National Pistol Matches Close with Drama and New National Champions

By Dale Miles

The typical box of the National Match pistol competitor. Shooters adorn their boxes with stickers from past competitions as well as with the brands of ammunition or pistols they fire. These boxes are a symbol of the National Matches.

As quick as the wind coming off of the water of Lake Erie, the first stage of the National Rifle and Pistol Matches at Camp Perry have drawn to a close. With the CMP National Trophy Pistol Matches, and the awards ceremony that followed, pistol shooters from all over the country departed Camp Perry and left it to the smallbore shooters who will gather here in the coming days…but not before new National Champion pistol shooters were crowned and trophies presented.

Presidents Pistol Match Winner Staff Sergeant Lawson, USMC, received his trophy plaque and presentation rifle from Col. Walter Walsh (USMC, Retired). The presentation rifle was gunsmithed by Eric Pierce of National Match Armory, Rendon Texas.

During the four days of the NRA National Pistol Championship, Lake Erie winds had given fits to shooters, however, on the morning of July 18, the wind calmed and conditions were right for high scores. In the President’s Match, the first match of the day, Staff Sergeant Michael Lawson, USMC, walked away from the firing line having posted a score of 387-11x to top the list of the President’s 100 and earn the privilege of having his name added to the President’s Trophy. SSGT Lawson will also receive a congratulatory letter from President Bush and was presented with a CMP M1 Garand rifle gunsmithed by Eric Pierce of the National Match Armory in Rendon, Texas. SSGT Lawson had placed in the President’s 100 previously, but this was his first time to win the coveted trophy. His score this year equals the highest score shot in the President’s Match.

Christopher Jones of Battleground, Washington was the highest scoring junior in both the President’s and the National Individual Trophy Matches in 2004. His scores of 374-7x in the President’s Match and 276-4x in the National Individual Trophy Match were fired with a .22 caliber pistol. This is the second year in which juniors have been allowed to compete with the .22 in these matches.

For the first time, a Junior President’s Trophy was awarded to the highest scoring junior in the President’s Match. Due to a rule change in 2003, juniors are permitted to fire the match with a .22 caliber pistol. Christopher Jones, a nineteen year old from Battleground, Washington bested all other juniors in the match with a score of 374-7x.

Steve Reiter receives the Custer Trophy plaque for winning the National Trophy Individual Match. The award presenter is Col. Walter Walsh (USMC Retired). Col. Walsh started competing and winning at Camp Perry in 1928 and is now 97 years old. Col. Walsh and Reiter are obviously enjoying the victory cerebration.

Immediately following the President’s Match, the National Trophy Individual Match saw a past champion shooter demonstrate that some things do get better with age. Steve Reiter of Sparks, Nevada, a retired US Army Reserve Team shooter, the 2000 winner of the President’s Match and a Triple Distinguished shooter, posted a nearly untouchable score of 294-11x to engrave his name on the Custer Trophy as the winner of the National Trophy Individual Pistol Match for 2004. Mr. Reiter’s score is only two points below the all time record for the match. For his effort, Reiter also received a CMP M1 Garand rifle prepared by Eric Pierce of the National Match Armory in Texas.

The USAR Black team won the Gold Cup Trophy that is awarded to the overall highest scoring team in the National Trophy Team Match. Col. Walter Walsh (USMC Ret.) was the presenter. Team members were SSGT Jason Sergeant, SSGT James Sanderson, CW4 Albert Wood, Team Captain MAJ Alan Toler, and SSGT James Henderson.

Shooting wrapped up with the National Trophy Team Match. Up for grabs in this match is the prestigious Gold Cup Trophy, arguably the most coveted team pistol trophy in the United States. In this match, each of the scores of the four man team are combined into an aggregate score to determine the champion. As usual, this match was steeped in drama with the Marine Corps Pistol Team, the Army Marksmanship Unit Pistol Team and the Army Reserves Pistol Team all in place to make a run for the top. In the end, it was the Army Reserve Team that earned that top position on the leaderboard. Firing members SSG James Henderson, SSG Keith Sanderson, SSG Jason Sargent and CW4 Albert Wood fired an aggregate score of 1102-29x to top the USMC Scarlet team by just five X’s. Close behind in third place was the USMC Gold team with last year’s National Trophy Individual Champion GySgt Brian Zins on board. GySgt Zins experienced an unfortunate malfunction in his pistol and had to fire the match with a replacement. Had his pistol held up, the results of this match may have been much different!

For a complete listing of results, as well as winners of the other 16 trophies presented as part of the National Trophy Individual Pistol Matches, go to http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/report_matchResult.cgi?matchID=288. And be sure to check the CMP Results webpage once the highpower phase of the National Rifle and Pistol Matches get underway…results are posted live from the firing line so people all over the country can keep track of this exciting event as it unfolds!


Dr. Darius Young won the Military Police Corps Trophy awarded for firing the highest individual score in the National Trophy Team Match. Young is shown receiving his award from Major Barb Clemmons, Ohio National Guard.		Judy Tant from East Lansing , Michigan won the National Women’s Trophy for being the high woman in the National Trophy Individual Match. She also was the only woman to win a place in the Presidents 100. The award presenter is Mike Krei, Deputy Competitions Division Director at the NRA.

Each year a National Civilian Pistol Team comprised of the four highest scoring civilians in the National Trophy Pistol Team Match. 2004 team members who each received Elihu Root Medallions were Edwin Hall, Tupper Lake NY ; Dr. Darius Young, Malo, WA; Charles Byrd II, Manassas, VA Wesley Lorenz, Lynnwood, WA and Stephen Kraynak, Watervliet, NY, Team Coach.		The National Trophy Pistol Award Ceremony began with the presentation of Distinguished Pistol Shot Badges to civilian shooters who earned their badges since the last National Matches. Michael Lawson and Steve Reiter, the winners of the Presidnets and National Trophy Individual Matches pins the badges on. New Distinguished shooters who were honored were Russell Rizzo, Hamburg NY; Bruce Knopp, Highland Heights,OH; Judy Tant, East Lansing MI; Michael Milen, Orland Park IL; Paul Mitchell, Middleton, VA: Randy Tomac, Belding, MI; Bret Matney, Vancouver, WA; Jeffrey Bromberger, Farmingdale, NY; James Aglione, Tea Neck, New Jersey; Ray Carolonza, Toms River, New Jersey and Charles Fletcher, Brooklyn, NY.

The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association Wolf team won the Oglethorpe Trophy that is presented to the highest scoring civilian team. Bill Blankenship is the presenter. Team members were Steve Kraynak, Chris Sobers, Jeff Bromberger and Edwin Hall.		Shooters who placed in the top 100 in the Presidents Pistol Match received their Presidents 100 medallions and certificates from CMP staff at the conclusion of the National Trophy Pistol Award Ceremony.

The Camp Perry firing line during the 2004 National Trophy Pistol Team Match.

Is this a future National Champion? The National Pistol Matches aren't just a place for shooters. Many bring their families along to experience this unique event.		Competitors fresh off the firing line examine the leaderboard to find out just how they measure up to some of the best pistol shots in the country. The CMP has taken the lead in providing quick and accurate match results on the range.