ANNISTON, Ala. – Teams and individuals made the haul to the CMP South facilities in Anniston, AL to compete in the National JROTC Championships March 21-23, 2013. Over 7,300 cadets around the country participated in the CMP Postal competitions this year, with 890 moving on to their branch’s Service Competition. A total of 212 JROTC athletes competed at the National JROTC Championship, displaying the top JROTC shooters in the nation.
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Marissa Furney had a cow as she won first overall in the precision class.
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“We’ve got some great kids here – very talented shooters,” said Larry Pendergrass, chief range officer for the event.
The championship was broken down into two days of competition and finals. Gold, silver and bronze medalists were determined from each day’s combined scores and final results. Overall winners were established after the two-day competition was complete.
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Mary Simonton was challenged on the final day of competition when her precision rifle fell to pieces. Thankfully, she had a replacement ready and still fired a respectable score.
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At the end of the first day of competition, Hunter Cushman, 16, of King George High School in King George, VA, led the sporter division with an aggregate score of 564, securing him a spot in the finals. Todd Mazur, 18, of Killeen High School in Killeen, TX, followed close behind with a combined score of 563. In third at the end of Day 1 was Preston Barnette, 17, of Moss Point High School in Moss Point, MS, who fired a 560.
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Mary Pratt set a new National record for the Air Force JROTC 3x20 and the 3x20 plus final during the match.
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Also firing in the final match of the day was Giovanni Gutierrez of East Aurora High School in Aurora, IL, Alexi Henry of Wagener-Salley High School in Wagener, SC, Rachel Mangan of Walhalla High School in Walhalla, SC, Alex Bapties of Cumberland High School in Cumberland, VA and Jared Sarkela of North Brunswick High School in Leland, NC.
Benjamin Estes, 17, of Ozark High School in Ozark, MO, was at the top of the precision class at the conclusion of record fire on Day 1, achieving an aggregate score of 592. Colt Gross, 17, of North Augusta High School in North Augusta, SC, fired a score of 590, while Marissa Furney, 18, of Columbus High School in Columbus, GA, rounded out the Top 3 with a combined score of 589 to advance to the Finals.
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The shooters took time to smile as they competed at the prestigious event.
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Next to Furney on the firing line followed Frank Hargadon of Shelby County High School in Shelbyville, KY, Rebecca Godwin of North Forsyth High School in Cumming, GA, Logan Hunt of Ozark High School, Duncan Pawloski of Lady Bird Johnson High School in San Antonio, TX, and defending champion Heather Kirby of Shelby County High School.
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Many talented shooters attended the competition, recording some of the highest scores in the event’s existence and breaking several records.
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After a hard fought, back-and-forth match, Hunter Cushman was able to come out on top, taking home the Day 1 gold medal in the sporter class after firing a 655.2 aggregate score. Following closely throughout the final match was Todd Mazur, who finished with an aggregate score of 652.9 and walked out of the range with the Day 1 silver medal. The bronze medal went to Rachel Mangan, 18, who climbed her way from 6th to 3rd place by the time the last pellet was fired in the final. She finished with a combined score of 646.3.
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Coaches and spectators watched intently as the shooters put all of their hard work to the test over the two-day event.
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Cushman managed to set two new Navy JROTC National Records in both 3x20 and 3x20 plus final with scores of 564-23 and 655.2 to open Day 1 of the competition. He also set the Navy JROTC kneeling record of 193-7.
In precision, Furney, Gross, Godwin, Kirby, Pawloski and Hunt all returned to fire in the final. Joining them was Mary Pratt of Monroe Area High School in Monroe, GA, who shot a qualifying score of 592, and Brandon Muske of Brenham High School in Brenham, TX, with a qualifying score of 588.
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Hunter Cushman set two new Navy JROTC National records in the 3x20 an 3x20 plus final on Day 1 of competition. On Day 2, he broke them again.
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After a close match, Pratt, 15, came out on top, firing an aggregate score of 694.2. Furney earned the silver medal with her score of 692.9, followed closely by Gross, who finished with a combined score of 690.6.
Not only did Pratt earn gold around her neck, she also set a new National record for the Air Force JROTC 3x20 and 3x20 plus final with scores of 592-46 and 694.2. She also tied the Air Force kneeling record of 199-16 and a final score of 102.2.
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Monroe Area High School was recognized for setting a new Air Force JROTC 3x20 team National record, firing score of 2305-132.
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In overall results, Cushman led the sporter division after shooting a 1222.8 over the course of the weekend. Mazur finished in 2nd place with an aggregate score of 1211.5, and Mangan trailed in 3rd place with a score of 1207.25.
“I didn’t know what to think coming into the weekend. I just tried to shoot my best,” Cushman said. “I’m on top of the world right now.”
Furney topped the overall precision class with her score of 1281.2, followed by Gross who fired an aggregate score of 1280.6. Pratt took home the bronze medal after finishing the match with a 1280.2 – only four-tenths behind Gross.
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Carl Hayden High School earned the honor of being named the overall top sporter class team.
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Carl Hayden High School was dubbed the overall sporter class team champions. Team members are Alan Rodriguez, Nestor Alvarez, David Nieto and Mario Saenz. They are coached by SFC John Coredero-Torres. The team received a $350 merchandise certificate from Daisy Outdoor Products as well as a Crosman Challenger Air Rifle.
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Defending champions Ozark High School reclaimed their title as the overall precision team, setting an Army JROTC National record with a score of 2346-142.
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Ozark High School stood at the top of the podium as the precision class team champions. This year was the third year in a row Ozark has won the overall team competition – once in sporter, twice in precision. Members are Benjamin Estes, Logan Hunt, Makennon Doran and Shelby Brummett. They are coached by 1SG Terry Thompson. The team also set an Army JROTC National record with a team score of 2346-142.
“I’m blessed with a bunch of great kids, and they work really, really hard,” said 1SG Thompson. “They’re like family. I’m so proud of them.”
Monroe Area High School was also recognized for setting the new Air Force JROTC 3x20 team National record with a score of 2305-132.
For a list of all National JROTC Championship results, log on to
http://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php?do=match&task=edit&match=10019.
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