the world with Winchester AA ammunition.
•Hardshotfortightpatterns •CleanburningAAprimerandpowder •Reloadablehigh-strengthhull •Loadsforeveryshooter’sneeds
Official Ammunition of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team
www.usashooting.org 3
SEP/OCT 2010VOLUME 19, NO.5
FEATURES 16 World Championship ■ Katie McGinty
21 Paralympic World Championship Update ■ Katie McGinty
23 2010 Nationals ■ Calah Duryea 27 Athlete of the Month ■ Katie McGinty
DISCIPLINES11 Pistol ■ Eric Pueppke
12 Rifle ■ Marcus Raab
14 Shotgun ■ Anonymous
COLUMNS 4 From the Editor ■ Katie McGinty
6 Aim with AMU ■ SFC Terri DeWitt
8 On the Firing Line ■ J.P. O’Connor
10 Coaches’ Corner ■ National Rifle Coach, Major Dave Johnson
ON THE COMPLEX 29 Thoughts from: The Executive Director Operations Marketing Competitions
Contents
John Mullins24
USA Shooting1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909Phone: 719-866-4670
Administration Fax: 719-866-2200Competitions Fax: 719-866-4884
Lindsay BrookeCompetitions Manager
Calah DuryeaCoaches’ Assistant
Buddy DuVallDirector of Resource Development
Bret EricksonNational Shotgun Coach
Lisa EricksonOperation and Administrative Assistant
Bob FothNational Paralympic Coach
David JohnsonNational Rifle Coach
Nicole LevineCompetitions Assistant
Sergey LuzovNational Pistol Coach
Katie McGintyMedia & Public Relations Manager
Robert MitchellChief Executive Officer
Nichole RaeMembership & Merchandise Manager
Bill RoyDirector of Operations
Corrie WestMarketing Manager
Karie WrightController
719-866-4887
Editor: Katie McGintyDesigner: Micki BensonPrinting: Sport Graphics
Cover Photo: Katie McGinty
Contributors:SFC Terri DeWitt
Eric PueppkeMajor Dave Johnson
Marcus RaabCalah DuryeaCorrie WestBob MitchellJP O’Connor
Bill Roy
From the Editor
USA Shooting Newsispublishedsixtimesayear.USAShootingisthenationalgoverningbodyforOlympicShootingsportsintheUnitedStates.USA Shooting Newsisproducedasaservicetointernationalshooters,coaches,officialsandmediawhocoverOlympic-styleshooting.ShootersfeaturedinUSA Shooting Newsmagazinemaybephotographedwithouteyeprotec-tion.Theseareposedphotographsusingunloadedgunsanddonotrepresentactualcompetiton.USAShootingencouragesall shooters tousepropereyeandearprotectionwhenshooting. Inclusionofadvertisements inUSAShootingdoesnotconstitiuteendorsementofadvertisedproductsorservicesbyUSAShooting,itsstafforitssponsors.
4 USA Shooting News
DuringmytimeattheWorldShootingChampionships,IhadthepleasureofroomingwithCathyArnot,oneoftheverytalentedphysiotherapistsfortheUSAShootingTeamandaPhysicalTherapyProfessorattheUniversityofSouthCarolina.CathyandtheTeam’sotherphysio,NickPotter,workaroundtheclocktokeepourteamstretched,warm,andphysicallyhealthy.Asahugeproponentofthebenefitsof
physicalfitness,Iinvitedaprofessionaltodiscusshowtostayhealthyinpreparationfor,orduringamajorcompetitionandthroughoutyourshootingcareer.
Q:Whatisthemostimportantcomponentofexercisethatashootershouldemployinhisorherfitnessregimen?
A:Corestrengthisessentialforprovidingastablebaseofsupportfortheshootingathlete.Rifleshootersshouldalsofocusonflexibility,whereasshotgunandpistolathletesalsoneedflexibilitybutshouldplaceanemphasisonstrength—especiallyshoulders,arm,andcoreendurance.Theirbod-ieshavetobeequippedtonotonlysupporttheirguns,butalsoendureandabsorbtherecoiloftheguns.Also,whetherbeginningfromscratchorchangingyourroutine,pleasebesuretoconsultwithafitnessprofessionalorphysicaltherapistpriortobeginninganewexerciseregimen.
Q:Whatparticularflexibilityexerciseswouldbenefitrifleshooters?A:Therewasastudyconductedonrifleandpistolshootersinvestigatingthecorrelationbetween
flexibilityandlowerbackpain.Lowbackpainiscommonamongrifleshootersandcanbecomesoseverethatmanyeitherleavethesportorchoosetoshootthepronepositiononly.TheresearchfindingsindicatedthatthereisapositivecorrelationbetweenbackpainandITbandandhamstringtightness.Increasedflexibilityinbothmayhelppreventlowbackpain.Thus,eitherageneralflex-ibilityprogram(withfocusontheITbandandhamstrings)ormostformsofyogaareacceptable,aslongastheneckisinasafeposition.
Q:Whyareworkingoutandstretchinganimportantpartofshooting?A:Bothareessentialtoinjurypreventionandtheabilityofassumingone’sshootingpositionthat
isnecessaryforbetterstability.Themostcommonflexibilityproblemsacrossalldisciplinesaretightuppertrapezius,hamstrings,ITbands,hipflexors,andchest/pectoralmuscles.Onthecontrary,themostcommonmuscularweaknessesarethedeep(transverse)abdominalmuscles,externalshoulderrotators,scapularstabilizers,anddeepneckflexors.
Q:WhatshouldIdoifIhaveaninjurythatonlyflaresupwhenshooting?A:First,discusstheinjurywithyourcoachandahealthcareprofessionaltodiscovertheunderlyingcause.Itmaybeabiomechanicalissuesuchasflatfeet,aleglengthdiscrepancy,ormuscleimbal-ance—tightnessorweakness.Anotheroptionisarepetitivetrainingerrororincorrectform.
Q:WhydoIneedtomaintainoverallfitnessifI’mashooter?A:Forallthreedisciplines,maintainingahighlevelofcardiovascularandoverallfitnesscanhelp
preventinjury,decreasetheeffectsofjetlag,andincreaseyourendurance.Nottomention,improveanathlete’sscores!
■KatieMcGinty
Five Minutes with Cathy arnot
They say you’re only as good as the company you keep. For us,
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As an Olympic Medalist I know the importance of having top quality equipment that you can trust when the shot really counts, whether I’m on the range or in the fi eld Cabela’s provides me with equipment I can trust.
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At Cabela’s, developing, testing and evaluating gear is a big part of what we do every day. It’s our job to make sure the products we sell live up to your expectations. For us, that’s business as usual.
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18018_USAshootingmag_r1.indd 1 6/1/10 11:27 AM
Columns (Aim with AMU)
6 USA Shooting News
The World Shooting Championship: A Prestigious History
TheSuperbowl.Wimbledon.TheKentuckyDerby.TheInternationalShootingSportFederation(ISSF)WorldShootingChampionships(WSC).Noneofthesesport-ingeventsistheOlympicGames.Shootingisoneoffewsportsintheworldthatispracticedatcompetitivelevels
bymenandwomen,aswellasjuniorathletes,inallcontinents,withnoexclusions.ManyshootingathleteswouldarguethatwinningtheWorldChampionshipsisamuchmoredemandingandsatisfyingac-complishmentthaneventheOlympicGames.TheWSChostsmorecountriesandcompetitors—thebestofthebest—whereas,intheOlympicGames,countriesmustearnalimitednumberofquotaslotstocompete.
Munich,Germanywasthehostcityofthe2010ISSFWorldShootingChampionships,ac-commodatingarecord-setting2,500athletesfrom104com-petingnations.TheMunichshootingrangeisnostrangertolargeevents—itwasthesiteofthe1972OlympicGames.Inthe38yearssincethoseGameswereofficiallyclosed,theMunichrangewitnessedsixOlympicrecordsandthirty-fourWorldrecordssetonitsgrounds.Inpreparationforthelargestshootingeventhostedheresincethe‘72Games,theMunichrangeunderwentsomecosmeticandstructuralupgrad-ing.Freshpaint,newspectatorseating,grass,andamonstergreenwallontheshotgunrangewereafewoftheimprovementsdesignedtoheightentheathleteandspectatorexperience.
ForthefirsttimeinISSFWorldShootingChampionshiphis-tory,spectatorticketsweresoldforallcompetitiondays,toincludecommonareasaswellasVIPareas.AnyspectatorenteringtheMunichshootinggroundswouldhavebeentreatedtosights,sounds,andsmellsmaybemorecloselyrelatedtoanamusementpark:anexplosionofcolorfromtheflutteringcountryflagsattheentrance;vendorssellingtheirmerchandisefromrowsoftents;thereds,yel-lows,blues,greens,andorangesofathleteuniformsastheyhustletoandfromtheranges,thearmories,andthebusstop;linesfortherestrooms;linesforthebeertent;linesfortherestaurant;smilesandlaughter;tearsandfrowns;thelowbackgroundhumofvoicesinthe
grandstand;theloudblastsofshotgunsandthesoftpopsofairguns;cheersandclapping;thebabbleofforeignlanguagesminglingintowhitenoise;thesmellofGermanbeerfoamingovertwoliterglassmugs;thetantalizingaromaofschnitzel,sausage,andpretzels.TheWorldShootingChampionshipshasacolorfulhistory.Althoughinitiallyorganizedannually,theWSCisnowheldeveryfouryearstooccurtwoyearsaftertheOlympicGames.TheWSCcurrentlyhostsfifty-fiveeventsinthefourdisciplinesofshotgun,rifle,pistol,andrunningtarget.Anadditionalforty-sixeventshavebeendiscontin-
uedsincetheWSCbeganin1897.Thefirsteventconductedat
the1897WorldShootingCham-pionshipsinLyon,France,was300mFreeRifle.Thiseventisstillconsideredthepremiereventofthecompetition.Inaworldwheretargetchangesarecommon—es-peciallyattheWSC—300mFreeRifleand50mFreePistolaretheonlytwotargetsthathavenotbeenchanged,exceptfortheadditionofan“X”ring.Onthecontrary,the25mRapidFirePistoleventinitiallyusedahuman-shapedtargetwithoutscoringrings.In1948,scoringringswereadded,butitwasn’tuntil1990thatthehumansilhouettebecameacircularshape.The300mArmyRifleeventwasaddedin1911inRomeandrequiredcompetitorstousethehostnation’s“servicerifle”asthecompetitionfirearm.In
1970,serviceriflewasremovedasanevent.Post-WWIIrestrictionsagainstownershipoffirearmspreventedmanyshootingfederationsfromre-establishingtraditionalshootingprograms.Theresultwasanemergenceofairrifleandairpistols.Airgundevelopmentashighprecisiontargetarmsiscreditedwithhavingasignificantroleinthegrowthoftheshootingsportsinmanycountries.SincethefirstWSCinFrancein1897,otherhostcountrieshaveincluded Italy, Switzer-land, Austria, Argentina, Sweden, Poland, Norway, Russia, Venezue-la, Korea, Canada, Australia, Croatia and the United States. Italy has the distinction of hosting the World Shooting Championships fifteen times since 1898, more than any other country. France comes in a distant second as hosting the WSC seven times. Russia can claim the most gold medals from the World Shooting Championships since 1897, but the United States has actually taken home the most overall
Staff Sergeant Josh Richmond celebrates not only his gold medal and World Championship title in Men’s Double Trap, but also equaled the
world record of 196/200 targets.
www.usashooting.org 7
total number of medals, regardless of color.Many shooting events that are contested in the WSC are reflective
of the chameleon nature of shooting sports. As technology develops and alters, shooting events are added and subtracted from a given competition’s roster. For example, pistol events made a debut in 1900 in at the WSC where the first pistol event was 50m Free Pistol. Shotgun, specifically, Men’s Trap, didn’t make an appearance until 1929. Men’s Skeet was added in 1958 in Moscow, the same venue that introduced Double Trap thirty-two years later in 1990. Women’s were first allowed to compete in the WSC in 1958 against male competitors in “open” events. After 1982, though, “open” events were renamed “men’s” events, effectively separating the genders within their respective disciplines. Separate junior (under age 21) events were not added until 1994, with the ISSF recognizing fifteen junior men and women categories. This is the highest world level that junior shooting athletes can currently aspire to reach because the Olympic Games do not have junior categories.
As an athlete competing in the 50th World Shooting Champion-ships, the experience was both memorable and visceral. Aside from the pressure and extravaganza of the Olympic Games, no other world level competition comes close to eliciting the pride and team spirit of being a part of one of the largest teams the United States sent over-seas. Congratulations to all of our World Champions and medalists and a special THANK YOU to all of the staff members who volun-teered their time and expertise to make this year’s World Champion-ship journey effortless (or at least appear so!).
Stay Army Strong! ■ SFC Terri DeWitt
USA Shooting is a participant of the annual
Combined Federal Campaign. Please note
charity #11094 on your gift designation to direct your contribution to USAS. We very much appreciate your
support!
The Women’s World Championship Trap and Junior Trap Team, from L to R: Corey Cogdell, Miranda Wilder, Ashley Carroll, Rachael Heiden,
Susan Sledge, and Terri DeWitt.
Corporal Jeffery Holguin tips his hat to the crowd after successfully reaching the finals via a six athlete shoot-off for two spots.
Photo courtesy of Ashley Carroll
Columns (On the Firing Line)
Faith Fifty-firstinaseries
“Faith is taking the first step, Even when you don’t see the rest of the staircase.”MartinLutherKing,Jr.
Thepreviousthreearticlesinthisserieshaveexploredanumberofinterrelatedtopicsculminatinginadiscus-sionofsteadinessoftherifleorpistolatornearthemomentofshotrelease.Shotgunshooters,archers,andothersmaybeforgivenforskippingthearticlesthough
wouldbeadvisedtogobackandstudyallthreesincetherearemanyinsightsthatrelatetoalldisciplines.Intheend,acceptanceoftheseoranyotherconceptsdependsuponopenmindednessandfaith.
Logic And ScienceToooften,weuselogic,science,andmathtotelluswhatisor
isnotpossible.Weworshipatthealtarofscienceandmathtothedetrimentofothervaluableconcepts.Asaresult,weoften“lockin”ourbeliefsandlimitourpossibilitiesinscientificresearch,sport,andlife.Tobesure,scienceandmatharevaluablebeyondmeasure;itisexclusiverelianceonthemregardingtheexclusionofotherfactorsandapproachesthatistheproblem.
Howoftendowesay“Thatisn’ttrue!”ormakesimilarstatements?Didthatoccurwhenreadingthepreviousthreearticlesoratarecenttrainingsessionwithacoach?Theentiresportingworldandscientificcommunitybe-lievedthatitwasim-possibleforahumanbeingtorunamileinfourminutesorless.Scientificpa-perswerepublishedprovingthefact.RogerBannisterandhis“impossible”fourminutemiledis-provedtheirtheories(seepreviousseriesforfurtherexplana-tion).Theego
dictatesthatwhatwebelieveistruebecausewebelieveitistrue.Yes,thatiscircularandcommonlogic.Inturn,weuseourbeliefstoproveapointandignoreotherrelevantinformation.Yet,howoftendoyoulaterdiscoverthatsomethingelseiscorrect?
Open Minds Open DoorsYearsago,whileparticipatinginapistolmasterscampatthe
OlympicTrainingComplex,therewereahandfulofincidentsthatoccurredwhichadequatelydemonstratetheresultsofopenminded-nessorthelackthereof.
First,anintermediatelevelathletewasbeingcloselywatchedbytheheadcoachandtheyengagedinashortdialogueaboutaparticu-laraspectoftheathlete’sprocess.Theathletewashavingdifficultywithaparticularaspectoftheshotprocess.Theconversationendedwhentheathlete,inresponsetoasuggestion,said“Oh,no,thisishowIdoit.”Theathletehadnofaiththathecouldlearnsomethingnewtoimprovehisshooting,insteadbelievingthatanychangewould“break”hisgame.Closedmindsclosedoors.
Anotherathlete,strugglingwithkeepinghiseyeonthefrontsightofthepistolinsteadoferroneouslylookingatthetarget,heardasuggestiontouseasmallwhitedotorothermarkonthesightasanaid,andaskedacoachaboutthetechnique.“No,
thatisawasteoftime.Goaheadandtryitfortenshots—itwillgetblurryandend upuseless,”repliedthecoach.Thecoachwascorrect…right?
Let’sexaminethedynamicsofthesituation.Whatistheissue?Theathleteislookingatthetargetinsteadofthefrontsight.Canthathabit,oranyhabit,bebrokeninstantly?Generallynot.What
happenswhenonelooksfromthefrontsighttothetarget?Theblurrytargetbecomesclearwhilethe
sharplyfocusedfrontsightbecomesblurry.Thatmeansawhitedotonthesightwill,bydefinition,alsobecomeblurry.
Theuseofthedotisnotafailure.Instead,itisatrainingaidtotheathletetoshowthatheisnowlookingatthewrongplace.Withthedotaidingtoincreaseawareness,theathletewasabletocor-recttheissueandbuildanewhabit.Eventually,thewhitedotstoppedgettingblurry…andthe
propervisualtechniquewasnowhabit.Becausetheathletehadanopenmind,anddespitethe“conventionalwisdom”hewasgiven,hewasopen
toimprovement.
Belief Without ProofBecausewearetaughttorelysoheavilyonlogic,science,
andmath,wehavedifficultybelievinganythingwecannotseeorprovetoourselves.Allthreealsodeepaffecthowweapproachevery-daylifeinschool,work,andinsport.Howmanytimeshaveweheardaparent,coach,co-worker,friend,orbosstellussomethingisn’tpos-
www.usashooting.org 9www.usashooting.org 9
wasnotthemosttalentedamongherpeers.Quitethecontrary,shefellsomuchthatherbodywascoveredwithbruises.Sheneverquit.Shealwaysgotup,continuedtraining,andaddingbruises.Eventually,shefelllessandsoaredmore.HerstoryandthatofairrifleOlympicchampionNancyJohnson,arebuttwoexamples.Neitherknewtheendoutcome–bothathletesbelievedandwerewillingtotakethefirststep.Inthesummerof2003,JamieBeyerleandIheldasixday“HighPer-formanceShootersCamp”inJacksonville,Florida.Twentyathletesweretreatedtointensedrills,competitions,anddiscussions.JamiehadjustwonherfirstWorldCupgoldmedalandimpartedherfiercecompetitivenesstotheathletesTheyrealizedthatthereismoretoshootingwellthanmeretechnique.Ittakesheartandguts,or“teeth”asonecoachdescribesit.Likeallgoodathletes,Jamiehasfacedad-versityandtimesofgreatdifficulty.Yetshehasalways“takenthefirststep”evenwhennotassuredofsuccess–and“attempted”anyway.
Thesloganatourcampwas“Whatwouldyouattempttoac-complishifyouknewyoucouldnotfail?”Whathaveyoufailedtoattemptbecauseyoufearedthatyoumightfail?Takethefirststep!
■JP O’Connor
Based in the Atlanta, Ga., area, JP O’Connor ([email protected] and http://www.america.net/~jpoc/) is involved in shooting as a competitor, is a former Assis-tant National Coach – USA Paralympics Shooting Team, serves on the National Coach Development Staff in both rifle & pistol, coaches the rifle and pistol teams at North Georgia College & State University, and coaches a junior club. He enjoys working with a number of pistol and rifle athletes from around the country, ranging from beginners to the highly advanced, in clinics and one-on-one private coaching. Previous installments of this series may be found at www.pilkguns.com.
sible–whenwebelieveotherwise?Howmanythingshavewefailedtoaccomplishbecausewedidnotmaketheat-temptbecausethetaskwasbelievedtobeimpossible?
Forexample,Eddiebelievesinthepossibilitiesoftheseeminglyimpossible.Healsoknowswhichofhisemployeeshaveasimilarmindsetandopennesstopossibilities.Heaskedoneofhisemployeeswhatheknewaboutadifficultandtrickytopic.“Nothing,”saidtheemployee.Eddiecontinued:“Good!Wouldyouexplorethetopicandletmeknowfeasibilityofcreatingaproduct?”Intwoweekstheemployeehaddonehisresearchandreportedthathethoughtitmightbepossible.Sixmonthslatertheyhadthesoftwareproductinproduction.BothEddieandtheemployeebelievedtheycouldcreatetheproduct,eventhoughtheyhadnoproofthatitcouldbedone.Andsoitisinsport.NotoneOlympicchampioneverhadproofinhandthattheywouldeventuallyholdthegold.Howmanyothers,lackingprooforevenbeliefinthepossibilities,gaveupthechaseorneverevenstarted?
The First StepThekeytosuccessistotakethefirststep.Notjustonce,but
numeroustimesthroughoutyourjourney.Havethegutsandfaithtotakestepsinthedirectionyouwishtotravel.Areyouassuredofsuc-cess?Ofcoursenot!Areyouassuredofaninterestingandfulfillingjourney?Mostlikely—afterall,thejourneyiswhatyoumakeofit.
Thejourneywillbedifficult,yetthehardestpartofthehardworkissuccess.ShannonMillerenjoyedphenomenalsuccessasagymnast.Sincemostsuccessfulgymnastsareyoung,itiseasytoassumethatrawtalentisanimportantingredientinmedals.Wrong—justasallothersports,theultimateprizegoestothehardestworker.Shannon
“The key to success is to take the first step. Not just once, but numerous times throughout your journey. Have the guts and faith to take steps in the direction you wish to travel. Are you assured of success? Of course not!”
Columns (Coaches’ Corner)
Where do World Champions come from?
TeamUSAdidquitewellattheWorldChampionshipsinMunichGermanyJuly29-August10.InRifle,wesawourJuniorandOpenteamswinWorldChampionshipsandmedalsinProne,3P,andAirRifle.Wheredidthesere-sultscomefrom?
OursportssystemintheUSAdoesnotreceiveanyGovern-mentsupport--mostofouroverseascompetitiondoes.OurteamsareprivatelyfundedthroughourUSASdonorprograms,corporatefundraising,Foundationactivities,USOCsupport,andanincredibleamountofvolunteertimethatsupportsourathletesfromtheirfirstdayontherangeontoaninternationalpodium.Startingout....
All of our athletes have incredible family support. Many of ourshootersstartoutlikeIdid—mydadtookmetotherangeatthelocalclubtotryshooting.Familiesaretheinitialandperhapsbiggestathletesponsor.
Howabouttheclubsandteamsoutthere?MostofourWorldTeamwere also part of junior teams, high school teams, and other youthprograms. Clubs are precious-they are often the source of the bestmentoringandcoachingthatayoungpersonreceives.Kudosandthankstothecountlessvolunteercoachesandmentorsout there thatenableour futurecham-pionstostartinthesportanddevelopkeyskillsandhabits.
CampsandCoachPrograms:AllofourathleteshaveattendedNRA,USAShooting,and/orCMPaf-filiatedcampsandprogramsatthestateandnationallevel.FriendsofNRA,StateAssociations,Clubs,HighSchoolJROTCteams,andotherprogramsallprovidekeycoachingandcompetitionopportunitiesforouryoungathletestodevelopin.Thankstoallthevolunteercoachesandmentorsouttherethathaveapassionforthissportanddevelopingthecharacteroftheyoungpeopleinit.
MatchSponsors/Facilities:“Wehavehammersandnails...”(JRCoachDonRidenourcirca1975,LangleyEaglesJuniorRifleClub).Ifourathletesdidn’thaveaplacetolearntoshoot,we’dbeunabletofieldcompetitiveteams.Thankstoallthoseouttherethatmaintain,develop,andoftenstartprogramsandfacilities—oftenagainststrongheadwinds!Andmatchsponsors—youarepreciousalso.Ouryoungathletes
learntocompete,justlikeinallsports,duringthecriticalteenyearsofdevelopment.Evenalocalclubmatchrequiresaconcertedeffortofvolunteers,parents,andmentorstohostitproperly.Thatsub-juniorthatyouranamatchformightenduprepresentingtheUSAsomedayininternationalcompetition!
NCAAandClubprograms:DidyouknowthattheNCAAisamajorsponsorofRifleopportunitiesandteamsaroundtheUSA?TheNCAARifleprogramprovideskeytrainingandcompetitiveexperienceforourathletes.WegreatlyappreciatetheschoolsthatsponsorRifleasanNCAAorNRAClubsport.Fewoftheteamshavefulltime,employeecoaches.Manysurvivebytheeffortsofparttimeorvolunteercoachesandboosters.NCAAandNRAClubcollegiateathleteswerethebackboneoftheWorldTeammedalsinMunich.
So…whetheryousimplysentinadonation,orvolunteerataclub,orcoachandmentorouryoungathletes,youallhadapartincreat-ingawinningteamofoutstandingyoungAmericans.Thankyouandpleasekeepdoingwhatyoudo!
■National Rifle Coach, Major Dave Johnson
“Our teams are privately funded through our USAS donor programs, corporate fundraising, Foundation activities, USOC
support, and an incredible amount of volunteer time that supports our athletes from their first day on the range on to an
international podium.”10 USA Shooting News
American medalists of the 2010 Fort Benning World Cup in Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Position with a USAS Official Sponsor--the ELEY crew from England. (L to R): Dan Olley, Matt
Emmons, Jason Parker, Martyn Buttery, and Andrew Lane
Pistol
Confidence
Confidence—aten-letterwordsuggestingaacriticalconceptinshooting:Believeinyourself.AnaccomplishedpistolshooteroncetoldmethatifIcouldpatentamethodtoteachshootersconfidence,Icouldquitmydayjobandliveoff
theroyalties.Despitethatexaggeration,moreoftenthannot,shooterswhohaveahighlevelofconfidenceareoftentheonesascendingthepodiumforthegold,silver,orbronze.
Howcanyoudevelopthatlevelofconfidence?Unfortu-nately,thereisnosecretortricktogainingconfidence.Rather,itdevelopsasaresultofsoundtrainingmethods,focusedeffortstoproducepositiveoutcomes,andyearsofexperience.Dynastiesarenotbuiltovernight—theybeginwithcarefulplanning,clearlyestablishedgoals,strategiestoaccomplishthosegoals,andhard,hardwork.Whenyoufirstpickedupapistol,didyoushootstraight10s?No—likeallotherathletes,yourskillswilldevelopwithtime,experience,andhardwork.
Youmaybeconfident,butdoyoureallybelieveinyourself?Makeyourmentaldialoguecomealivebyacknowledgingyourtalentsandaccomplishments—likelyachievedthroughhardworkandgoalsetting—thenrepeatthosemotivationalwordstoyourselfincessantly.BaseballgreatYogiBerrasaid,“Base-ballis90%mentalandtheotherhalfisphysical.”Though
Yogineededalittleworkonhismath,hissuggestionthatathleticpursuitsinvolvementalcontrolcaneasilybeappliedtoshooting.Techniquessuchasvisualizationandpositiveself-reinforcementarehelpfulwaystogainconfidence.Forexample,whenpracticingyourliftandholdinfrontofthemirror,visualizetheshotandtheten.Tellyourselfthatyoucanshoottens—outloud.
Firstandforemost,believeinthepowerofyourmind.Yourmentalstrengthandtoughness—andnotsimplyyourageorexperience—aretheykeystoaccomplishinggreatfeats.Thatmentalability,alongwithdedicationandfocusonyourgoals,willleadyoutoachieveamazingresults.Believethatyouareagreatshooter,traintobeagreatshooter,andyouwilleventuallybecomeagreatshooter.Whenyoushootabadshot,moveforwardbecauseyouknowthatisnotthenormforyourabilities.Negativethoughtsproducenegativeenergies;ifyouentertainthoughtsof“whatifIlose,”or“Ican’tshoota10,”thenyouarefarlesslikelytosucceed.
“Practicemakesperfect”istheoldadage,butamoreap-propriatesayingis“Practicemakespermanent.”Shootersandcoachesshouldrealizethatwemusttrainthefundamentalscorrectlytoproduceperfectshotsconsistently.Ofcourse,themethodthatworksforoneshootermaynotworkforthenext.Analysisofvariousmethodsisnecessarytodeterminewhichmethodsworkforparticularshooters.
Forexample,Ioftenthinkofaneighborwhofarmedwithhissonformanyyears.Hewasinjuredwhileservinghiscountryandalwayswalkedwithalimp.Hissonwasborn
longafterhehadsustainedhisinjury.Interestinglyenough,thesonwalkedwiththesamegaitashisfather.Asayoungchild,helookeduptohisdadasarolemodelandfollowedhisexample.Watchothergreatshootersandimitatesomeoftheirtechniquesormethods.Somemayworkforyou,increaseyourconfidence,andimproveyourresults.Ofcourse,youshouldadoptandperfectthetechniquesthatsuityoubest.Youcertainlydon’twantto“limp”alonginyourshooting,butyoucanmakegreatstridesbyadoptingthesoundfundamentalsandtechniquesthatbuildskillandconfidence.
Whilepropertrainingisakeyelementinashooter’sconfidence,experienceisalsoanecessaryelement.DoesthismeanthatourmostseasonedpistolshootersfeelnopressureinthefinalofaWorldCup?Notatall.Theirexperiencegavethemopportunitiestochanneltheiremotionsinapositiveway.Thoughitmaybetypicaltoentertainnegativethoughtsinastressfulcompetitiveenvironment,prepareyourselftofosterapositiveoutlookwitheachmatchsothatyoubecomemoreandmorecomfortableandconfidentinthoseexcit-ingsituations.Wheneverpossible,participateinanyandallthematchesyoucan.Thoseexperiencesareopportunitiestodevelopyourmindsetandconfidenceinmatchsettings.You’llgaininsightsandknowledgeaboutthepeculiaritiesofamatch
thatincreaseordecreaseyourtension,andotherintricaciesofyourshootingthatcanhelpyoubelieveinyourself.
SeveralofourtopjuniorpistolshootersrecentlyreturnedfromtheWorldShootingChampionshipsinMunich,Ger-many.Iwashonoredtoserveasanassistantcoach.Itwasarareopportunitytostandalongsidesomeofthebestshootersintheworld.Forseveralofouryoungatheltes,itwastheirfirstcompetitiveexperienceatthislevel,theirfirstventureinanoverseasmatch.Theexperiencetheseyoungpeoplegainedwasabsolutelyinvaluabletotheirshootingcareers.Theywereabletowatchsomeoutstandingshootersinaction,aswellaslearnwhatittakestoshootintopform.Theyreturnedhomechallengedandreadytomoveforward,eagertodeveloptheconfidencethatwillhelpthembetheonestowatchinfuturechampionships.
Partofwhatmakespistolshootingsomuchfunistheever-presentchallenge.It’sagreatfeelingwhenathletessuccess-fullycompleteamatch,knowingtheydidallthatispossibletoproduceaperfectperformanceinthefaceoftoughcompeti-tionanddifficultcircumstances.Experiencesliketheseleadtoconfidentlysteppinguptothelineatthenextmatchforthenextbigchallenge.So,regardlessofthefacesinthecrowdortheothercompetitorsonthefiringline,youcanandwillbeabletofindthetenringifyoufocusontheshotsandnottheothershooters.Withtheconfidenceyou’vedeveloped,you’resuretohavefun,shootwell,andcompetehard!
■Eric Pueppke
“You may be confident, but do you really believe in yourself?”
www.usashooting.org 11
RifleExamining Success
Thenine-hourflighthomefromMunichprovidedtimeforreflec-tionafteraverysuccessfuloutingforthejuniorrifleteamatthe50thWorldShootingChampionships.
Howdidthegroupofeightyoungmenandsixyoungwomenearnthreeindividualmedals(onegoldandtwosilvers)andtwoteammedals(onegoldwithaworldrecordandonebronze)?Whatdidwedotomakethatsuccesspossible?Whatwillittakeinthefuturetorepeatit?Howdoweimproveinthoseeventswherewedidnotquitemakethepodiumineitherteamorindividualevent?
Overthepasthalfdozenyearsorso,theNa-tionalJuniorTeam(formerNationalDevelop-mentTeam),hasbenefittedgreatlyfromtheop-portunitytoattendsomesmallerinternationaleventslikeIWK(MunichAirGun)andcom-petitionsinbothPilsenandtheCzechRepublic(ShootingHopes).TheexperiencegarneredinthesecompetitionsandotherlargestageshelpsdevelopsomeoftheskillsthatthejuniorsdisplayedinMunich.Forexam-ple,athleteslearnhowtorecognizetheirlimits,dealwiththeunknownintheformofnewrangesandprocedures,interactwithofficialswhodonotspeakEnglishasafirstlanguage,andmore.Withoutadoubt,mycoachingskillsimprovedwhilstspendingtimewiththejuniorteampriorinvariousoverseasmatchesandpre-competitioncamps.Yet,mostofthejuniorswhoshotinMunichwerenewfaces—somehadnevereventraveledoutoftheUnitedStatesbefore.So,howwasitpos-siblethateveryonedefiedtheconventionalwisdomthatsaysinashooter’sfirstinternationalcompetitionheorshewillnotdowellbecauseofthepressuresofanewsituation?
First,athoroughtrainingplanfortheentirecompetitionyearisalsoacriticalfactortoreachpeakperformance.Thisplanshouldalsoaccommodatecontrolledanduncontrolledvariablessuchastravelandteamselection.Unfortunately,wedidnotknowwhowouldmakethejuniorteamuntilonlyonemonthbeforeweleftforthetrainingcamp.Ifanathletewasnotpreparedbeforehand,itisextremelydifficulttomakeanymeaningfulchangestoashooter’strainingpriortoamajorchampionship.Wemustrelyonthetrainingandconditioningthattheyaccomplisheitherontheirownorwiththeirlocalcoachattheircluborschool.
Therealityiswe(ascoaches)arenotdealingwithama-chinethatisprogrammedtoconsistentlyreproducetheper-fectshot.Humanperformanceinvolveserrorsandmistakes,bothofwhicharepartofthatprocessregardlessoftheathlete’sabilities.Themistakesbecomefewerandtheerrorsbecomesmallerastheathletedevelopsskill,butthoseerrorsarestillpartoftheprocess.Learninghowtohandleerrorsmakesorbreaksacompetitiveshooter.Doestheerrorbecomeadistra-ction,thusdisplacingmentalenergytofocusonthescoresor
worryaboutwhatthecrowdmightbethinkingratherthanfocusingandfiringthenextshotcorrectly?Whileanathlete’smindisapowerfultool,successfulshootingisnotamatterofbeingmentallytoughenoughtohandleeverythingthatcouldpossiblyhappeninamatch.Therewillcomeadaywhenanewmistake,error,orsituationarises—thenwhat?
Rifleshootingisahighlytechnicalsportandinvolveshardworkandatremendousamountofpreparationtosucceed.Alltheequipment,adjustments,andpositionsrequirethediligenceofascientistmakinganexperimentalrecordtomaintainconsistency.Thoughtheriflesthemselvesarehighlyaccurate(especiallyairrifles),targetshaveevolvedovertheyearstodiscernwhoisthebettershooterthroughaprogres-sivereductioninthesizeofthescoringareas,thusrequiringevenmoreattentiontoaccuracy.So,didthetalentedjuniorrifleshootershavebetterriflesandmoreaccurateammuni-tionthanotherteamsinMunich?Perhaps,butmostshootersintheworldhaveaccesstotheverysamekindsofriflesandammunition.
DuringthetrainingcamporganizedinPforzheim,Ger-many,theweekbeforetheWorldChampionships,wemadeonlyafewpositionchanges.Yettheoneaspectofshootingthatthecoachesstressedtothejuniorteamwasfundamentals.Forexample,wedidnotworkonhowtoaim,butmoreonhowtodoitefficientlyandeffectivelywhileachievingcorrect,consistentheadpositioning.Weworkedtostopover-aimingorover-holding,pullingthetriggerincorrectlyorinconsistent-ly,andpoorfollow-throughhabits.Wealsoworkedhardonachievingconsistentnaturalpointofaim.Allofthesethingsarebasicskillsinourdiscipline.Granted,weweremakingsmall,ifnottiny,adjustmentsandimprovements,butwewerestillworkingonthebasics.
Junior Women’s 50m Rifle Prone (L) Sarah Beard and (C) Sharon Barazani, celebrate their silver and gold wins at the World Shooting Championships.
12 USA Shooting News
Photo Courtesy of Wolfgang Schreiber © 2010 ISSF
Rifle
Manyoftheproblemsexhibitedbyourbestjuniorshootersmightleadanoutsidertothinkthatwearenottrainingthemcorrectlyoref-ficiently.Therealityisthatourshooterscomethroughavarietyofshootingbackgrounds.Theybeginshootinginalocalclubsponsoredbyasportsman’sorganization,JROTC,4-H,oranotheryouthorganization.Regardlessofthepath,themostessentialfactorthatdeterminestheirsuccessbeyondtheirpersonalmotivationisthecoachingtheyreceivedandthefunda-mentalstheyhonedduringthefirstyearortwooftheircareer.Insomecases,shootersonlylearnthemostrudimentaryskillsandthenmustfigureouttherest.Somemanagequitewell,butthereisalwaysroomforimprovement.More-over,whathappenstothosewhodonotsolvethepuzzleontheirown?Mostlikely,theyquitshootingtodosomethingelse.Whoisatfault?Shootersoftenlearnbytrailanderrorwithoutacoachwhohasathoroughknowledgeofhowtoteachthefundamentals.
Forexample,inthebeginningitisnotneces-sarytodelveintothenuancesoftriggeradjust-
The Junior Men’s 50m Rifle Prone, all relatively inexperienced shooters on the international scene, dug deep for a gold team win. From L to R:
Ryan Dunham-Bender, Jimmie Cooper, and Michael Seery.
The lone American, Sarah Scherer, stood proudly on the Junior Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Position event with her bronze medal. Scherer wrapped up a stellar year after a few
National Junior Olympic Shooting Championships and NCAA gold medals.
mentbutratherhowtopullthetriggersmoothlywithoutdisturbingtheaim.Itisnotnecessaryfortheshootertoknowaboutlocktimetoun-derstandtheneedtofollowthroughanddeveloptheskillofcallingtheshot.Itisnotnecessarytoknowaboutexternalballisticstolearnaboutaimingerrorsandtheireffect.
Allthosetopicsandmorearecertainlyim-portantfortheathletetodevelopintoacompleteshooter,butatthebeginning,theyonlyservetomuddythewaters.OverthenextfewissuesofUSAShootingNews,Iplantodiscussthefun-damentalaspectsofexecutingashot,socoachesandself-taughtshooterscanvalidatewhattheyalreadyknowandexpandtheirthinkingtoincludemethodsthattheyhadnotconsideredbefore.Inaddition,thesearticleswillserveasatooltohelpcoachesunderstandhowtocementthefundamentalsintheirathletesandwhytheyaresoimportantforbeginningshooters.Theintentistohelpyousolvethepuzzlethatisrifle
shooting.■Marcus Raab
Photo Courtesy of Wolfgang Schreiber © 2010 ISSF
shotgun
The Natural
You’reanatural....”You’veheardthisphrasetimeandagainbyadmiringpeers,coaches,andonlookers.Dictionary.comdefinesa
“natural”as“anypersonorthingthatisorislikelyorcertaintobeverysuitabletoandsuccessfulinanendeavorwithoutmuchtrainingordifficulty.”Yet,thatdefinitionis33rdinalistof38options.So,amInaturallygifted?DoIhavespecialabilitiesthathavehelpedmesucceedasaskeetshooter?Absolutelynot—thefirsttimeIpickedupagun,Iwasnotshootingstraightrounds.Eventodaythatisstillagoalandnotablefeatwhenitoccurs.Mypathtotheelitelevelwasandstillisanunnaturalprocessthatincludeshardwork,determination,anddiscipline.
Thiswidelydebatedtopicofnaturaltalentversusskillsdevelopedthroughold-fashionedhardworkappliestoall
fieldsofendeavor,whethersport,busi-ness,orlife.Infact,thisdebatehasat-tractedtheattentionofscientistsstudy-ingthequestionofnaturalabilities.In2006,ateamofBritishresearcherscon-cluded,“Theevidencewehavesurveyed...doesnotsupport[that]excellingisaconsequenceofpossessinginnategifts.”Theteamsurmisedthat,traditionally,peoplelearnquicklyinthebeginningbutthenreachapeakandeventuallyceaselearningeventhoughtheystillperformagivenact.Thereare,however,verysuccessfulindividualswhohaveattainedthatsuccessbycontinuingtolearn.Thosepeople,theoneswhoprog-ressbeyondtheearlypeak,willcontinuetogrowandbecomethe“greats”manyadmire.Yet,thequestionremains—howdothesetalentedindividualscontinuetoprogressandsucceed?
Avoidreachingyourpeakbybecom-ingastudentofyourendeavor.Spendtimediscoveringtheintricaciesofyourshooting,yourshotgun(s),chokes,gunfit,andmore.Learnhowthebunkersorthrowingmachinesworkandthephy-
sicsinvolvedintargetflight.Andbesidestudyingthegame,spendconsider-abletimelearningaboutyourself.Doyouknowwhichsupportingmusclesareusedtomountyourgun?Also,IpracticeinextremesofweatherandotherconditionssoIcanimprovemyshootingbydiscoveringhowIreactorneedtoadaptinavarietyofsituations.Rain,freezingsleet,wind,andcertainlyhundred-degreetemperaturestaughtmevaluableskillsanddevelopedthementaltoughnessthatsimplydoesnotcome“naturally.”Thebottomlineisthatthereisnosubstituteforhardwork,forthehoursspentontherange,inthegym,withamentalcoach,andfollowinganutrition-ist’sprescribedregimen.Thereiszeroevidenceofeliteperformancewithoutthepracticeorexperiencetosupportsuchsuccess.Youwillnotstepuptothelineandbreakeverytargetyoushoot.
Youwill,however,continuetosucceedandimproveyouraveragewithpractice.Manyofthetopshootersinthefieldaresomeofthemostdiligentworkers.Yet,morethanjusthardworkthatledthemontheirpathtogreatness.Deliber-atepracticeisaconceptthatincludescontinuallysettinggoalsandobservingandmeasuringtheresults—itissmarterpractice.Sure,youcouldheadouttotherangetodayandshootonehundredrounds,butyoucouldalsoplanyourtrainingwithpurposefuldrillsandexercisesthatworktowardanobjectiveorfocusonaspecificelementofyourgame.Inallsports,qualitytrainingandfocusoneachrepetitionorskillpro-videsthechallengeandrealizationsthatincreaselearning.Doyounoticethedif-ference?Ratherthansimplypullingthetrigger,youhaveaspecificgoalforeverysingleshot.Coupledwithconsistencyinhoursofpractice,deliberatepracticewillhelpyouachievegreaterresults.
Deliberatepracticealsoincludesmentalfocusandcommitmenttothetaskathand.Eliteshootersusepractice
tocontinuallyimprovetheirgameandoptimumlevelofperformance.Ferocityandintensityaretwocommoncharacte-risticsIseeintop-levelathletesduringtheirtraining.Alwaysbeconsciousofyourmindsetthroughoutyourentirepractice.Get“inthezone”witheachandeverypractice—themoreyoudo,theeasieritwillbetofindyourrhythmincompetition.
Anotherimportantaspectofdeliber-atepracticeisqualityfeedback.Manypeopledislikefeedbackforfearofnega-tivecriticism,yetwithoutittheyareoftenunabletoimprove.Takefeedbackwillingly.Forexample,whatshouldyoudoifyourcoachtellsyouthatyourfeetarenotproperlyalignedandsuggestsanalternativetobalanceyourbodyweight?Continueyourlearningcurveanddis-coverwhybalancedbodyweightleadstobettershots.Don’tshunthecriti-cism;yourcoachwantsyoutoimprove.
Inaddition,ifyouarenotreceivingfeedback,then“carpediem”—seizetheday—andask!Themoreyouknow,themorelikelyyouaretoimprove.
Hardworkisjustthat—hard.Theextrastepsarenecessarytodistinguishtheelitefromthesimplytalentedor“natural.”Adesiretowinrequiresthetimeandeffortontherangeintheformofdeliberatepractice,timeinthegymtoimprovestrengthandconditioning,on-goingdiscussionswithasportpsycholo-gist(orcoachorothercredibleshootersifasportpsychologistisnotavailable),andmostimportant,awilltowin.Theshootersonthelinenexttoyouarenotnaturallytalented.Likeyou,theyhaveshothoursonendtobecomethetopfinishersatalocalmatch,theNationals,oreventheWorldChampionships.Butthegoodnewsisthatgreatnessisavail-abletoeveryone,ifyouarewillingtowork.If,attheendofyourcareer,youareknownforsomething,letitbeyourcommitmenttothesportandunprec-edentedworkethic,andnotforbeinga“natural.”■Anonymous
14 USA Shooting News
“There is zero evidence of elite performance without the practice or experience to support such success.”
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Kim RhodeWomen’s Skeet World Champion
50th World Shooting Championships
MirandaWilderzippeduphervest,pouredaboxofWinchesterAAshellsinherpocket,andbeganthelongwalktoFieldC,whereherWorldChampionshipdestinyawaited.TheyoungshooterwatchedasteammateRachaelHeidenbeatChina’sZhuJingyuinasuddendeathshoot-offthatlastedjustone
target,propellingHeidentoanindividualbronzemedal,aswellastheJuniorWomen’sTrapteamgoldmedal.“Iwassonervous,Iwasshaking,butIknewIcould
doit.Mymaingoalwastokeepmyheadonthegunandseethetargets,”saidWilderashertimehadcome.Steppinguptotheline,shebattledwithAustralia’sCatherineSkinnertied
at69targets.Targetaftertarget,thetworemainedneckandneck.WiththegeneroussupportoftheDallasSafariClub(sponsoroftheJuniorWorldChampionshipTeam),Wilder,undisturbed,nailed
hertenthtargetinarowandagain,waitedforadoortoopen.AnastyclimbinglefttargetfrompostfivesealedSkinner’sfate.Therewasnofistpumporwhoopofjoyfromthis16-year-old;rathershecalmlyhugged
NationalCoachBretEricksonandgraciouslyacceptedcongratulationsfromteammatesandfans.“ThemainthingIrememberwashearingthenationalanthemplayedwhileIwasonthepodium...itkindofblocksouteverythingelse,”
saidWilder.Herwinmarkedthefirstmedal—andgoldmedal—wonbytheUnitedStatesatthisyear’sWorldShootingChampionshipsinMunich,Germany,andcouldnothavebeenearnedbyamoredeservingathlete.
www.usashooting.org 17
ThedayfollowingWilder’sgold,theteamfoundthepodiumagain—inthree’s—asMen’s50mProneTeamandJuniorMen’s50mProneTeamshotforthegoldandbronzerespectively.TheteamofMattEmmons,SergeantMichaelMcPhail,andSergeantFirstClassEricUptagrafftprovedwhyallthreeareconsistentlytop-rankedshootersastheydefendedtheirWorldChampionshiptitle.Fouryearsprior,thethreesharp-shootingathleteswonthesameeventinZagreb,Croatiaatthe49thWorldShootingChampionships.Thejuniorshooters,MichaelSeery,JimmieCooper,andRyanDunham-Bender,begantheirmatchinthehole.Andjustwhenacomebackseemedoutofreach,theymanagedtheimprobablebymissingjustonepointintheirlastcombinedsixtyshots.Anothernotableperfor-mancecamefromMeghannMorrill,whoshockedthecrowdwitha398qualifyingscoreinWomen’s10mAirRifle.InherfirstInterna-tionalShootingSportFederation(ISSF)finalever,Morrillenteredthefinalinafour-waytieforsecondplace,yetfelltoeighthplaceaftera100.1pointfinal.Herperformance,coupledwiththatofJamieBey-erleandEmilyCaruso,markedthefirstWomen’s10mAirRifleTeammedal(bronze)fortheUSAsincetheWorldChampionshipin1990.
MattEmmonswasanotherAmericanwhosenamecirculatedaroundtherangeasheencounteredbothtriumphandtragedyinhisthreeevents.Emmons’597inthequalificationmatchand101.5inthefinalearnedhimseventhplaceinMen’s10mAirRifle,butheexcelledinMen’s50mRifleProne.Winningthefirst2012OlympicquotaplaceforanyAmericansport,Emmonsbroughthomethebronzemedal.“It’sgreattobetheonewhograbbedthefirstOlympicQuotaforAmerica,”saidEmmons,afterthematch.“Ofcourse,Iamnotautomaticallyqualified.ThequotagoestotheUSAShootingTeam,andalltheAmericanshootersarepassingthroughaquali-ficationsysteminordertodecidewhowillgotothenextGames.”Enteringinthebottomhalfofthefinal,Emmonsshotastrong104.2pointsfor702.2totalpointsandabronzemedal.SergeantFirstClassEricUptagrafftalsoshotinthefinal,yetfinishedseventhaftertwodisappointing9s.
Dayfourbroughtintensecompetitionontheshotgunscene.TheAmericanshadnarrowlymissedmedalopportunitiesinWomen’sTrapandwerereadyforheatedcontests.JakeTurner,alsosurprisingthecrowdwithhisimpressivequalificationperformance,shotinhisfirst-everISSFfinalforMen’sTrap.Turnerwastiedwithsixothershootersforonlytwospotsinthefinalwith121/125targets.Asthefirstthreeathletesmissedtheirshoot-offtargets,Turnerpulledthetriggerandadvancedtothesecondpositionwithacleanbreak.Inashoot-outunliketheotherswitnessedattheWorldShootingCham-pionships,twotargetsputTurnerandSpain’sAlbertoFernandezintothefinal.Ultimatelyfinishingsixth,Turnersaid,“Iwaspleasedwithmyperformanceandexcitedtomakethefinal.EspeciallysinceInowhavetheopportunitytorepresenttheUSAandshootwithteammateJohnMullinsintheWorldCupFinalinTurkey.”Theiryoungerteammates,theJuniorMen’sTrapTeamfinishedwithasilvermedal.TheforceofMatthewGossett,CaseyWallace,andMorganHarbisonallperformedexceptionallywell.Gossett,inpar-ticular,edgedouttwoothercompetitorsinasixteentargetshoot-offforfourthplace.
EndinganothernightonthepodiumafterJuniorMen’sTrap,theUnitedStatesbeganthenextdaywithhighhopesfortheMen’sDoubleTrapathletes.AstheUSAishometotheworld’stopDoubleTrapshooters,medalswereexpected.Buttoningdownagainstthecold,wind,andrain,themenwerenotdeterredintheirgoal:gold.StaffSergeantJoshRichmondwastheJuniorMen’sDoubleTrapChampionin2005andnowholdstheMen’sDoubleTraptitlejustfiveshortyearslater.Withanaudiencethatincludedhisparents,celebratingtheir25thweddinganniversarywiththeirfirsttripoverseas,Richmondwasready...forcleanbreaks,foraquotaspot,forgold.AlsoshootinginthefinalwasteammateCorporalJefferyHolguin,whoencounteredagunmalfunctionandwasgrantedafiveminuterepairperiod.Withasparetriggerinhisguncaseandafewminoradjustments,Holguinwasbackontheline.Inabizarreturnofevents,withonlyahandfuloftargetsleft,Holguinnoticedthatthe
50th World Shooting Championships
JamieBeyerlesetanewnationalrecordof593pointsintheelimina-tionround.ThefinalkeytothewinwasAmySowash,whofinishedstrongwith585points.Afterhernewnationalrecord,BeyerlemaintainedpacetosecurefifthplaceandthethirdAmericanquota.Beyerlewasontopofhergameasshenaileda10.7tenthshotinthefinaltomoveherupfromeighthplace.
SergeantFirstClassKeithSandersonoftheArmy’sWorldClassAthleteProgram,another2008Olympian,battledaforearminjury
throughoutthe2010season,yetpulledthingstogetherfortheWorldShootingChampion-ships.SandersonandhisMen’s25mRapidFirePistolteam-mates,SpecialistBradBalsleyandEmilMilev,grabbedanunex-pectedteambronzemedalwithacombinedscoreof1731points.AnothersurprisingsuccessinthepistoldisciplinewasPettyOfficerFirstClassSandraUptagrafftwhoshot384pointsinWomen’s10mAirPistolforanopportunityinthefinal.InherfirstISSFfinalever,UptagrafftdidherbesttomanagethepressureoftheWorldChampionshipsandshotfor93.3points.Thoughhereighthplacefinishwasoutofquotaconten-tion,Uptagrafftfacedsomeheftycompetitionandestablishedamuch-neededpresencefortheUSAinWomen’sAirPistol.
Withjustahandfulofdaysleftincompetition,theAmericanteamhadatotaloftwoindivid-ualmedalsandjustthreequotaplaces.Asboththetimeandnumberofquotaslotsdwindled,thepressurebegantobuild.TheUnitedStateslookedtoKimRhode,HaleyDunn,andAmberEnglishforaWomen’sSkeetquota.Rhode,aftertwoWorldCupgoldmedalsthisseason,
wastheheavyfavoritetowin.Withcoldwindsandrainthroughouttheday,thewomenturnedtoallmeanstostaywarm—evenusingshowercapstokeeptheirfeetandhatsdry.Rhodeshot72/75targetsinqualificationandDunnremainedrightalongsidewith71targetsforashotinthefinals.Dunnhadalittletroubleasshedroppedfivetargetsforacombinedtotalof91targets.RhoderemainedconsistenttoWorldCupsuccess,andshotaperfect25targetfinalfortheUSA’sthirdindividualmedalandfourthquota.“It’sgreattofinallywinaWorldTitleinfrontofmyparents,”saidRhodewhocreditsmuchofhersuccesstoherparents’support.Anothernoteworthyresultofher
18 USA Shooting News
angleofthetargetshadcreptoutsidetheprescribedlimits.TheISSFrefereeshauledouttarget-settinghoopstodiscoverthattherighttargetwascreepingtowardsthecenter.
Asthedelaysgrewlonger,theweathercontinuedtogetcolderasthesundippeddown,leavingtheshooterschilled.YetRichmondremainedtoughandshotstraightforaperfect50-targetfinal,equalworldrecordof196/200targets,andagoldmedal.Despitethechal-lengesofthemechanicalfailures,Holguinfinishedfourth.Theirseventeen-year-oldteammate,BillyCrawford,shot50-targetsinhisthirdroundfor143/150totaltargets.Withallthreeshootersinthetopelevenspots,theAmericansbroughthomeateamgoldmedalandworldrecordof433combinedtar-gets—threetargetsabovethepreviousrecord.“I’mhappytohavewonthegoldmedalandbroughtaquotaspottotheUSA.We[theDoubleTrapTeam]setthestandardfortherestoftheUSTeam.Nowthatwehaveagold,Iamconfidentthatourteamwillcontinueonthispace,”saidRichmond.
ThoughtheymaynothaveheardRichmond’smotivationalwords,theJuniorWomen’s50mRifleThreePositionTeamputupaperformancetowritehomeabout.ThetrioofAmandaFurrer,SarahBeard,andSarahSchererdemolishedtheformerworldjuniorrecordbyawhop-pingelevenpoints.Thedomina-tiondoesn’tendthere—thenear-estcompetitionwasfourteenpointsbehindtheAmericanteam!Moreover,Scherershotfor585pointsandtheindividualsilvermedal.Theircombinedeffortof1747pointswasthegoldenstandard.Alsocompet-ingintheUSAjuniorscenewastheJuniorMen’sDoubleTrapteamofIanRupert,DerekHaldeman,andKelceyDepatis,whokeptupthehardwareparadewithateambronzemedal.
Takingacuefromthejuniorwomen,theWomen’s50mRifleThreePositionteamwasnotgoingtoletGermanytakehomegold.Withacommandingleadandthefavorofthefans,theGermangirlsdidn’tevenregistertheAmericanteamasSandyFongenteredthekneelingserieswithonlythirtyminutesleft.TenaftertenaftertenleftFongwithanastounding198pointsandAmericanteamgold—beatingtheGermansbyonepoint.Teammateand2008Olympian
Number one on the scoreboard, and number one in your hearts. The Junior Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Position Team of (L to R) Sarah Beard, Amanda
Furrer, and Sarah Scherer celebrate their team gold medal.
Smiling National Shotgun Coach Bret Erickson takes a moment to celebrate with the silver medal winning Junior Men’s Trap Team of (L to R) Matthew
Gossett, Jake Wallace, and Morgan Harbison.
Photo Courtesy of Wolfgang Schreiber © 2010 ISSF
winningistheadditionalUSAOlympicTeamselectionpointsRhodehasaccumulated—53pointswitha45pointthresholdmarker.Thoughitdoesn’tmeansheautomaticallyqualifies,ifanotherUSshooterisunabletoreachorexceedherpointsafter2011,thenRhodewillembarkonahistoricjourneytowardsherfifthconsecu-tive(individual)Olympicmedal—afeatfortherecordbooks.WithtalentlikethatintheAmericanWomen’sSkeetprogram,itshouldcomeasnosurprisethattheteam(Rhode,Dunn,andEnglish)
broughthomethegoldmedal.EventhoughWomen’sSkeetisingoodhands,thejuniorswanted
toabolishanydoubtswithateamgoldmedalandanindividualsilvermedalbyJaidenGrinnell.ThisfeistytriobroughttheirAmericanspirit—intheformofred,white,andbluecheerleadingpom-poms—tothepodiumalongwithaward-winningsmilesandcharm.Grin-nellbroketwotargetstoYueZhang’s(China)onetargetforthesilvermedalinashoot-off.“WepromisedBret[Erickson]agoldmedalandwearehappytohavefollowedthrough,”saidGrinnelloftheJuniorWomen’sSkeetTeam’sperformance.WiththegutsofCaitlinConnor,ferocityofJaidenGrinnell,andtenacityofBrandyDrozd,
theteamshotforatotal of197targets,threehigher thansilverteamChina.
ThenextWorld Championshipsuccessesalso cameintheformofteen- ageathletes:theJuniorWomen’s 50mRifleProneevent.Though anon-Olympiccompeti- tion,red,white,andblueathletes watchedtwoflagsflyingbeyondthepodium.SharonBarazaniandSarahBeardhavenevercompetedinaninternationalmatch,butinexperiencedidn’tstopthemfromdreamsofgoldandsilver.Barazanifiredsixtyshotsfor596pointsandBeardwasonlyonepointbehindat595points.Inteamcompetition,theteam(withtheadditionofAmandaFurrer)technicallybroketheworldrecord,butcameinfourth.Yetthecombinedscoresonthedayofindividualcompeti-tionwouldhavedismantledtheworldrecordsetonedayprior,buttheirindividualscoresdonotcountforteamcompetition.Otherwomenalsoachievingsuccessinanon-OlympicwaywerethetrioofSandyFong,ReyaKempley,andRhondaBrightinWomen’s300mRifleThreePosi-tion.Thesetalentedmarkswomenfinishedwith1723totalpointsfortheteamsilvermedalinoneoftheworld’spremierrifleevents.
Finally,SergeantVincentHancock,the2008OlympicgoldmedalistinMen’sSkeet,lookedtodefendhisnameandprovehistal-ent.HancockscoredonemedalontheWorldCupcircuitthisyearandwasreadytofacethebestofthebest.Withaqualifyingscoreof123/125targets,Hancockwastiedwithfourothershootersinthefinal.Inafieldseparatedbyonlyonetarget,thecompetitionwasfierce—missingatargetwouldseverlydamageanyhopesforamedal.Unfortunately,Hancockdroppedahighhousetargetonthesecondpaironsta-tionfour,leavinghimtobattlewithAnders
Josh RichmondMen’s Double Trap World Champion
The USA’s Matt Emmons was the first American athlete to claim a quota spot for any American Olympic sport with his bronze medal
finish in Men’s 50m Rifle Prone.
Jake Turner, a USA Shooting Resident Athlete, shot in his first international final ever at the World Championships.
GoldingofDenmarkforfifthandsixthplaceinasudden-deathshoot-off.Eventhoughmedalswerenotontheline,thefifthplacefinisherwouldbringhomeaquotaslottohisfederation.HancockstayedstraightforeighttargetsandbreathedasighofreliefasGoldingmissedabird.“Amedalwouldhavebeenicingonthecake,butwereallywantedthequotaspotandVincentstayedstrongtoaccomplishthatgoal,”saidNationalCoachBretErickson.
AsolidgoldperformancecameshortlybeforeHancock’squotawinbyjuniorJonMichaelMcGrathwhostoletheshowinMen’sJuniorSkeet.McGrathshotfor123/125targetsforanindividualgoldmedalanddroppedonlyonetargetinhisseconddayofcompeti-tion.Hisperformance,alongwiththatofBJBlanchardandTJBayer,helpedpropelJuniorMen’sSkeettoateamsilvermedal.
BeyondthestellarperformancesbyseveralOpendivisionshoot-ers,thejuniorsstolethestage.Withahaulofsevenjuniorteammedalsandsevenjuniorindividualmedals,itissafetosaythatthefutureforshootingsportsintheUSAisingoodhands...andtrigger
fingers.Thoughnotoftenregardedasourfront-lineOlympicmedalcontenders,USAShootingisproudofitstalentedyoungathletes.Facingthetoughestcompetitionintheworld,ouryoungmenandwomenperformedwithdignity,calm,andaccuracy.Withmorethan2,300shooterscompeting,USAShooting’sWorldChampion-shipTeam(notincludingjuniorsornon-Olympicevents)managedatotalofthreeindividualmedals,fiveOlympicquotaplaces,sixteammedals,and12finalsappearances.Farexceedingtheirperformanceatthe2006WorldShootingChampionships,theUSShootingTeamfacedthebestofthebestandstakedtheirclaimtoprominenceontheworldstage.■Katie McGinty
20 USA Shooting News
The skilled Men’s Double Trap trio of (L to R) Jeffery Holguin, Josh Richmond, and Billy Crawford, brought home
a gold medal and new world record.
Jon Michael McGrath dominated in Junior Men’s Skeet competition to capture an individual gold medal and help the Junior
Men’s Skeet Team win a silver medal.
Meghann Morrill’s outstanding 398 points qualified for anopportunity to shoot in the finals.
Miranda Wilder celebrates her gold medal victory—the first medal AND gold medal won by the USA at the World Shooting Championships.
All photos on this page courtesy of Wolfgang Schreiber (c) 2010 ISSF
TheUSAShootingTeam(USAST)boastsmorethanjustasuccessfulOlympicshootingprogram—USASisalsohometoastrongParalympiccontingent.MeetDanielleFong,SergeantFirstClassJoshOlson,EricHollen,andMikeDickey:thefourathletesrepresentingtheUSAatthisyear’sInternationalParalympicCommittee(IPC)WorldShootingChampionshipsinZagreb,Croatia.ThoughtheUSAdidn’tbringhomeanymedalsthisyear,theeventservedasatremendouslearningexperi-enceforthese2012hopefuls.
Asurprisingtwistoccurredduringtheclosingceremonies,whentheUSA’sHollenwaspresentedtheFairPlayAwardfortheexceptionalsportsmanshiphedemonstratedduringhisFreePistolMatch(P4).Hollenaccidentlyfiredashotjustabovehistargetwhileworkingonearlytriggerpressureduringtheapproach.HeimmediatelynotifiedtheRangeOfficertoreportthemisssincenooneelsesawit.Thisoccurredtwiceashestruggledwithhistriggerthroughoutthematch.Whilethemissescosthimatwentypointdeduction,Hollensaid,“Iknewitwastherightthingtodo.”Hissportsmanshipandintegrityimpressedthematchstaff.BobFoth,NationalParalympicCoach,said,“Ericwasabletogarnertremendousre-spectthatspillsoverandreflectswellonallofus—ourcountry,team,andorganization.”
InWomen’sAirRifleStanding(R2),DanielleFong,sisterofstandoutsSandyandAbbyFong,fired384/400,onepointbelowherpersonalrecordtofinish13th.However,herbestperformanceoccurredinthe50mRifleProneMixed(R6)event.BothFongandOlson
(alsocompeting),earnedtheopportunitytoshootinthefinal.Olson’sperformancewasparticularlynoteworthyashewassituatedonawindyendoftherange.NoothercompetitorwithintenfiringpointsofOlsonqualifiedforthefinal,includingtheAirRifleProneSH1
goldmedalistshootingrightbesidehim.Seededthird(Fong)andsixth(Olson),theAmericanparalympiansbothshotverydisci-plinedandsmartmatches.Fongfinishedinfifthplacewith688totalpointsforanewpersonalrecord,andOlsonwasjustbehindherinsixthwith687.9points.
Finally,MikeDickeyfinished54thintheAirRifleProneSH1Mixedevent(R3)withascoreof591points.PriortotheIPCWorldShootingChampionships,Mikewasexperimentingwithanewshootingtableforhiswheelchair.Unfortunately,thetableheusedinZagrebwasn’tassturdyashehadhoped.HehassincemetwithLarryMilleratVertecPrecisionMachiningtoconstructtheperfecttable.
TheIPCWorldShootingChampionshipswasaterrificoppor-tunityforourAmericanParalympianstogaininvaluableexperie-enceandaffirmtheircommitmenttoshootingin2012.ThematchprovidedHollen,Dickey,Fong,andOlsontheknowledgenecessarytosuccessfullymoveforwardwiththeirtraining,competition,andshootingcareers.WiththeexceptionoftheParalympicGames,theIPCWorldShootingChampionshipswasthebiggestmatchofthequadrennial,andcertainlyoneofthebiggestcompetitionsforthemajorityoftheUSA’sathletes.WatchformorenewsasyourAmeri-canathletescontinueonthepathtoParalympicsuccess.
■Bob Foth, National Paralympic Coach; Photos Courtesy of Yuman Fong
Paralympic Championships
www.usashooting.org 21
Danielle Fong, a 2012 Paralympic hopeful, steadies her rifle and fires her way into the finals.
L to R: Josh Olson (behind), Eric Hollen, Danielle Fong, and Mike Dickeyrepresenting the United States of America at the International Paralympic
Committee World Shooting Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.
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2010 USA Shooting National Championships
TheweatherinColoradoSprings,Colorado,wastypicallyhotandvariableforthe2010USAShootingNationalChampion-shipsforShotgun.Thunderstormsmovedinalmosteveryafternoon,threateningcompetitors,audience,andstaffwithheavyrainandlightning.Despitethesoaringtemperatures
andrain,spiritsandscoresalikewerehigh.Closeto300athletesscatteredacrosstheshotgunrangethroughoutthe12daysofNationals;156forTrap,90forSkeetand33forDoubleTrap.OlympicTrainingComplex(OTC)ResidentAthletesmedaledinalmosteveryevent,astellarshowingforthe2012Olympichopefuls,whilethejuniorsliveduptoexpectationsbypostingsomeexcellentscores.Theoverallperformancebyallathletesshowedtheskillandpotentialofamajorityofthecompetitors,makingforsomechallengingfinalsandexcitingwins.
SergeantVincentHancockoftheUnitedStatesArmyMarksmanshipUnit(USAMU),dominatedMen’sSkeetemergingwitha274/275.HisnearperfectscorewasoneofthehighlightsofShotgunNationals,yetnotasurpriseperformancefromthe2008Olympicgoldmedalist.Hewasfol-lowedcloselybyJonMichaelMcGrath,anupandcomingjuniorshooter.McGrathedgedoutTJBayerbyonetargetforatotalscoreof269targets.BJBlanchard,fromtheOTC,joinedMcGrathandBayerinthelineupofmedalistsforJuniorMen’sSkeet.Blanchardshota266forsecondplacewithMcGrathtakingfirstandTJBayercominginatthird.
TheUSAMUbroughtsuccessfulshooterstothesceneindoubletrapasSergeantGlennEllertookhomethegoldwithatotalof336targetsandteammateStaffSergeantJoshRichmondcameinsecondaftershoot-ingatotalscoreof333/350targets.SSGRichmondrecentlyclaimedanindividualandteamgoldinMen’sDoubleTrapattheAcapulcoWorldCupthisyearandisonhiswaytofollowinginthefootstepsofSGTEller,2008Olympicgoldmedalist.JoiningtheUSAMUmenonthepodium,DerekHaldemanshotforatotalof328targets,distinguishinghimselfevenfurtherastheJuniorMen’sDoubleTrapChampionwithascoreof327targets.IanRupertandBillyCrawford,bothmembersofasuccessfulWorldChampionshipTeam,alsomedaledinMen’sDoubleTrapshooting319and317targets.
www.usashooting.org 23
Vincent Hancock
Your new Women’s Trap national champion, Rachael Heiden. One short week later, Heiden also claimed the title of National Junior
Olympic Shooting Champion in Junior Women’s Trap.
Sergeant Glenn Eller of the US Army Marksmanship Unit, shoots his way to the Men’s Double Trap national championship title.
24 USA Shooting News
Men’sTrapandJuniorMen’sTrapweredominatedbyOTCResidentAthletes.JohnMullinstookasixtargetlead,endingwithatotalof266targetsandgainingthetitleofMen’sTrapChampion.Histeammates,JacobTurnerandColinWietfeldt,wereaclosesecondandthirdplace,shooting260and259targets.WietfeldtalsomedaledinJuniorMen’sTrap,takinghomethegoldmedalwithascoreof260targetsagainstGarrettWaltersandTJBayer’srespective256and254targetstofilloutthepodium.
TheOTCwomenwerenotfarbehindtheirmalecounterparts.RachelHeidencameupwithatotalscoreof253targetstobecomethe2010Women’sTrapChampion.Teammateand2008Olympian,CoreyCogdell,continuedtheOTCtrendwithascoreof249forthird,while
secondplacewascapturedbyKelseyZauharwhowonthespotjustaheadofCogdellwithascoreof250.ThefocusofthisparticularmatchwasdefinitelyonHeiden,givenherparticularlyimpressiveaccomplishmentofwinninganOpeneventwhilestillajunior.However,thissuc-cessisnotunexpectedcomingfromtheyoungwomanwhowasalsothe2010JuniorOlympicWomen’sTrapgoldmedalist.
ThetitleofWomen’sSkeetChampionwenttoKimRhode,whocontinuestosurpassallexpectationsanddeliverimpressivescores.Alreadyafour-timeOlympicmedalist,Rhodeshotforascoreof267targetsatthe2010Nationals.ShecameoutaheadofCaitlinConnor(OTC),whoalsogaveanimpressiveshowingbymedalinginbothWomen’sSkeetandJuniorWomen’sSkeet.ConnorplacedsecondintheOpendivisionwithatotalscoreof262targetsandcameinfirstplaceasJuniorwithasimilarscoreof261targets.Teammate,JaidenGrinnell(OTC)closelyfollowedConnorinbothdivisions,claimingthirdinWomen’sSkeetandsecondinJuniorWomen’sSkeet.Herscoreof259targetsinJuniorWomen’sSkeetwas16aheadofbronzemedalist,MorganCraft(Hughesville,Pennsylvania),aJ2competitor.USAShooting’s2010NationalChampionshipsforShotgunwasasuccessfuleventthatcrownedseveralnewNationalChampionsandtalliedimpressivescores.
■CalahDuryea
Caitlin Connor, Kim Rhode, and Jaiden Grinnell top the podium as the Women’s Skeet medalists.
The OTC Resident Athlete sweep represented by (L to R) Jake Turner,John Mullins, and Collin Wietfeldt.
The Junior Men’s Double Trap podium featured World Championship team members (L to R) Ian Rupert, Derek Haldeman, and Billy Crawford.
Though the Men’s Skeet competition was dominated by Sergeant Vincent Hancock (center), young juniors Jon Michael McGrath (left) and TJ Bayer
(right) proved they could compete—and medal—in the Open Men’s division.
www.usashooting.org 25
Staff Sergeant Joshua Rich-mond, a Double Trap shooter,and Sergeant First Class TerriDeWitt,aWoman’sTrapshooter,will serveas theShotgunPrimaryAthleteRepresentativeandAlternate Athlete Representative, respectively. Sgt. RichmondandSgt.1stClassDewitt,bothfromtheUSArmyMarksman-shipUnit(USAMU),wereelectedbycompetitors inthe2010USAShootingNationalChampionships.Theirtermofserviceisfouryears,beginningwiththeUSAShootingBoardofDirec-torsmeetinginOctober.Thoseathletes,alongwiththeAthleteAdvisory Committee Representative, Connie Smotek, provideavoicefortheathletesandplayanactiveroleinUSASBoardfunctions, subcommittees, and actions. USA Shooting mem-berswhowishtocontactSgt.Richmondmaycallhimat706-
570-7455,oremailhimatjrrchmnd@yahoo.comorSgt.1stClassDeWittbycalling706-545-1152oremailingtheresa.dewitt@usaac.army.mil.(July15,2010)
At the National Junior Olympic Championships (NJOSC) Ian Rupert smoked the competition in the Men’s Double Trap final. Rupert finished with 175 targets--exactly four targets above sil-vermedalistGarrettWalters.Waltersfinishedat171targets.Thebronzemedalist,DavidRadulovich,shotastrong44targetfinaltofinishat170targets.IntheWomen’sevent,RachaelHeiden,whojustwontheNationalChampionshipstitleforWomen’sOpenTrap,conqueredtheNJOSCeventaswell. Heidenwalkedintothefinalwithafourtargetlead(113targets)andshotasolid23-targetfinal. ThesilvermedalistwasKayleBrowningat131totaltargets. Brown-ingandbronzemedalistStephanieMartinagobothenteredthefi-nalwith109targets,butBrowningbrokeaheadasMartinagoshota19targetfinal. TheMen’sNJOSCTrapChampionwasGarrettWalters,whoshotfor142targets.SilvermedalistJacobGognoshota20-targetfinal. ThebronzemedalistwasJakeWallacewith137totaltargets.InMen’sSkeetthegoldmedalistwasJonMichaelMc-Grath,whoshotupfromfourthplacewithaperfect25X25inthefinalround.PhillipJungmantooksecondandWilliamBrazellbecamethebronzemedalist.InWomen’sSkeet,CaitlinConnor,thegoldmedalist,finishedat144targetsandJaidenGrinnell,thesilvermedalist,scored139targets.ThebronzemedalistwasMorganCraftat136targets.(July10,2010/July21,2010/July23,2010)
At the ISSF World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia, Matt Emmonsknockedoutanoutstanding1278.4totalpointsforagoldmedalinMen’s50mRifle3Position.SFCDarylSzarenskifinishedfourthinMen’s10mAirPistol,just1.3pointsshyofthebronzemedalist.Szarenski,finishedwith683.5totalpointsandthentook10thinMen’s50mPistol.Histeammate,BrianBeamanalsoqualifiedforthefinalswith583matchpointsandshotastrong99.8pointfinal.AlsocompetinginafinalwasUSA’sJamieBeyerle,whofinishedfifthinWomen’s10mAirRifle.Beyerlestayedinthetoptenfin-ishing7thinWomen’sThreePositionwithascoreof677.9.Ser-geantMichaelMcPhailtookhomethegoldinMen’s50mPronewithascoreof702.8andteammate,MattEmmons,camein4thshooting701.4.(June30,2010/July2,2010)
For full press releases on all USAS Bulletin and Performance Reports, please visit www.usashooting.org.
Performance Reports
Courtesy of Marco Dalla Dea © 2010 ISSF
PERAZZI USA INC. 1010 W. TENTH ST. - AZUSA, CA. 91702 - USA PHONE: (626) 334-1234 FAX: (626) 334-0344
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PERAZZI USA INC. 1010 W. TENTH ST. - AZUSA, CA. 91702 - USA PHONE: (626) 334-1234 FAX: (626) 334-0344
P e r a z z i U S A @ a o l . c o m
T M 9 X 1 2 g a
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Adjustable combFixed chokes
T M 9 1 2 G A
Barrel in either 32" or 34"
Removable trigger groupFixed rib and chokes
Fixed Stock
We are proud to announce the introduction of a new model gun for 2009, the TM9. There will be two versions available of this new, single-barrel gun. One version, the TM9, will have a fixed, ramped rib and a fixed comb stock.The second version, the TM9X, will have anadjustable rib and an adjustablecomb stock.
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MattEmmons—AnamethatevokesthoughtsofOlympicmedals,nationalrecords,andAmericanglory.Notonlyisheregardedasoneofthetoprifleshootersintheworld,butEmmons(BrownsMills,N.J.)isalsoanactivememberoftheshootingcommunity.InthepastthreeWorldCups—theonlythreethatheattended—hetalliedfourmedals.Moreover,threeofhismedalswereintheMen’s50mRifleThreePositionevent,notabadaverageforthetop-ranked50mThreePositionshooterintheworld.Emmonsalsofinished10th(Sydney)and12th(USA)inMen’s10mAirRiflecompetition,provinghisversatilityasanathlete.HisotherWorldCupmedalwasabronzefromWorldCupUSAinMen’s50mRifleProne.MattalsorecentlyfinishedfourthinMen’s50mRifleProneinBelgrade.Em-monsisaworld-classcompetitorandsportsman.WhennotifiedofhisAthleteoftheMonthaward,Emmons,ateam-player,said,“I’mhonored—theteamisshootinggreat!”USAShootingwouldliketocongratulateMattEmmonsonhisterrificperformanceandinvolve-mentintheshootingsports,andonhisbeingnamedtheUSAShootingAthleteofthemonthforJuly!
July: Matt Emmons
RachaelHeidenmaynotbeabletorentacarwithoutheftyfees,yetsheisoneofthemosttalentedfemaletrapathletesintheUSA.NationalCoachBretEricksonwassingingherpraisesashesaid,“I’mproudofthehardworksheputsinhertraining,itisreflectiveofhersuccessontheline.Shehasvaultedherselfintoapositiontobeatopcontenderforthe2012games[forWomen’sTrap].”InJuly,Heiden(Clinton,Mich.)notonlywonthetitleofNationalChampioninWomen’sTrap,butoneweeklateralsoassertedherdominanceontheJuniorfieldaswell.Heidennailed253targetsinUSAShooting’sNationalChampionships,leadingthecompetitionbythreetar-gets.IntheNationalJuniorOlympicShootingChampionships,Heiden’ssteadyaimcreatedafivetargetgap;shefinishedwith136totaltargets.Moreover,afewdaysago,Heiden’sstrongshootinghelpedtheJuniorWomen’sTrapteamtoateamgoldmedal.Inindividualcompetition,HeidencrushedChina’sZhuJingyuwithjustonetargetinashoot-offforthebronzemedal.
Notonlyisthistalentedathleteanoutstandingshooter,butHeidenisalsoinvolvedintheshootingcommunity.Atthisyear’sNRAShow,sheservedasan“NRAAmbassador,”helpingtopromoteshootingsportstoyouthacrossAmerica.ForashooterthatmovedfromMichigantoTexastotakeadvantageofdailytraining,Heidencertainlyhasthehardwaretoshowforthesacrificesshehasmadeonherpathtosuccess.HercommitmenttofurtheringthesportofshootingviayoutheducationandoutstandingperformanceonthefieldmakeRachaelHeidentheclearchoiceforUSAShooting’sAugustAthleteoftheMonth.CongratulationsRachael!
August: Rachael Heiden
ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Test Your USA Shooting Knowledge1. Though there are many differences between American and International Trap, what is the difference in the angle of the targets each side of center? a.American-20degrees;International-30degrees b.American-17.5degrees;International-45degrees c.American-19degrees;International-45degrees d.American-20degrees;International-30degrees
2. Which shooting Paralympian also has an Olympian sister? a.MikeDickey b.DanielleFong c.EricHollen d.JoshOlson
3. Which non-Olympic events were contested at the World Shooting Championships? a.Men’s300mStandardRifle b.JuniorWomen’s50mRifleProne c.Men’s50mRunningTarget d.AlloftheAbove
4. During which years was shooting omitted from the Olympic Games? Hint: Pick two! a.1904 b.1908 c.1932 d.1928
5. The USA Shooting Team women are very successful across the disciplines, yet in which discipline and event have they yet to win an Olympic medal? a.Women’s25mSportPistol b.Women’sTrap c.Women’s50m3PositionRifle d.Women’s10mAirPistol
6. What is the time limit for the prone series during Men’s 50m Rifle Three Position? a.45minutes b.60minutes c.30minutes d.75minutes
7. Who was the last woman to win an Olympic medal in Women’s 25m (Sport) Pistol? a.RubyFox b.GailLiberty c.KimDyer d.SandraUptagrafft
8. What were the only two Olympic shooting events held in the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Calif.? a.Men’s50mRifleProne b.Men’s50mFreePistol c.Men’s25mRapidFirePistol d.Men’s50mRifleThreePosition
9. When was the US Army Marksmanship Unit established? a.1950 b.1944 c.1956 d.1968
10. How many open individual gold medals did the USA Shooting Team win at this year’s World Shooting Championships? a.Four b.Three c.Six d.Two
28 USA Shooting NewsAnswers are on page 33
On The Complex / Director Operations Marketing Competitions
World Championship Assessment
The50thWorldShootingChampionshipswere,withnodissentingopinions,thebestever!TheDeutcherSchützenbund(GermanSportShootingFederation)didanoutstandingjobinplanning,organizingandexecutingthelargestOlympic-styleshootingcompetitiontodate.Over2,300athletescompetedin4,000evententriesrepresenting103countries.Itwasanenormousundertakingtocoordinatehotels,volunteersupport,transportation,training,andcompetition.
TheHochbrückOlympicShootingRangeservedanidealsitewithallrangeswithinashortwalkofoneanother.Althoughthesiteofthe1972OlympicGames,thecontinualmodernizationoftherangecom-plexprovidedanexcellentenvironmentwithelectronictargets,fivenewshotgunfields,afinalshall,andanawardceremonypavilion.
TheU.S.TeamwasthelargestevertoattendanISSFcompetitionwithover100athletes,coaches,andstaff.BobAylward,ExecutiveOfficerfortheUSArmyMarksmanshipUnit,didanexcellentjobcoordinatingalltravel,entries,housing,andpre-championshiptrain-ing.Asatestamenttoourstrongteamwork,everyTeammemberreportedtotheappropriateplaceontimeintheproscribeddresswithnoerrorsoromissions—quiteafeatwiththelargenumberofathleteswhohadnotpreviouslyattendedsuchanevent.IamproudtoreportthatourTeam—yourTeam—lookedgreatintheirnewuniforms,representedtheUnitedStateshonorablyandperformedwellontheranges.
MuchWorldShootingChampionshipinformationisreportedinthiseditionofUSAShootingNewsdetailingathletes,events,andresults,butIwouldliketoprovideadditionalinsight.WehadveryhighoutcomeexpectationsgoingintothisWorldChampionshipwiththegoaltowinsevenindividualmedalsinOlympicevents.Whilesomewhatofastretchconsideringwewononlyonemedalatthe2006WorldShootingChampionshipsinZagrebin2006,theobjec-tiveswererealisticconsideringourstrongWorldCupresultsinboth2009and2010.However,thereweredisappointmentsand,aswasthecaseinMunich,therewerepleasantsurprisesaswell.WedidstartslowerthanexpectedmissingthefinalsinWomen’sTrap,andthenmakingfinalsbutnotmedalinginMen’sAirRifle,Men’s50mFree
Pistol,andWomen’s10mAirRifle.OutcomesbecamemorepositivewithMattEmmonswinningthebronzemedalandanOlympicquotaplaceinMen’s50mRifleProne,andJamieBeyerle,inspiteofabackstrain,qualifiedforthefinalinWomen’s50mRifleThreePositionandwonaquotaplace.
JoshRichmondthentookcommandinMen’sDoubleTrapwin-ningthegoldmedalandquotaplacewhileequalingtheworldrecord,withteammateJeffHolguinfinishingfourth.ThoseperformanceswerefollowedbyKimRhodeearningherfirstWorldShootingChampionshiptitleinWomen’sSkeet,andconcludingwithVinnyHancock’sfifthplacefinishandquotaplaceinMen’sSkeet.WhentheshootingconcludedtheU.S.TeamwonthreeindividualmedalsinOlympicevents,securedfiveOlympicquotaplaces,andplaced12shootersinfinalscompetitions.
OurTeammembersalsomadenamesforthemselvesineventteamcompetition—whichisconductedonlyattheWorldChampion-ships—bywinningchampionshiptitlesinWomen’s50mRifleThreePosition,Men’sDoubleTrap,Women’sSkeet,andrepeatingforthesecondconsecutiveWorldShootingChampionshipinMen’s50mRifleProne.EquallyimpressivewastheperformanceofourjuniorshooterswithJonMichaelMcGrath,MirandaWilder,andSharonBarazaniwinningJuniorWorldChampionshipsinSkeet,Trap,and50mRiflePronerespectively.Thereweremanymoreexcellentper-formancesinboththeOpenandJuniorindividualandteameventsthatdemonstrateourTeam’sabilityandconfirmourfuturepotential,whichismostexciting.
AlthoughourNationalCoachesarerecognizedforanexcellentjobinpreparingourathletesforcompetition,muchcreditforthesuccessofourshootersisduetothecoachesandclubswheretheseathleteslearntheskillsofcompetitiveshootingandtrainonaregularbasis.
AlloftheUSAShootingfamilycantakeimmenseprideintheresultsofourUSAShootingTeamatthe50thWorldShootingCham-pionships,andwesincerelythankyouforyourinvolvementandsupport!■BobMitchell
www.usashooting.org 29
On The Complex / Director Operations Marketing Competitions
Snapshots from a Fist PumperThecameraneverlies—orsothesayinggoes.Yetmydigital
cameraonlycapturedpartofthetruth—ortruths—evidentatthe50thWorldShootingChampionship,whereyourUSTeammemberspouredtheirsoulsintoeveryshot.Thecameracouldn’tcaptureMirandaWilder’selationassheclaimedherWorldChampionshiptitleinJuniorWomen’sTrap.NorcoulditgraspthemixofemotionsinJakeTurnerashechargedintothefinalinMen’sTrap—hisfirstinamajorcompetition.Butthecameradidonethingunerringly:itfocused.
Sointhespiritofthesnapshot—withasmuchfocusasIcanpro-videinafewwords—I’llsharewithyousomeoftheindelibleimagesandcorrespondinglessonsfromthegrandestmatchinthehistoryofInternationalshooting.
Firstimage:MattEmmons.Heisaclearthreattowinamedalinthreeeventseverytimehechecksintoamatch.He’llcompeteinhisthirdOlympicGamesin2012,nodoubt,andhe’llbethemantobeat.InMen’s3-PositionRifle,thecameracaughtthesurpriseinhisfaceasheinadvertentlytriggeredanerrantshotatthestartofhiskneel-ingseries.Tenpointslost,potentialmedallost,Olympicquotaplacelost,andclearly,anopportunitylost.ButwecanallgainasenseofsomethingthatMatthasinabundance:Persistence.Shotaftershot,matchaftermatch,Mattcontinuestoplugaway,takingthebadwiththegood,andit’smostlygood.Beforehecaseshisrifleforthelasttime,Ipredicthe’lldoubleortriplethetwoOlympicmedalshealreadyowns.Persistence.
JamieBeyerleispersistent,weknow,butalsodetermined.ShewasdeterminedtograbthatOlympicquotaplaceinWomen’s3-Posi-tionRifle,andalthoughshewassittingineighthplacewithoneshotremaininginthefinal,shedidwhatanydeterminedathletewoulddo:Shoota10.7onthattenthshottojumpuptofifthplaceandgrabthatquotaplace.Whatimagedidthecameragrab?Nothing!Iwassobusyjumpingandyellingandfist-pumpingthatIforgottosnapthemoment.Forme,notsomuch,butforJamie,plenty:Determi-nation.
IwasdeterminedtogetagoodpicintheDoubleTrapfinal,whereJoshRichmondabsolutelywouldNOTlethisgoldenmomentslipaway.Heledthematchfromstarttofinish,andhefinishedinspec-tacularfashion,smashingall50targetstoequalawordrecordinthefinalsandwinthemedalandthequotagoingaway.Thepicture?Not
sogreat.AdrivingrainfoggedthelensbutonlyintensifiedJosh’sbestquality:Desire.Nooneintheworldwantedthatvictorymorethanhe.Desire.
HowbadlydidVincentHancock,2008OlympicGoldMedalistinMen’sSkeet,wanttowinamedalandaquota?Well,healwayswantstowin,comesreadytoshooteverytime,andnevertoleratesmissingatarget.Andyetmisshedid—threetimesinoneday—andfoundhimselftangledinashoot-offwithAndersGoldingfromDenmarkforfifthplaceandthatcherishedquotaslot.Nooneintheworldistougherinashoot-offthanVincent,andhejustrolledthosetargets...Ihavethepinkpuffsofsmokeinthepicturetoproveit.Butwhatdidthecameramiss?Vincent’srealstrengthishishighstandardofexcellenceeverytimehestepsonthefield—practiceorWorldCham-pionships.Vincent’ssecretisthis:Henotonlyimpressesuswithhishighscores(andhehasplenty),buthealsoimpressesuswitha“low”score,whichinthiscase,wasamere147X150.Excellence.
ForKimRhode,thecameracouldn’tcatchoneofherbestquali-ties:Herwillingnesstowork.Sheis,byfar,thehardestworkerontheTeam(see“W.O.R.K.”intheMar/Apr2010issue).Fiveorsixdaysaweekshemarchesouttooneofthreerangesnearherhomeandthenpoundsout400–1000roundsaday.Eightinthemorningto2:00PM,KimRhodewillbeknockingouttargetslikeaneagerbeginner.It’swhatshedoes,it’swhosheis,andit’swhyshe’sgreat.Bothanounandaverb,“work”forKimisherlifeintrainingsothatinthebiggestmatchinhistoryshecandowhatsheexpectsofherself:Performandwin.Thecameradidcatchonesparklingimage:Kimonthevictorystandwithbothhandsraisedinanexaltedpostureofebullience.Shedeservedit.Sheworked.Work.
Myfavoriteimage?It’stheoneyouseeonthecoverofthisissue—BrandyDrodz,CaitlinConnor,andJaidenGrinnellclaimingtheirgoldmedalfortheJuniorWomen’sSkeetevent.Embodiedinthatpicturearelotsofcrystallineconcepts,includingtheprideofshoot-ingfortheUSA,bondingwithsupportiveteammates,celebratingahard-foughtvictory,andrevelinginanunforgettablemomentinanunfathomableevent.Andthecameracaughtthebestfeatureofall,theoneweallsharedasourathletesdidusproud:Joy.
■BillRoy
Meet Calah Duryea, the New Coaches’ Administrative AssistantCalahDuryeacomestoUSAShootingasarecentColoradoresident.MovingfromFloridainthefallof2009,
CalahworksasanadministrativeassistanttoboththecoachesandUSASstaff.Herprimaryresponsibilitiesincludebookingflights,assistingwithpaperworkforentriesinvariouscompetitions,andotherprojects.InearlyJune,shetraveledtoFortBenning,GeorgiatoobserveandassistwithRifle/PistolNationals.RegardingthistripCalahsaid,“IfeltthatIlearnedsomuchsimplyobservingthedifferentcompetitorsandmatches.TheexperiencewasinvaluableandI’mverygratefulthatIwasgiventheopportunitytogainsomehandsonexperiencewithUSASatacompetition.”A2008graduateofHillsdaleCollegeinMichigan,CalahislookingforwardtoutilizinghertalentsgleanedasanEnglishmajor.Whensheisn’tbookingplanetickets,Calahenjoyslongwalks,agoodbook,a
loveofbakingthatsheinheritedfromherMother,andwatchingbaseballgames,particularlytheTampaBayRays.CalahalsolikesvisitingherfamilyinFloridaandspendingtimewithherfouryoungersiblings.SheisexcitedtocontinuelearningaboutthesportofshootingandhappytoassistanyonewhohasquestionsaboutUSAS.Calahcanbereachedat719-866-4883andcalah.duryea@usashooting.org
On The Complex / Director Operations Marketing Competitions
Shooting Industry MastersMembersoftheUSAShootingTeamrecentlytraveledto
GrandIsland,Neb.,toparticipateinthe8thAnnualShoot-ingIndustryMastersand19thAnnualShootingIndustryAcademyofExcellenceAwardshostedbyFMGPublica-tions. Thisyear’sShootingIndustryMastersevent,conduct-edatGrandIsland’sHeartlandPublicShootingPark,July23–24,featuredarecordnumberofindustryteamswith270shooterscompetingforindividualandteambraggingrightsinprofessionalandindustryclasses.
InconjunctionwiththeMastersevent,theShootingIndustryAcademyofExcellencehelditsannualbanquettorecognizetheshootingindustry’sbestbyawardingthe2010AcademyofExcellenceAwardsto14winnersthatemergedfromaclassof114productentriesand41serviceawardnominees. FMGPublications,anOfficialSponsorofUSAShooting,heldafundraiserduringtheeventthatraisedarecord$32,000tobenefittheNSSF’sFirstShotsPrograminadditionto$7,000raisedtosupporttheUSAShootingTeam. CongratulationstoalloftheMastersandAcademyofExcellencewinnersand“ThankYou”toFMGPublica-tionsforyoursupportoftheUSAShootingTeam! FormoreinformationontheShootingIndustryMastersandShootingIndustryAcademyofExcellencepleasevisitwww.shootingindustry.com.
■CorrieWest
www.usashooting.org 31
2008 Olympic Men’s Double Trap gold medalist Glenn Eller shooting with Team Timney-Triggers at the Shooting Industry Masters.
T-shirts from the 2010 National Junior Olympic Championships are now on sale for ten dollars each. Lapel pins from the State Junior Olympic matches and the National Junior Olympic Championships are on sale for $2/each. Hurry! T-shirt sizes and pins are available only while supplies last!
To purchase Junior Olympic merchandise please visit the USA Shooting merchandise store at www.usashootingstore.com or contact Nicole Levine at [email protected].
32 USA Shooting News
On The Complex / Director Operations Marketing Competitions
Rapid ChangesThecompetitionseasonhascomeand
gonehereatUSAShooting.TherearejustafewmatchesremainingonthecalendarandtheCompetitionsofficeisfinallyget-tingachancetowrapuplooseendsfromanintense2010season.Itisalsothetimewhenweareabletoreflectontheexcellentaccomplishmentsofourathletes,thelaugh-terandfunwehadwithourfantasticgroupofvolunteers,andrecountallofourmemo-riesfromthelastsixmonthsofevents.
AgroupofyoungskeetshootersreallytouchedmyheartthisyearwhenIheardabouttheiradventuresinColorado.Brothers,JoeandRoyChavelitlekha,TreyBuretz,TJBayerandCoulterandGrangerDeWitt(alsobrothers)decidedtotakeabreakfromtrainingbetweentheUSAShootingNationalChampionshipsandtheJuniorOlympics(bothheldinColoradoSprings)toraftdowntheArkansasRivernearCañonCity,Colorado.Forsomeoftheboysitwastheirfirstwhitewaterraftingtrip,andlikeallteenageboyswhoenjoytheoutdoors,theywerepumpedforacoolnewad-venture.Theraftguidetestedtheboysthroughthefirstfewmilesoftheriverheadingintotherapidstoassesstheirabilities.Withsixfit,confidentteenageguys,theguidewasexcitedthisrunwouldbefunandtheboyswouldbeabletoengageinmorechalleng-ingsectionsoftheriver.
Whitewaterraftingisfull-onadrenaline
rushfromstarttofinishandamust-doforanythrill-seekerwhovisitsColorado.Theguidesarewell-trainedandveryfamiliarwiththestretchofrivertheyraftdaily.Safetyisfirstpriorityandraftersarebriefed
later,butJoestruggledtobreakthesurface.“Ifeltthepopinmylegsometimesoonafterfallingoverboard,buttheadrenalineworkedwellasapainkiller.EverytimeIswamtothesurfacetheraftwasaboveme.I’mnotsurehowlongIhadbeenunderwaterexactly.AfterawhileIwasontheedgeofblackingout,”Joerecalls.Abovethewater,theboyswerepanickedbyJoe’sdisappearance;TJcontemplatedjumpingbackintosaveagoodfriend.Theseconds
passedlikehoursasthetimekeepstickingandJoehasyettosurface.TheguidesuggestsjumpingontheraftinanefforttopopJoefromthespotwhereheremainedtrappedundertheraft.MomentslaterJoesurfacesandistuggedontotheboat.TheboatandtheboysfloattosafetytowhereJoeisrushedofftothehospital.
Justafewdayslater,Joeisoutattheshotgunrangewithcastandcrutchesaftersufferingaspiralfractureinhislegthatrequiredsurgery.HeistheretocheeronhisbrotherRoyandfriendsTJ,Coulter,GrangerandTrey,excitedtoseethemcompeteintheNationalJuniorOlympics.Hisspiritismostinspiringandupliftingashere-countstheeventsoftheadven-turedowntheArkansasRiver.It
wasatriptheywillneverforgetandshareforalifetime.Joeeventhinkstheymightevenhavearematchwith“sledgehammer”sometimedowntheroad.Butforrightnowtheyarealljusthappytobeabletosharethememories,friendshipsandthe
sportofskeet.Undoubtedly,2011willbringmoreadventuresand“rapid”changeforcompetitorsandtheCompetitionsdepart-mentalike!
■Lindsay Brooke
ontherulesoftherapidsduringthe20minutebusrideuptothedropoffpointandpatronsaretestedontheirabilitiesassoonastheraftentersthewater.Emphasisisalwaysplacedonwork-ingasateamwhileontheriver.
Theboysenjoyedagreatdayontherapids,andnearingtheendtheboatapproachedasectionoftherivercalled“sledgehammer”andbecausetheboysdisplayedgreatteamworkandskill,theguideledthemdownthemorechallengingportionoftherapids.Theboys
werelaughingandexcitedbythethrillofthejourneydowntheriver.Asthenoseoftheboatrippedintotherapid,theimpactwastoostrong,throwingthreeoftheboysoverboard.TJBayerwasthefirsttorecover,hittingarock,butabletograbaholdoftheboatandclimbbackin.
CoulterDeWittandJoeChavelitlekhawerestillinthewater,tryingtoreachthesurfaceandfindtheboatamongsttheintensepressureoftherushingwaterovertherockyterrain.TheboysareabletoliftCoulterintotheboatmoments
Survivors of an epic rafting adventure (L to R): Granger DeWitt, Joe Chavelitlekha, Trey Buretz, TJ Bayer, Coulter DeWitt, and Ray Chavelitlekha.
“As the nose of the boat ripped into the rapid, the impact was too strong, throwing three of the boys overboard.”
Test Your USAS Knowledge: ANSWERS*Retractions:Inthepreviousissue,questionsevenasked“WhowasthelastAmericantowinamedalinMen’sTrap.”Whiletheanswerwas
listedasGlennEller,goldinthe2008gamesinMen’sDoubleTrap,thecorrectanswerwasJoshLakatos(silver)andLanceBade(bronze)inthe1996OlympicGames.Inaddition,questionnineasked“WhowasthefirstUSParalympiantowinaParalympicShootingMedal.”ThoughDanJordan(2004silverMen’s3PositionRifle)isacorrectanswer,clarificationisnecessary.RogerWithrowwonagoldmedalinthe1984NewYork/StokeMandevilleParalympicGamesinMen’s10mAirRifle,whichwereformerlyaseparateentitycalledtheWheelchairGames.
1. (b) American trap - 17.5degreesandInternationaltrap-45degrees;thetwoeventsvarygreatlyintheanglesatwhichtargetsarethrown.2. (b) Danielle Fong shares an Olympic sibling—SandyFong,amemberofthe2008OlympicteamforWomen’s50mRifle3Position. 3. (d) All of the above. Inadditiontothe15Olympiceventscontested,theISSFalsohostedjunioreventsandseveral300m,runningtarget,andnon-Olympicpistolevents.4. (a) and (d), In1904and1928shootingeventswereremovedfromtheOlympicGamesduetocontroversiesandamateurrules. 5. (d) AmericanshaveyettowinanOlympicmedalinWomen’s10mAirPistol.6. (a) Men’s 50m 3 Position rifle consists of 120 shots -40eachinprone,kneeling,andstanding.Inprone,athleteshave45minutestofireallshots,60minutesforthestandingseries,and75minutesforkneeling. 7. (a) - RubyFoxwonthesilvermedalinWomen’s25mSportPistolatthe1984OlympicGamesinLosAngeles,Calif.8. (a) and (c) - Afterahiatusfromshootingsportsinthe1928Olympics,the1932Gamesresultedinamateurrulesthatwerestrictlyinterpreted,thusresultinginthepreventionofmanytopshootersfromcompeting.9. (c) - TheUSAMUwasestablishedin1956underthedirectionofPresidentDwightD.Eisenhower.10. (d) - TheUSAwontwoindividualgoldmedalsintheOpencategoryattheWorldShootingChampionships.ThethirdmedalwaswonbyMattEmmons—abronzemedalinMen’s50mRifleProne.
www.usashooting.org 33
Director ElectionTheNominatingCommitteeisseekingqualifiedcandidatestoserveontheUSAShootingBoardofDirectorsforthreeseatsthatareupfor
electionthisfall.TwoAt-LargepositionsaswellasthefundraisingseatwillbeelectedbytheBoardattheOctober23rdmeetingwiththenewdirectorsseatedatthespringmeetingandservingafour-yearterm.TheNominatingCommitteeisseekingcandidateswhowillmeasurablyaddtothebreadthandscopeoftheBoardandwhoseskills,abilitiesandpotentialvaluearenotalreadyadequatelyrepresented.Candidatesforthefundraisingpositionshouldhaveaproventrackrecordoffundraisingexperience,withemphasisonnon-profitorganizations.
Nominationsshouldincludeapersonalstatementandbiographyoutliningqualifications.NominationscanbesenttoDr.JamesLally,ChairmanoftheNominatingCommittee,viapostalserviceto;ChinoValleyMedicalCenter,5451WalnutAvenue,Chino,CA91710-2609;[email protected].
34 USA Shooting News
Volunteer Program ReduxForvolunteerdrivenorganizations,itisessentialtohaveavolunteerprogramthatisnotonlyinviting,butalsoprovidesadequateandup-
datedinformation.USAShootingisintheprocessofupdatingitsvolunteerprogramtobetterservetheneedsofitsvolunteersinregardtoin-formationandeducation.Suchareasofrenovationinclude:instructionalmanualsforrangeofficers,ruleclarificationstoensureconsistency,andaregionalmentortrainingprogramtoassistinthefamiliarizationandeducationofrookievolunteersatboththeclubandnationallevels.WandaJewell,longtimeUSASvolunteer,willcoordinatethiseffortbycontactingexperiencedrangepersonnelandjudgesforinformationandinputintheredesign.Anyassistanceandinputwillbegreatlyappreciated.PleasecontactWandaatwrjbronze@comcast.net.
Sept/Oct Issue.indd 35 9/7/10 9:16 PM
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