Freelance Design

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Volume 19, Number 5 September/October 2010 The Official Publication of Olympic Shooting Sports World Championships The 50 th

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Freelance Designer for USA Shooting and I designed the magazine layout for their magazine. (August 17 - September 20, 2010)

Transcript of Freelance Design

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Volume 19, Number 5 ● September/October 2010The Official Publication of Olympic Shooting Sports

World ChampionshipsThe 50th

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Left to Right: Kim Rhode, Vincent Hancock, Corey Cogdell & Glenn Eller

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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

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USA Shooting1 Olympic Plaza

Colorado Springs, CO 80909Phone: 719-866-4670

Administration Fax: 719-866-2200Competitions Fax: 719-866-4884

Lindsay BrookeCompetitions Manager

[email protected]

Calah DuryeaCoaches’ Assistant

[email protected]

Buddy DuVallDirector of Resource Development

[email protected]

Bret EricksonNational Shotgun Coach

[email protected]

Lisa EricksonOperation and Administrative Assistant

[email protected]

Bob FothNational Paralympic Coach

[email protected]

David JohnsonNational Rifle Coach

[email protected]

Nicole LevineCompetitions Assistant

[email protected]

Sergey LuzovNational Pistol Coach

[email protected]

Katie McGintyMedia & Public Relations Manager

[email protected]

Robert MitchellChief Executive Officer

[email protected]

Nichole RaeMembership & Merchandise Manager

[email protected]

Bill RoyDirector of Operations

[email protected]

Corrie WestMarketing Manager

[email protected]

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

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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.

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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

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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-

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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!”

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.”

Page 15: Freelance Design

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Page 16: Freelance Design

Kim RhodeWomen’s Skeet World Champion

50th World Shooting Championships

Page 17: Freelance Design

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

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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

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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.

Page 20: Freelance Design

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

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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.

Page 22: Freelance Design

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Page 23: Freelance Design

German engineering – not just for cars

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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.

Page 24: Freelance Design

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.

Page 25: Freelance Design

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

Page 26: Freelance Design

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Page 27: Freelance Design

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Removable trigger groupFixed rib and chokes

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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

Page 28: Freelance Design

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

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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

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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

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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].

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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Sept/Oct Issue.indd 35 9/7/10 9:16 PM

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