Ozark Fights Adversity to Win Two Straight National JROTC Precision Titles

ANNISTON, Ala. – “Honestly, winning the National Championship isn’t anything compared to the journey it took to get here,” said Makennon Doran.

Ozark High School took first place for the second year in a row in the overall precision team category.

The Ozark High School senior from Ozark, MO, summed up his team’s experiences of winning their second JROTC National Championship precision team title after only two years of existence by saying, “We came and knocked it out.”

Coach 1SG Terry Thompson has been with the Ozark rifle team for 18 years. Up until last year, he has only brought sporter teams to the National Championship, winning three National sporter team titles since 2008. Last year was the team’s first year competing in the precision class.

In 2012, Ozark won the overall first place trophy after their debut appearance as a precision team. Senior Tessa Howald held the trophy.

The shift into precision began two years ago when a very talented Ozark sporter shooter decided she wanted to take her shooting ability into the collegiate world. Tessa Howald had always aspired to be on a college rifle team, and she knew that she had the right attitude, support and coach behind her on her search for her dream.

“I knew for her to get good, honest looks by colleges, she was probably going to have to switch to precision,” said Thompson. “I talked with her about that and I talked with her parents.”

Tessa Howald, the Ozark senior who began the transition to precision, shed a few tears after being presented the gold medal.

With encouragement from her family and teammates, she made the difficult change, and quite successfully. Besides helping her team along to the National title in precision in 2012, she also held many JROTC records. She eventually joined the Murray State University rifle team in Murray, KY.

Inspired by her lead, others on her Ozark team began to show interest in shooting in college, fueling their drive towards a switch to the precision class.

“It wasn’t an easy transition – not as easy as we thought it would be,” added Logan Hunt, another senior on the Ozark precision team.

“We had some very progressive sporter shooters move up to precision,” said Thompson. “Unfortunately, we’re not financially set to where we’ve got a surplus of precision equipment. Each one of our kids has bought their own equipment, so it took a commitment from them.”

Senior Logan Hunt

Each shooter had to spend around $3,000 to $4,000 on precision equipment to prepare themselves for their new style of shooting. Some got jobs, some received money from family members, and some even received donations from the community.

“The community of Ozark is really supportive of our JROTC program in general, and they really like the rifle team,” said Shelby Brummett, the lone female senior on the Ozark precision team. “The fancy equipment was nice.”

Senior Shelby Brummett

One of the other challenges in forming the precision team, besides the cost for the shooters, was within Coach Thompson, who had never coached a precision team before. Through talking to other coaches, watching gifted shooters and patience, Thompson began to gain a better understanding of how he could best help his shooters along.

“I had no idea how to coach differently between sporter and precision, so it took me a while. I have slowly picked it up,” he said. “I’m blessed with a bunch of great kids, and they work really, really hard.”

After months of training, the team members put their new precision skills to the test as they traveled to the 2012 Army JROTC Service Championship, not knowing what to expect during the much-anticipated and prestigious event. Though nervous, Coach Thompson, who had watched his team grow and develop during their demanding practice schedule, had confidence in his shooters.

Senior Makennon Doran

“I started looking at them and watching them, and I could see they were doing pretty good,” he said. “I could see that they were special.”

The new Ozark precision team stunned everyone by taking home gold medals in their first JROTC Service Championship as competitors in the precision class. And, as if that wasn’t enough, they went on to win the JROTC National Championship team competition in Anniston, AL, overtaking the defending champions, Shelby County High School, by eight commanding points.

“When we won the Service Championship, I thought, it’s possible we could win it all. I think we snuck up on everybody,” said Thompson. “The kids were tickled to death. They were ecstatic. There were a whole bunch of tears shed.”

With “National Champion” rings on their fingers, given to them by their school, and CMP medals around their necks, the team returned to a proud home state. Besides getting to meet the mayor of Ozark, the team was also invited to the state capitol in Jefferson City, MO, where they were introduced on the floor of the State Capitol building.

“It was pretty special,” said Coach Thompson.

This year, the team returned to Anniston with new members and fresh attitudes. Because Coach Thompson teaches his shooters to only focus on their next shot instead of things that have happened in the past, the team walked in as if it was their first time on the range.

“We never talk about wins and losses. We just always try to focus on what we can control and how we compete,” he said. “The kids don’t even know their scores during the matches. We don’t discuss it.”

At the end of Day 1 of the 2013 competition, the Ozark team had no idea they were leading the pack. Though at the top of their game, the day that followed wasn’t without its struggles.

Fellow Ozark teammate Benjamin Estes took home the Day 1 bronze medal at the 2013 Nationals. Estes became ill on Day 2, but fought on, still managing to shoot a respectable score.

Benjamin Estes, one of their top shooters, became ill during the match. After having to rush to a nearby bathroom, he still managed to shoot his match and fire a respectable score. Shelby Brummett, normally one of the strongest standing shooters, struggled with the position, but came back to fire her personal high in kneeling.

“They could have easily folded, but they didn’t,” said Coach Thompson. “They stayed tough all through the match.”

After they fired their final shots and walked off the range on Day 2, they didn’t even glance up at the scoring monitors to see where they ranked – they were completely unaware that they had just won their second National Championship precision title.

Tired after a long two days of competition, the team members anxiously waited in the lobby outside of the range for their coach to meet them.

“Your heart’s pumping, you start getting hot and sweaty, and you’re just like, something’s going to happen, I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but something’s going to happen,” explained Brummett as she smiled and laughed.

Then, the proud coach followed behind, eager to give his team the news.

“I told them they had done it again. There were a whole bunch of tears shed again,” he said. “Every National Championship is a special moment. To tell yourself that, well, at this time, I’m the best.”

Hunt, unable to keep his feelings to himself, immediately began to bawl genuine tears when he heard his coach utter those words – something he will never forget, and something his teammates aren’t soon to let him forget.

“It was an emotional experience,” said Hunt as he smiled. “All of the hard work, and finally knowing that is all paid off eventually.”

“It was a trip, but it was worth it,” added Doran.

Sentiments were high between the team members and their coach as they stood above the crowd together on the podium at the JROTC Nationals for the last time. An obvious bond is noticeable from the team that has been joined by years of adversity and determination.

“They are family, really. They’re almost like a son or daughter to me,” Coach Thompson explained. “You get close to them because we spend a lot of time together. They’re going to be missed.”

His team members share the devotion.

“We’re his extended family,” Brummett said. “It’s not wins that define a coach. It’s the stuff on the side. He teaches us life lessons that I probably would have never gotten if I wasn’t in the rifle program.”

“He’s the most influential man I’ve ever met,” she added, as she smiled.

The seniors stand with their coach, 1SG Terry Thompson.

His three seniors off to college, having signed letters of intent to NCAA rifle teams, Coach Thompson must look to the future of his team. With their now ample experience with precision at the highest levels of competition, Ozark has a new tradition of rifle shooting to uphold, and their coach is ready to see what other heights his team can reach.

“We’re just going to have to see if I have another shooter willing to step up to shoot precision,” he said. “Hopefully we can keep the tradition going.”

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